5 Bite Sized Ways to Become Better

Chris: Human beings are the only species on the planet who believe that we can be better today than we were yesterday.  Still, many of us struggle to actually be better.  Here are five ways to begin. 

One: Let Go Of Pre-existing Ideas that Do Not Make Sense to You.

My mother-in-law once said that she couldn’t eat pizza unless she had a knife and fork to cut it with.  I asked, “Have you ever just picked up a slice and ate it?”  She looked disgusted.  But, when the pizza came to the table, there were no knives. As we waited for her knife, I said, “Are we really going to waste a perfectly good pizza?”  She grabbed a slice held it in her hands and took a bite.  I asked, “Does it taste any different?”  She shook her head.  There are so many ideas that are set in our minds early on and never looked at again. We do weird things for no other reason than that’s the way we have always done it.  Look at the things you do and if it doesn’t make sense, change it!

Two: Know Your Power.

Michelle: Know your power.  When we first moved to Arizona to help my parents, I offered suggestions, researched items they might need and brought them resources to help.  Each time, I was met with resistance and left frustrated and discouraged.  One evening, I just sat and listened to them.  I said, “Wow, that sounds hard.  What ideas do you have?”  Suddenly, the conversation moved from complaining to problem solving and learning my power was born. I am learning, that my power comes, not so much from being the problem solver, but from being the listener.

Three: Trust Yourself.

Somehow, you have made it through everything life has thrown and you’re still in the game. Although life is uncertain, look at all of the seemingly impossible times you have had to deal with. Chris and I marvel at some of the things we have gone through and while we may not have made it through gracefully, we are on the other side.  We have found that when we trust ourselves, we are able to trust one another.  With that trust, we have faith that whatever happens in the future, we will find a way to deal with it.  

Four: Real Life Should Look Real.

Chris:  Social media has changed the way we share our lives.  It is a rare post that shares a negative situation and a much more common practice to share vacation pictures, new cars or home improvements.   Recently, a client asked if she could come to our home to see our custom cabinets.  Even though we had just cleaned the house, I went around hiding dog toys, putting away charging cords and basically converting our entire house into a model home.  When Michelle arrived home from work, just hours before the client was due, she said, “She asked to come to our home.  We live here and it should look like we do.”  That simple statement reminded me that our client had viewed the social media and website images.  Now, she was looking for real life.                                  

Five: Positive People Breed Positivity.

There is nothing more discouraging than someone who is always angry, sad or full of complaints.  I tend to look at a situation and wonder what could go wrong.  Michelle, however, can tell you all the ways it could go right, how to make it fun, exciting or at the very least interesting.  That change of perspective helps me when we are not together think, “WWMS-What would Michelle Say.”    

So, go have a look in the dusty corners of your mind and pull out some of your old decisions.  Take a look at them in the bright light of day and see if they still make sense. If not, toss them and move on!