 Settling is stopping short.
To settle in is being content. In either case, where you are may not be where you thought you'd be by now. It may not be where you want to be right now. And it may not be where you know you could be by now. All of that can either paralyze you, or propel you. It can hold you back, or launch you forward. It can frustrate you or remind you. Wait...remind you? Of what? Your past may have played a part in your present, but it doesn't have to determine your future. There isn't one of us, myself included, that doesn't need to hear this from time to time. There is value in a little self-reflection, to provide new direction. It's at those moments that we have to decide if we are going to feel sorry for ourselves, and start settling for less than our full potential. Or...take a deep breath, settle in, and see things from a fresh perspective. Be fully present where you are, who you are with, with what you have. And when you start moving forward, bring contentment along for the ride. Stop settling today for what your past is lying to you about. Stop settling today for who others say you are. Stop settling because the obstacles in front of you seem like they are too big to take on. And... Settle in. To believe your past is your launching pad, because it was your learning ground. To believe who you are isn't determined by the the insecurities of others. To believe your future is what you make of the opportunities you leverage today. And when you do... Enjoy the contentment you find when you settle in, because you've committed to stop settling.
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 Have you ever found yourself stuck?
The kind of stuck that has you frustrated? We've all been there. Life throws us a curveball. We were hoping to make contact, but then we swing and miss. And after we swing, we realize the pitch wasn't as good as we first thought. We're frustrated. How do we respond in those moments? The ones where it feels like there is a stadium full of people watching us strike out. It's been said we can't hit what we don't swing at. That's true. But I think we are missing out on some equally solid perspective. We can't hit what isn't in the strike zone either. If the pitch is high and tight, low and away, up and in...making contact is doubtful. And if it's a wild pitch or a pitch-out? Well, you get the point. We aren't getting on base swinging at offerings like that. We aren't going to make progress by swinging at bad pitches. I think sometimes we place so much value in putting our head down and pushing forward, that we miss the point. There is a more effective way to move forward. It requires more patience (that's not always easy). It requires more persistence to "foul-off" a few pitches that we aren't sure if they are strikes or not, just to keep the at-bat alive. But in the end, there is a common goal we are trying to reach. Getting on base. Making progress. Moving forward. Listen...if you are finding the pitches aren't there today...stop swinging. Stand in. Don't leave the batter's box. You can't get on if you aren't in the game. Be patient. With a watchful eye, value the swings you don't take as important too. And at the end of it...when enough bad pitches come? Enjoy the moment when you can... #TakeYourBase In the next blog, we'll talk about what to do once you're on base. That's just as important. For today... #DontChaseTheJunk #JustGetOnBase  We have a generation of young adults,
many of whom are struggling with making good decisions. Let's highlight one area where this happens. Academics. Students don't have an academic problem, they have a vision problem. And I'm not talking about their eyesight. So what am I talking about? Applying themselves in the classroom starts with an ability to understand why they are there in the first place. If the primary reason is because "they have to be", that ship isn't gonna sail. The Millennial generation fell out of love with "because I said so" a long time ago. How do you help an at-risk student achieve the success they want, you want for them, and what the world needs from them? Stop telling them what to do, and start helping them discover who they are, so that they will buy in to why they are there. They won't care about your "because" until they know THE CAUSE. Why am I doing it? Who will it help? What problem will it solve locally? What problem will it solve globally? How will this class help me change the world? We either start answering these questions intentionally, or we will continue to see them struggle academically. So we've identified the problem... but HOW...how does it change? What is the solution? THIS PROCESS IS A START. I've watched this process change thinking. I've watched this process change lives. When you help them discover their vision, they will want to follow direction. Systems & structures aren't the enemy of the Millennial generation. Helping them understand why they exist, and how their talents fit into this world? That's the secret sauce. Because when they know WHO they are, they will know WHAT to do. Or we can keep beating the drum saying everything we've been saying, changing nothing, risking even less...and expecting a completely different outcome. (AKA...rolling the dice) I believe that's pretty close to the definition of insanity. These 141 testimonials represent the hope that comes when we go first, change our approach, and risk more...all in the name of a generation that needs us to fight for them, not with them. (AKA...solving the problem) How can you help? Glad you asked. Do you know someone in leadership at a University? Simply share this blog with them, and ask them to listen to the 141 voices for themselves. Then have them call me, so I can tell them what made it happen. (This number works best for that...716-672-9661) Thanks for joining us in spreading the word. You're the best!  Have you ever been in a situation where something is said
that feels like a personal attack? It's possible it's not about you, but rather a reflection of something someone else is going through. You can dig your heels in and prepare to win the argument, or soften your tone with a presence that deflates the tension. We've all been there. The next time you are, try this approach... Don't take it personally, think through it critically. Solve the problem, don't attack the person. Offer a solution, instead of defending your position. And above all... honor the person in front of you the entire time. Deflating the tension starts with proper perspective. Value the person in front of you, over the position in the argument. |
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December 2016
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