Last week we started a five part series on The Seasons of Life. At that time I stated that I believe there are overriding principles that we should follow and be led by. That life is about constant, predictable patterns of change. And that as we approach the future; for all of us, the only constant factor will be our feelings and attitudes toward life.
Secondly, we as human beings have the power of attitude and that attitude determines choice, and choice determines results. All that we are and all that we can become has indeed been left unto us to decide and interpret through our attitude and choices.
This week we will begin our discussion of the four seasons. I'll start by making two comments. First, life and business are like the changing seasons. That's one of the best ways to illustrate life: it's like the seasons that change. Second, you cannot change the seasons, but you can change yourself.
Now with those two key phrases in mind, let's look at what I consider to be the first major lesson in life to learn, and that is how to handle the winters. They come regularly, right after autumn. Some are long, some are short, some are difficult, some are easy, but they always come right after autumn. That is never going to change.
There are all kinds of winters - the "winter" when you can't figure it out, the "winter" when everything seems to go haywire. There are economic winters, social winters and personal winters. Wintertime can bring disappointment, and disappointment is common to all of us. So you must learn how to handle the winters. You must learn how to handle difficulty; it always comes after opportunity. You must learn to handle recessions; they come right after expansions. That isn't going to change.
The big question is what do you do about winters? You can't get rid of January simply by tearing it off the calendar. But here is what you can do: you can get stronger; you can get wiser; and you can get better. Remember that trio of words: stronger, wiser, better. The winters won't change, but you can.
Before I understood this, I used to wish it were summer when it was winter. When things were difficult, I used to wish they were easy. I didn't know any better. Then Mr. Shoaff gave me the answer from a part of his very unique philosophy when he said, "Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don't wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom."
(Next week we will talk about the second major lesson in life: learning how to take advantage of the spring. Spring is opportunity. Fortunately, spring always follows winter.)
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine. Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine, go to http://Jim-Rohn.InspiresYOU.com
We have just inherited a rag, tag and bobtail of... Read More
I have always wondered how the Red Sea parted as... Read More
"Some people call the still, small voice insight or intuition?Our... Read More
Financial freedom is not about having enough money to spend... Read More
Have you ever had one of those flashes of inspiration?... Read More
Keeping a journal during the coaching process is one of... Read More
The Thorns of Opportunity...What are you trying so hard to... Read More
This is a true story. A woman had Snow White... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 13,... Read More
Here's the great challenge of life - You can have... Read More
Whoever coined this phrase is a genius. Life finds ways... Read More
CELEBRATE YOUR LIFE!"If there is light in the soul, there... Read More
Don't let anyone kid you. The road to self improvement... Read More
Don't you just hate clichés like the one illustrated in... Read More
If we want to fill our heads with the doom... Read More
Have you ever said thank-you to the cow that provided... Read More
Give people more than they expect and do it... Read More
"Why go and reinvent the wheel?" It's a question that's... Read More
The other day I found myself frustrated with the slow... Read More
1. Breakfast in Bed.Imagine a lavish breakfast arrives brimming over... Read More
The movies--what a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! I... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 19,... Read More
Loving. It seems like such a simple concept. But those... Read More
Laws of the Attraction notwithstanding, there are several external ways... Read More
Sometimes we are concerned with being right and we don't... Read More
Have you ever had the opportunity to follow-up on a... Read More
"But if in your thought you must measure time into... Read More
After more than thirty years of studying the Bible I... Read More
I really like Jack Dempsey's great one liner: "A champion... Read More
A high school senior, looking forward to going to college,... Read More
The Internet is sometimes criticized (usually by parents who think... Read More
The massive orb dominates the aqua crystalline backdrop of its... Read More
Did you ever receive a gift in an unexpected place?I... Read More
. . . . . riding a roller coaster for... Read More
Kevin had worked as a barber at The Clipper Joint... Read More
Humanity seems to be the only species that never seems... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 25,... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 26,... Read More
All the ingredients to make 12 loaves of bread already... Read More
Do what you love to do and give it your... Read More
Water is the source of life, yet so few of... Read More
When I was twenty-two, I was befriended by a woman... Read More
"We are built to conquer environment, solve problems, achieve goals... Read More
We let ourselves love but are afraid to say I... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 9,... Read More
1. Once a week, visit somewhere you've never been before.... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 30,... Read More
I am sharing one of the great insights.The fear that... Read More
The boogeyman lurking in the closet scares the bejesus out... Read More
Back to our youth days, we were taught that by... Read More
Inspirational Inspirational |