When in Doubt Simplify

LEARNING TO SUCCEED AT FAILING & FAILING TO SUCCEED SO YOU CAN FINALLY GET SOMEWHERE

By

Bill Cottringer

·        Being lazy by not using my talents.

·        Using negative words that offend and disable people.

·        Engaging in anger and violence in the false names of fear and      insecurity.

·        Recklessly and thoughtlessly exercising irresponsible freedom.

·        Hiding behind pride to keep from learning from my mistakes and believing I am the center of the universe.

·        Not striving to exercise unconditional love, especially during adversity.

·        Failing to enjoy and appreciate gifts of magical moments.

·        Being intemperate and out of balance in important things.

·        Not practicing total commitment in the right things.

·        Being judgmental, superior, insensitive, dishonest, controlling and over-certain.

2.  Using my cumulative knowledge, skills and abilities for the greater good.

     Here again, this just means doing a few simple things well:

·        Knowing what I know and don't know, especially what I have to offer.

·        Being able to admit and share my failures openly in good story form.

·        Becoming more sensitive to other people who may need to know what I know.

·        Redefining what "success" means to allow other people to have more of it.

·        Knowing when to say something and knowing when to keep my mouth shut.

·        Being very sensitive to moments of opportunity.

·        Staying open to perpetual growth, learning and improvement, especially when I am convinced I already know it all.

·        Having the courage to bring conflicts to the surface.

·        Engaging in urgent, creative, participative conversations.

·        Placing myself near other people who challenge me to be my best.

·        Being motivated to understand uncertainty.

·        Knowing exactly what I want and why.

3.  Enjoying the natural beauty and truth in nature and people.

     I have found that real wealth is free and all you have to do is look and see. The things I see that bring me real wealth are:

·        Fantastic, near perfect patterns in trees, flowers, birds, the sky, rocks, sand, and water.

·        Natural solutions to many of life's problems.

·        Great harmony, unity and interdependence.

·        Common brokenness in people that is an opening for meaningful conversation.

·        A great story in everyone that has a useful clue for everyone else.

·        Commonalities in people to enjoy and differences to celebrate.

·        Stress-busting peace and relaxing rhythm.

·        A vivid, undeniable and real connection to our Creator.

     I wonder what I would have accomplished with my life if I had the advantage of knowing this simple prescription earlier on. But isn't that the whole point? My life wasn't wasted at all. I have what I want; I just didn't always see that. What do you think?  Does the title make sense?

William Cottringer, Ph.D. is  President of Puget Sound Security, a Business Success Coach, Sport Psychologist, Writer and Photographer from Issaquah, WA. He is author of You Can Have Your Cheese & Eat It Too and The Bow-Wow Secrets: How Dogs Live Simple Lives & People Don't. He can be reached with questions and comments at (425) 454-5011 or bcottringer@pssp.net