It probably doesn’t take a genius to recognize that despite various assurances that the recession is over, there are plenty of us out here who are still challenged in many ways.
I have worked with a number of people over the past year, each of whom has taken a different approach to working with the reality of our shaky economy and warring political camps.
Some are stuck in downright blame while others are doing their best to make lemonade out of the lemons. The latter approach is one I call "acceptance" while the former is one I call "resistance."
If acceptance means learning to simply "live with it" or, worse yet, giving up, then that just won’t cut it for most people, no matter how positive their outlook or disposition.
However, the word acceptance actually comes from an old English usage meaning "to receive from." Other early but less commonly held meanings of acceptance are "to recognize as true" or "to agree to undertake a responsibility."
So what does all this mean when faced with the short end of the stick? A workable, practical acceptance mindset means that you had better recognize and learn to face what’s in front of you, no matter how unfair it might seem, and then start to figure out what you can do about it. Why? Because if you don’t, you’re stuck with it!
Hopefully, the pragmatists can see the wisdom in recognizing what’s so and then working to make things better. That’s what true positive thinking is about – recognizing the present reality, differentiating that from a realistic and preferred outcome, and then setting about moving toward that more positive future by taking positive, proactive action in the here and now.
Yeah, yeah – I know – I can hear the complaints already. It sucks out there, the fat cats always wind up OK, and life ain’t fair. Ok. I get it. So what?
Even if that’s true, what should you do about it? Whining won’t help. Blaming won’t help. These approaches don’t work even if you’re right. How about just giving up? Pretty obvious what results quitting will produce.
So what do you do instead?
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About russell.bishop
A recognized expert in personal and organization transformation, Russell has coached thousands of individuals around the world, helping them discover more about who they truly are and how to create balance and success in their personal and professional lives. He is the creator of Insight Seminars, one of the largest and most successful personal transformation programs in the world, with well over one million graduates in 34 countries.
Russell is an internationally regarded speaker, educator, coach and consultant. His corporate clients include Fortune 500 executives in aerospace, healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, information technology, telecommunications and oil and gas. He has extensive international experience working in Europe, Asia, North and South America.
Having started five different organizations in his career, Russell is well versed in the growth and expansion challenges faced by founding entrepreneurs and CEO’s. Executives and senior teams frequently engage his services on issues of leadership, growth and work-life balance.
Today, Russell is the the founder and President of Bishop & Bishop, a consulting and coaching company whose seminars, coaching, and consulting offer individuals and organizations a new approach to integrating personal and spiritual values into their personal and professional lives. He is the author of numerous articles on the power of choice and awareness as well as his forthcoming book, Lessons in the Key of Life: Questions for Those in Search of Answers.
In addition to his consulting practice, he has lectured on productivity for the executive MBA programs at UCLA, University of Texas and Washington University in St. Louis. Russell previously served on the Board of Directors for the University of Santa Monica and was a charter member of the Advisory Board for the Points of Light Foundation.
He received a Master's degree in Educational Psychology from the Davis Campus of the University of California and currently resides in Santa Barbara, California and Mauna Lani, Hawaii with his wife, Valerie. Russell is an avid golfer and amateur chef.
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