There are 12 months in a year and one of them is already over. It is important to fully understand what has passed and what is coming so we can take full advantage of it, and use it to move us forward. However, moving forward is not always smooth sailing. We live in the real world. Challenges will always present themselves. For some of us, the problem is that we’re looking to create a life that has no problems. This, for many of us, IS the problem! When we believe this to be true, it means we approach most problems with a negative attitude – with an attitude of struggle and effort – “Oh why me? Why do I have to deal with this?” When we get into this place, it can make us feel as if moving forward is impossible.
So when a problem in your life presents itself, what is your next move? What you choose to do in response to a challenge determines the results you will get.
Let’s say, your challenge is that you want to lose weight, for example. You could choose to...
1) Ignore it. You may choose NOT to jump on the scale and weigh yourself. Or ignore the fact that you now have only two pairs of pants that will fit you. Or say, Wow, these pants have really shrunk in the wash! As we all know, ignoring a problem never solves it. In fact, your problem will actually grow bigger, stronger, more painful, and more apparent in your life the longer you ignore it, so that at some point, it becomes a crisis and has to be fixed.
2) Blame someone else. You may say, At my job, I have to eat out all the time. Or you complain, I never have time to work out, I’m so busy these days. Or you say, everyone in my family is overweight, you can’t fight genetics. Or you blame the food manufacturers for putting added sugars or fat into the packaged food that you’re choosing to buy. This is called the "Blame Game." People like to play this game because it's fun (not really) and easy to point fingers at other people or things (really easy) and place blame on those things in order to excuse themselves from the blame. You can blame the economy. You can blame the weather. You can even blame your parents. None of this will solve your problem.
3) Blame yourself. If you choose to place the blame on yourself, and beat yourself up about it, it will dis-empower you, and it will not help you. When you play “The Blame Game” with yourself, this is not the same thing as “accountability.” Blaming yourself generally shows up as guilt, regret, negativity, depression and into a downward spiral, if you let it. This way of thinking keeps us from reaching our full potential. For the person trying to lose weight, it is counter-productive to run thoughts like: "Why do I do this to myself? Do I have no self-control? I guess I’ll never lose the weight." or "Why did I eat that pint of Ben & Jerry’s last night? I can’t believe I am so weak! Who am I kidding? I’ll never get back into shape." This is something that will only lead to a downward spiral if you let it. It does not solve anything or help you. The "Blame Game" is a destructive game – where there are no winners. So what is the winning option?
4) Take charge and take responsibility. Problems are challenges that help us grow bigger legs for longer strides, as Diane Tice says
You can choose to say, “I am currently overweight because I have made choices on a daily basis to eat too much and the wrong types of food full of empty calories, and I have chosen not to make time to exercise. Today, I now choose to eat 5% less, to eat better foods that are full of nutrition, and I choose to exercise for 10-15 minutes today.”
You can get specific about what you will eat, when you eat, and what exercise you will do when, and choose this the night before you go to sleep. Write it down the night before, then do it the next day. Review the day you had each night, decide on any adjustments you need to make to stay on track, and then repeat it the next day. You do have choices. You are responsible for all your choices. You didn’t get there in one day, you do not have to get out of there in one day. You don’t have to start out eating 50% less, just 5% less, and do it daily. You may choose, later, when your “legs” are bigger, to take longer “strides” and exercise for 20-30 minutes daily, for example. Either way, you can choose to take on any challenge in ways that empower you, support you, and help you get there. You can create your way out of your challenge.
So what are you going to do when you're faced with a problem? Are you going to ignore it? Blame someone else or yourself? You are now going to choose the winning option. You will choose to take charge and take responsibility. You have the power to create a solution. Problems are gifts from God to help us grow, and He never gives us a challenge that is too great for us. God bless and have a beautiful day!
Cheers,
Garrett & Sylvia McGrath
XELR8 / Bazi First 250K Diamonds
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