In one of my all-time favorite Peanuts cartoons, Charlie Brown complains to Linus that every day his lunch is the same. When Linus asks Charlie Brown who makes his lunch, Charlie Brown looks down at the floor and says, “I do.”
When it comes to the activities of our lives, most of us make our own lunches. So while there may be some comfort in sameness, if you want different results, you must do something differently. If you’ve become a creature of habit, break some of your habits. Drive a different route to work, go to a new restaurant, visit a different church with your neighbors, donate your 1996 Christmas tie to Goodwill, read a book on a new subject. You may find you can break out of predictable patterns and discover new excitement and opportunities.
Are you stuck working in a job you hate? Who’s forcing you to get up every morning and go back there? Just like Charlie Brown, you’re making your own lunch for the day. If you’re tired of bologna, what are you doing to make a different lunch?
Don’t you get tired of hearing people looking for excuses for their circumstances? People are suing because their coffee is too hot, the floors are slippery after a rainstorm, and the road is full of potholes. A man who was fired (after repeated warnings) by IBM for visiting online pornography sites while he was at work sued the company for $5 million, claiming he is an Internet addict who deserves treatment and sympathy rather than dismissal. We hear stories of people planting worms in soup and creating phony car accidents, hoping to find someone to pay for their “misfortunes.” Even following “acts of God” (tornadoes, hurricanes, lightning strikes), people look for someone to blame. I don’t know of anything more crippling to the ability to see new opportunities than this lack of personal responsibility. If you believe you are being trapped, controlled by your present circumstances, or held back by the government, a spouse, a grandfather, an uncle, your company, or your church, you have already defined your limitations.
If you’re tired of having bologna every day:
- Stop blaming others or thinking circumstances are controlling you
- Recognize your obstacle or setback may be an opportunity in disguise
- Keep your dreams alive – even when others are shooting holes in them
- Swing by Whole Foods on your way home today and pick up a package of sliced turkey
Special $37
It is amazing how easy it is to fall into the same routine. I just got back from a week long vacation to reexamin my activities. I can’t believe the amount I am cutting out. It is easy for me to be busy instead of effective.
Zechariah – what a great time to reevaluate your normal activities. Our culture supports being busy – but effective leaders recognize the difference between activity and accomplishment.
We have the power to change our circumstances! When we really understand that power things can happen in our lives.
If more people would act on the following statement they would realize how true and powerful it is, “if you want different results, you must do something
differently”. I was talking with someone recently, and they asked, “Why
do these certain things keep happening to me?” Some things were related to
recurring financial issues and some to bad relationships. My response was that the same things keep happening because you keep making the same choices and doing the same things. If you want a different result, then don’t keep doing things the same way you have always been. We went over some ideas she could try, but ultimately, it will be up to her whether or not she chooses to make a different choice and follow through.
Angela,
Oh that’s painful for people to be confronted with the fact that their own choices are producing the results in their lives. Thanks for being the voice of reality – and hope.
Changing our perspective and even our thinking opens up an incredible new world of possibility. Many people say they want change but are not willing to put the time and effort in to do so. It takes dedication to see real results.
Jevonnah – it takes dedication but oh the thrill of knowing we can immediately see new results.
I love this post. Especially in the Western world, there is no excuse for not taking control of your happiness. Excuses are for people who don’t want to win!
Andrew,
I love that line – excuses are for people who don’t want to win. I doubt anyone would say they don’t want to win but when we tie it to making excuses, I would hope they can see the connection.
Dan, I just LOVE how everything you do oozes with the “take responsibility for your life” message! For too many years, I was waiting on God to show me my purpose, failing to realize that he “directs my steps” – I just need to start walking instead of sitting there waiting.
Great perspective Wesley!
Wesley – well put. I too believe God directs our steps – but he doesn’t force us to stand up and start walking.
Wesley, I totally agree with you. I know what my purpose in life however; I also have been waiting on God to to tell me when to move and when to act.
Right! Where do we want to be next year at this time? If we don’t want to be eating baloney, then we need to quit feeding ourselves it! Taking responsibility is where its at! There is nothing scarier and nothing more empowering!!
Dan may I have your wise opinion on this case please. I’m at a job that I truly hate, I complain all the time about the job. It’s not what I want or where I want to be…not even enough to pay my bills. I’m afraid to leave because i have a family. So here I am waiting on God to tell me when to quit. I have a degree in Counseling and I am not in the field working. I deeply believe that my calling is to work with young people. I thank you for reading my post and love your work. God Bless you
Wow – you’re in a job you hate, not what you want or where you want to be and not making enough to pay your bills. God’s already told you it’s past time to quit. There is no way you can be a testimony to God’s goodness or be using the talents he’s entrusted to you under those conditions.
Dan, I thank you. I am in processing of crossing the Jordan. Fear, doubt, had a lot to with it and as well as lack of faith that kept me there. In all that I do I want to glorify God and I was not doing that with this job. Thanks again.