Throughout life, we can expect to live around cynical
individuals who are quick to criticize our ideas or tell us why
our plans for success won't work. This week, I met with a client
who was feeling discouraged after she had shared her goals for
becoming self-employed with some of her friends and relatives.
All of the excitement and momentum she had in following through
with her action plans had come to a screeching halt because of a
few doubtful phrases like, "What if you fail- then what are you
going to do?" (Most of the time, it's the way they say this.) Or
one of my personal favorites, "You should go back to school
instead and get your Masters degree."
Nay-Sayers will often tell us that they have our best interest
in mind, but do they really? It reminds me more of the story
about black crabs that Robert Kiyosaki tells in his book Rich
Dad, Poor Dad. He says that if you gather several crabs together
and put them in a bucket, you might be surprised to find that
not one of them will escape. Why? Well, it's very simple. As one
crab reaches the top of the bucket to pull itself over the edge,
his friends at the bottom will grab him with their claws and
pull him right back down.
Unfortunately, this scenario is much like what my client
experienced this week. She is around people, who like those
crabs, are quick to pull her right back down to their level of
thinking.
Ask yourself who the Black Crabs are in your group. I certainly
wouldn't suggest avoiding family members completely, but you may
want to limit the amount of time you spend with them. Instead,
seek out people who are successful. One of the common
characteristics of successful people is that they network and
associate with people who perform at high levels themselves.
Find winners and avoid the whiners!
"Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do
not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul."
Proverbs 22:24-25
Need some inspiration to counter negative thinking? Check out
Dan Miller's new book The Rudder of the Day or download fr^ ee
inspirational material.
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