Try Again

I encourage trying once again things that might have been unsavory, yucky, unpleasant or dissatisfying, if others you trust continue to tout the merits. Though I spent the first half of my life hating cooked cauliflower and brussel sprouts, I now enthusiastically encourage others who might have also been turned away by these veggies to give them another chance.  It is liberating to finally embrace and fully enjoy two previously abhorred dishes (that happen to also be nutritionally terrific).  Granted, the preparation of the veggies has varied tremendously since my first awful experiences, but my tastes and adventuresome have also expanded.  

Whether it is food, experiences, ways of thinking or people, it is easy to adopt an attitude that one bad encounter is enough to permanently eliminate future encounters.  However, just as my longtime  negatively held beliefs about cauliflower and brussel sprouts changed to positive, we may sometimes realize that maybe that, as in baseball, we should allow three strikes before declaring anything potentially worthwhile as out (of our lives).

Winning with Bleak Starts

I'm sometimes tempted to end an online game of Hearts when I find myself seemingly hopelessly behind.  But, quitting isn't in my nature, so I persevere.  Recently, I had a horrible start and was still in 4th place after 8 hands.  Perseverance paid off.  By the 9th hand, I was in 3rd place.  I'd risen to 2nd place by the 10th deal.  Sticking with the game was worth it.  I won in the 12th hand. 

Though it's just a game of cards, Hearts reminds us:

• Never give up
• A fast start doesn't guarantee a win
• The favorite may not have staying power
• Persistence is one of our greatest strengths
• It's fun to be a winner!

Walking on Water

It's awesome to have our staunch supporters who believe that we walk on water.  It's especially beneficial when we feel like we're slogging through the mud.  When we're challenged, it's important to rely on our knowledge, skills, experience and relationships.  It's easy to get discouraged by focusing on the things that we find difficult when dealing with a challenging opportunity.  By focusing on the resources we have and drawing on past successes, we can plough beyond the obstacles.  Sometimes we have to slog through a bit of mud before we appear as if we walk on water. 

Something Better Just Around the Corner

When we don't get what we think we want, we're disappointed, frustrated and confused. It seems purely theoretical when our friends say, "when one door closes, another opens" or "something better will come along".

It often takes time to see that "no" or "not now" can be the springboard to other, better opportunities. We often quit exploring the range of options when we are presented with the possibility of something that will be "good enough".

My dear, talented friend was exploring career opportunities after a sabbatical. She networked like a super-star, shared countless job openings that were a great match for others she knew, and researched the universe of companies to discover the best job for herself.

Her best opportunities for her new career came through connections she had and created. When she reached the point with a particular company that she was the top candidate and was assured that internal timing issues and approvals just needed to be completed, she could have stopped looking. She didn't.

She continued to interview and explore possibilities. The first company's delay cost them a fabulous associate. But it yielded a far better job offer for my friend. The answer she thought she wanted would have locked her into a job that was "good enough". Because she didn't let her frustration nor the first company's assurances that a job offer was coming halt her exploration, she truly did find something better just around the corner.

Life's a Game of Cards

Flexibility, positive attitude, knowledge, strategy, interpersonal skills, persistence and achievement are keys to a happy and successful life. It’s a lot like a game of cards.

In life, just like in a card game:

Winning’s not everything. Playing the game is a lot of fun.
You can change the hand you are dealt.
The outcome of the game is dependant not only on your decisions, but also the decisions of your opponent and/or the way the cards are dealt.
The determination of which cards are best varies hand by hand.
You don’t have to keep a running score.
The mission is constant – winning.
The tactics change depending upon which cards you are dealt.
People prefer to deal with good sports.
You need to know the rules of the game.
The players change.
You can’t win every hand.
It’s not over, until the last card is played.