Talk is cheap...

Talk is cheap...so cheap in fact, you can usually get it for free.  There is a reason why it is often so cheap, because it doesn't take any effort to talk.  Follow-through is probably one of the most important things we can do, but so often it is the one thing that is really lacking.  Take a simple "supply and demand" curve: there is a lot of "talk" out there and thus the very affordable cost.  "Follow through" on the other hand is in low supply and always asked for in high quantity.  


Think of all the people who want you to follow through on all of your "talk"...teachers, parents, kids, family, spouse, boss, employees, and the list could go on.  You can go on constantly talking about how great you are, but at some point you will run into someone who will want you to show some validity to the "you're awesome" argument.  At some point, you have to show your child how much you love them and care about them by showing up to a sporting event or something similar; without it being a battle between choosing your child over your own "important" schedule.  


Sometimes, I don't even think it's about following through with promises you make to others, or proving how awesome you are.  I think one of the biggest issues is our own viewpoint on life as a whole.  How many times have we talked about spending more time with our family?...or eating healthier?  We talk about these grand plans that we have for our lives and all the things we want to do (realistic or not) but a majority of the time we never follow through.  Why?


Life happens.  Our dream of traveling to Italy slowly gets piled on deeper and deeper with bills and other pads of note paper.  Our gym membership sits on the coffee table in the living room, gathering as much dust as our Bible we said we were going to start reading more often.  Our priorities change.  There's nothing wrong with that by any means.  But, by constantly holding on to some dream (and worse) continuing to talk about it like it's going to happen only attacks our soul and makes us feel worthless, negative and regretful.  Those feelings certainly don't make me feel like doing ANYTHING.  My advice is to STOP talking about all the stuff we say we are going to do.  If you want to do something, then go and do it; talk about it afterward.  Stop telling yourself you are going to do something when you know you really aren't; stop pretending to be someone to other people by making these grand plans and not being able to follow through...chances are they will love you regardless.  


Don't misunderstand me, having dreams and pursuing them is a great thing!  I'm talking about putting on a mask and pretending to be someone you're not to impress yourself, your family, your boss or just other people in general.  Maybe, just maybe, if we get rid of all the Fairy Tale-pretend-garbage, then we might get to know each other better, because we'll start being honest with one another for the first time.  


Matthew 6 


Listening to...Making me a believer - TFK

Perspective

Perspective is a crazy thing.  In some ways it's kind of like common sense, in that it's not all that common.  Now when I'm talking about perspective, I mean the ability to look at an event or situation without the blinders or blurred lenses of your own biases.  Now, I know most of you are thinking to yourselves, "I have lots of perspective"...yes, yes you do.  The problem with your perspective, is well, it's your perspective.  Your own perspective doesn't really count here, sorry.  What I am talking about is being able to take a specific situation and put on another's shoes, hat, t-shirt or suit and look at it from their point of view.  Too many times we just get mad, upset or offended by what someone says or does and never looks at the world from their view point. 


Now, I am the first person to admit that I am usually critical and tell people they are wrong often, but, I will always try to look at their point of view to figure out why they think a certain way.  Because if I think someone is wrong and I leave it at that, I'm not really helping or learning at all. But if I can help give them some perspective on the situation, ask them questions about why they think a certain way, then I can help understand where they are coming from.  Can I still think they are wrong?  Sure.  But at least I took a brief opportunity to try and understand someone, instead of ignoring them completely.  Because, lets be honest, most arguments we have with one another in sports, religion and politics are usually issues that go deeper than the argument itself.  


Most arguments stem from more foundational beliefs, theories, ideas or opinions, that are rooted much deeper than we really care to recognize.  Lets take a foul in basketball for instance...there are very few other moments in sports where one side will in one voice "boo" or say "what?" at the same time as the other side applauds, agrees and cheers both the referee and the player for drawing the foul.  Talk about perspective!  So the issue in argument is the foul right?  Not really...the underlying issue is that I want my team to win, so whatever way I have to cheer to support my team I will, regardless of whether or not I know a foul was made.  


That might be too simple of an example, but I guess my point is this...we can argue the stuff on the outside all we want, it won't ever change the fact that we disagree.  It takes a lot of work and a lot of time; most of us aren't willing to dig deep into someones life and understand where they are coming from.  I'm not saying that we always have to agree with everyone (not at all) but if we really want to lead by example to the rest of the world, it's going to take a little more work.  If we stop, ask some questions, ask "why" and get to the root of the issue, then we might be able to finally have some perspective...like I said though, it's not that common.