You Are Success – Part II
“About 90% of
the things in your life are right. Make sure you don’t overlook the 90% that’s
right because you’re focusing on the 10% that’s not.” – Dale Carnegie
It is so easy to create a negative
mindset. News headlines loudly exclaim
stories of war, famine, death, plagues and all kinds of tragedies. The fact is that the dismal and disastrous
sell. Shining a spotlight on these
events leads many to assume that the world is badly off and getting worse. This flies in the face of the data indicating
that worldwide there is less hunger, disease, conflict and death than ever
before. Life expectancy across the globe
has risen to 72 years of age, the highest ever, an increase of 5.5 years in a
little over a decade.
Yes, this world will always have calamities
and disasters, but despite the fact that there is stuff going wrong there is a
heck of a lot going right every minute of every day. Paying inordinate attention to the negatives
tends to blind us to the good and positive that exist. I am not belittling your woes or your
difficulties, nor am I saying that the world could not do with some
improvement. I am merely asking that we
remember the things that are going well.
It is important to remember the progress that we have made. Barely 150 years ago, slavery was widely
accepted and rights of women and children were similarly dismal. The bygone days were not as sunny as many
paint them to be today. By all measures,
human rights have been successfully improved up to the present and they
continue to break new ground in various regions.
On a more personal level, I’d like to speak
to those who think of themselves or their efforts as failure. Your plans may
not be going as you expect them. Your
life may seem off track. Everything may
seem to be going wrong. If that is how
you feel then you would be wise to stop and take measure of your assets. Are you able-bodied? Do you have friends or family that care for
you? Is your sanity intact? Can you still see or hear? Do you have a safe home? Do you enjoy personal freedoms? These are not small matters. Many lack these things and suffer
greatly. Do not take them for granted!
No, you are not a failure. Failures are events that occur and then pass
into history. They do not define anyone
or anything. Take a candid and impartial
look at your life. No matter who you are
you still have a lot going right for you.
Don’t ignore that truth. The
words of Dale Carnegie are correct.
Ninety percent of your life is successful. You are a success. Don’t lose that perspective while tackling
the small bit that is going wrong. Start
taking inventory of that successful ninety percent and confidently learn to put
it to work improving that troublesome ten percent!
©2018 Scott D. Wilson
