Barry Schwartz: The real crisis? We stopped being wise

Negativity

Peter Irvine, co-founder of Gloria Jean's Coffees writes: People who are in a negative state of mind will usually exaggerate the situation. They will often declare,"Everyone says this won't work!" or "Everyone thinks we should give up!" There have been many occasions where people have come to me and made similar statements such as, "Everyone is doing it this way." But when you ask who everyone includes, almost always you'll find that everyone ends up being one or two people. So in response to these sweeping statements, I learned to ask the question, "Who is everyone?" It's actually never anyone.

Too many unfair judgements have been made through ignorance. Have all the information in front of you before you pass judgement on a situation or on someone. After all, that's what you would want others to do to you.

He goes on to say.....

Negativity stunts your growth. If you have a negative attitude, you will stop growing; you will stop making wise decisions and this will slow your progress. People with a negative mindset tend to believe that every decision they make will bring about a poor result. If you are like that, you need to fight those thoughts by reminding yourself of your successes. You need to remind yourself of what you have achieved to date and start to develop and more balanced, positive attitude. By maintaining a negative spirit, you limit your effectiveness in the present and you sabotage your future; you stop moving towards the resources that will eventually bring you success.

So you see that viewing every situation from a negative point of view is not a great way to manage your business, run your life or maintain relationships with other people. It's so easy to be negative with other people, but we have to learn to be positive and to see the best in each situation. We have to get away from the ceiling mentality in which we believe we have reached the ceiling or the potential in our business or relationships. if you believe you have achieved all that you can ever achieve, then you must believe that there are no more opportunities for you.

Loyalty

“If you work for someone, then work for them: Speak well of them and stand by the institution they represent...Remember, an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness...If you must growl, condemn, and eternally find fault, resign your position and when you are on the outside, complain to your hearts content...but as long as you are a part of the institution do not condemn it.”

Elbert Hubbard

Your choice.....

"Any change, any loss, does not make us victims.
Others can shake you, surprise you, disappoint you, but they can't prevent you from acting, from taking the situation you're presented with and moving on.
No matter where you are in life, no matter what your situation, you can always do something.
You always have a choice and the choice can be power."

Blaine Lee
The Power Principle

Pressure produces opportunity.

Have you ever found yourself in a pressure situation? A situation where decisions need to be made. Decisions that could effect other people. Decisions that could see you lose favour with others. Making such decisions will be centred on your core convictions and beliefs.

 

Some people don't know what they believe in. Some are not committed to anything and are easily swayed.

What are your beliefs? Where do you stand?

Your convictions and beliefs are central to your decision making. They ground you and establish the pattern for your life.

Every decision you make will produce an opportunity. If you make a decision to run a red light, you may have the opportunity to pay a fine. You may also have the opportunity to experience what it feels like to have an accident and you may also experience what it feels like to be responsible for the death of another human being. A seemingly small decision can have far reaching effects.

Central to the decision of running that red light is the belief that chances of getting caught are slim and what harm can it do anyway.

Without strong conviction and beliefs you will be prone to making poor decisions that may have negative outcomes. There is a difference between living with conviction and living by consequences.

Pressure situations provide us with the opportunity to make decisions based on our convictions and beliefs. When we stand firm on these convictions and beliefs they will help us determine right from wrong.

A decision, based on what you feel is right in your heart, will always be the best decision. It may not be the most popular and it may not endear you to many though nonetheless, a right decision it is.