Which of these two statements best describes your attitude when faced with trying circumstances?
“That’s just the way things are and
there is nothing I can do about it”
. . . . . . . .. . .~or~
“I’m not going to let anything except
personal choice dictate my life.”
Have you ever wondered why some people seem so empowered and in control of their lives while others are convinced that they are hopelessly trapped? How is it that some individuals have the internal resources to rise above seemingly unbelievable adversity and go on to accomplish remarkable things against all odds?
When we feel trapped
Feeling trapped can create a strong sense of helplessness and hopelessness. From that state it can be very difficult to believe that there is anything we can do to change our situation. Giving way to this kind of negative perception makes it extremely difficult to come up with a plan of action or the motivation to follow through.
So, when it comes to meeting and conquering the negativity in your life, what can you do to initiate a positive change? What can you do during economic chaos or when it seems like everything has gone wrong? What can you do when your most important relationships are in a downward spiral or your best efforts never produce the right results? What can you do?
Remember that you have amazing, untapped ability
There is something very special about you that you may have forgotten (or never realized). You can do the most remarkable things, no matter what happens. That’s right, people can do incredible things, unbelievable things, despite the most impossible or disastrous circumstances.
I know it doesn’t always seem like it, but you have the ability and resources to be remarkable. That’s exactly why I wrote TRUE SELF, because I know that we all have amazing, untapped potential just waiting to be awakened.
Trust in your ability to be remarkable
Here is why humans can do amazing things: because they are remarkable and unlike any other creation. When a dog starts with weeds, he winds up with weeds and there is nothing he can do about it because he is a dog. But that’s not true with human beings. Humans can turn weeds into gardens.
Humans can turn nothing into something, pennies into a fortune, and disaster into success. There is only one reason they can do such transformational things and that is because every person has the ability to be remarkable.
There is almost nothing that you can’t change
Being remarkable means that you can change anything about yourself that you wish to change. If you don’t like how something is going for you, change it. If there is a lack or void in your life, change it. If something about your current circumstances, skill level, or personality doesn’t suit you, then make up your mind to change it. You are not trapped unless you choose to be!
If there is one thing to get excited about, it’s your incredible ability to do whatever you need to do to change your current reality. Start by asking yourself this simple question: What can I do, starting today, that will make a difference? Once you have your answer, take action and keep taking action. Make a choice to be remarkable and then follow through.
Have you made the choice to be remarkable?
Do you feel connected to your amazing potential?
The lines are open!
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Jonathan,
This article is empowering and encouraging to all who might feel afraid of change. Reminding ourselves that we are in control choosing our happiness in every aspect of our lives.
Thank you
Thanks Bunny, I love to help others wake up to their remarkable self.
Hi Jonathan,
I am a No 2. There are “things” however that will be outside one’s control & you need to ride them out. Knowing which “things” will ease your stress.
Fine post Jonathan. Here’s to being “remarkable” & untapping our well of resources.
be good to yourself
David
Hi David, yes, there certainly things in life that are outside of our control and trying to change the unchangeable is a recipe for frustration. The two things we can always change are our perception of and the meaning we assign to those unchangeables.
We all have the power to live lives full of joy and happiness. Ironically, often the best way to change our lives is to first accept them, and acknowledge the aspects that are making them less than joyful. By accepting, we put ourselves in a position to change. If we simply try to change we often fail, because without acceptance first it is like bashing our heads into a brick wall. It is painful and yields bad results. This is the paradox of acceptance.
Excellent point Chris, thanks for bringing it up. I wrote about this awhile back in an article called Conscious Awareness – When Change Leads to Acceptance. Here’s a quote from that article that harmonizes with your comment:
The natural progression of our increasing awareness will eventually lead us to a state characterized by acceptance. That doesn’t mean that we will cease to grow and change, but the way we accomplish the growth will be different. Instead of pushing, we learn to allow. Our sense of urgency falls away because we feel content with the current reality.
Acceptance is powerful on many levels. It’s the stage where we begin to lose that tendency to make judgments about people (including ourselves), situations, and experiences. Our growth becomes more effortless, as if we have been rowing our personal development boat and now we can relax because we have found the flow. All of a sudden there is a feeling of being harmonious with the world around us
Hello Jonathan. Many thanks for the post. I have found in my own life that the biggest change of all and the one that brings the greatest freedom and happiness to move in new ways is simply to take a moment and be still. In that stillness I realize more vividly that at the core of my being is something that cannot be defeated and that never fails.
Beautifully said Christopher! As is so often the case, the balance and insight that come with experience helps us distinguish which resource to tap into to best accomplish the desired result.
Yes, we can!
I also believe we all have the power to choose and be remarkable. However, sometimes I forget that the first step is planting the seed and be patient until it flowers. It is not a high performance tool
Hey Marc, growth is change and by definition, growth happens over time. Learning to love the process puts it all in perspective.
You have done a great job of highlighting the one thing, the only thing, we really can control–our own thoughts, words, and actions. That is a powerful concept. And a sobering one, because with that power comes responsibility. But if we accept that responsibility, there is no limit on what we can do.
Hi Galen, like commitment, responsibility is very liberating. It severely limits the blame game and puts us right where we belong – in the drivers seat. With responsibility comes control. The two go hand in hand.