You’re Powerless Without Gratitude
November 22nd, 2017 // 10:23 am @ Scott Manning
I do not think there is anything more powerful in the world than gratitude. For one because human nature is to always think selfishly about what you have or don’t have, what you have to do or sacrifice, what others do or don’t do all reflective in the most negative way possible.
There is no profit in that. Those feelings are fool’s gold.
Life isn’t fair. It’s not equal. It’s not suppose to be and anyone who is remotely self-reliant, responsible and desires to have independence must absolutely embrace and celebrate this fact. You wouldn’t want it to be equal otherwise you’d be just like all of ‘them’ instead of have been given the chance to be you.
I can’t stand people who complain about work or being overwhelmed or all the inequities of the opportunity cost that their responsibilities, business ownership, time, effort, investment they have to sacrifice to have the life they say they want…but if you ask them what they would like to give up in order to have less to complain about and rid their loser mindset and mentality from them – they do not want to give up anything they have – because they have moved to some type of entitlement or resentment for what is required to have the life they do. It’s insulting.
When teaching the martial arts we would always say: you are only a black belt as long as you are a black belt. That point was meaning that you don’t get to hit a goal and stop and then have the glory of that goal tomorrow and the next day and for years to come – life doesn’t work that way.
Sure, you can say I accomplished something…but then what – you are only as good as your actions, results, beliefs, successes today – yesterday doesn’t matter.
Imagine a doctor who achieves a million-dollar year and then feels so proud or even just has their best month ever and then thinks “alright it’s all over now, we got this.” Then they think just because they earned it once, it’s going to now be easier, going to now be something they are entitled to experience again and again.
Not a chance. It all starts over again tomorrow.
And for that we should all be thankful. Success isn’t a one-time thing. You are entitled to nothing, you must earn everything and for goodness sake don’t ever be so naïve to think that anyone owes you anything.
Not the employees you pay.
Not the customers you serve.
Not the family you provide for.
Not the profession you chose.
Not the education you obtain.
Not the experience you get.
Nothing matters other than how you perform today. Perhaps that’s why more athlete’s are in a bad mood after losing than business people are – because they know they won’t always have another game.
For business people, they take everything they have for granted because they think there is always tomorrow to do better. That mentality is for losers.
Tomorrows turn into years, turn into decades.
Usually, I remind you going into tomorrow, the day of thanks (which should be every single day), just how amazing you are and all that you have earned.
Today, a more humbling message.
Remember this: everything you are celebrating and giving thanks for tomorrow because of all that you have done in your life – it’s got less to do with you than it does all the people around you who embrace you and tolerate the life you have chose and person that you are. It’s not just you who makes sacrifices… no one alone could make anything happen, no matter how great you are.
The other thing I want to remind you about tomorrow… all this stuff, all these people, everything you have to be thankful for – it doesn’t have to be there next year.
Life, success, all aspects are not guaranteed.
Perhaps our gratitude and thankfulness should be felt every time we wake up and get another day to do what we do, to earn what we earn, to impact the way we impact.
So just in case you find yourself regretting or resenting any part of it – don’t. Check your ego at the door and remember what you’d have and how you’d live if all the things and people you have to be thankful for weren’t there. Wouldn’t mean so much now would it?
The way I see it, take a break tomorrow, enjoy the friends, family and food. Then get off your ass and get back to work. Wake up fighting hard for the things you believe in and the life you say you want so that next year you’ll have even more to be grateful for, proud of, thankful about.
You are only as good as what you did today to deserve another chance at tomorrow. Make the most of everything and celebrate the opportunity you have been afforded because it doesn’t have to be this way. The surest way to ruin a good thing is to not fully appreciate it and understand what really makes it possible…
Opportunity cost should be savored not regretted –
Sacrifice should be honored not resented –
Success should be earned not entitled –
And the people that make you and your life possible should feel the greatest sense of gratitude from you everyday not just tomorrow because you’d have a hell of a time making all this a reality without them.
Happy Thanksgiving
Category : Blog
