When you were very young, you learned how to crawl, and then you learned to walk. You didn’t just stand up and run into your mother’s arms. It took time and effort before you could walk well enough that you didn’t stumble and fall after only a few steps. The same can be said for other areas of your life. You have to take the first step before you can learn how to walk through the changes you will make in order to improve your circumstances. Life in Michigan is not easy right now, with the economy being in a slump and the jobs being few and far between. But that does not mean that you have to face your days being depressed about the overall situation.
The key is being able to change your attitude toward your situation. But you cannot simply say, “I will be positive” and have it happen. Just like a baby, you have to crawl before you walk. You have to go through the process in the proper order in order to achieve success. This will be a life-long process, and taking the proper steps will allow you to make it your way of life, not just a project for today.
The first step involves telling the truth about yourself. You have to explore the truth about your current abilities (which are not the same as your capabilities) and the truth about what you want. Admitting the truth about yourself is not easy to do, since you don’t want to admit that you have faults. But you have to face the fact that everyone does. It’s in knowing you have them that you can correct them. It is equally difficult to admit your strengths, but again, everyone has them.
The closer you get to the truth, the greater the possibility of success. That’s why it is important to be as specific as possible when taking the first step. Take note of your faults as well as your strengths, because one balances the other. You can begin to correct your faults by using your strengths, changing your current circumstances. No matter how difficult your life seems, you will have a more positive outlook on things as time goes on. The truth has a magical quality. It has power. Finding the truth about yourself and taking that first step is the key to a better life.
This post is brought to you by the good folks at Dale Carnegie Training of Michigan, providers of professional development and management development courses and information in Michigan. We would love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter @MarkWillDCT.
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