When you are feeling low, beaten down, and defeated, sometimes all you need is a good story. Not a story of how beautiful life can get but rather the opposite. A story of just how ugly it can become. You may be going through a very difficult time in your personal life. What you need is a true story of someone who went through a similar event or even worse and made it through so you realize that it isn’t so bad.
It is easy to be overly self-conscious and throw pity parties when all you see is yourself, your challenges, and your failures. You can set yourself free from these by hearing what other people have to say about themselves. I remember the first time I listened to my own voice in an audio message. The only thing I said afterward was, “I don't know how people can stand me considering the way I sound” I was soon to learn that someone else whose voice I thought was much better than mine had the same sentiments towards her own.
Listen to other people’s stories for inspiration. No need to wait until you are at the bottom to search them out. In your profession, one of the ladders to help you get up is found in someone else who went before you. Sure, it is great to do your own thing, invent your own systems and come up with unique ways to advance but we are a people for a reason. Communities exist for a reason. Where you can, find out how other people did whatever you want to get into and then build from there. It is possible to be armed with resources and not be aware of their use but when you hear how someone else utilized the same and produced greatness, your mind gets opened up.
Sometimes it only takes a statement that appears very simple to get you to have an awesome epiphany. One successful coach only said, “The day I decided I was going to start with what I had, where I was, that was the day I began to act on my thoughts. Procrastination became a thing of the past” and that resonated with my spirit so much I immediately started taking action steps towards my goal which was to become a fitness trainer. Well, the beginning of that was me achieving fitness for myself before teaching it to someone else. Up until that time I had been stuck thinking about the capital I needed to buy the necessary equipment and register my organization.
“A fool has no delight in understanding but in expressing his own heart” Do not be a fool. The whole universe is making mistake after mistake every day and though a lot can be learned from mistakes, it doesn’t mean that you have to experience first-hand the consequences of all types of errors. Listen to other people detail the pain they went through as a result of poor choices and be wiser as you make your own. This will save you a lot of time and resources.
This is a true story: Nabil used to be embarrassed by his mum because she was so loud. She would openly reprimand him any chance she got even in the presence of his friends when they came over to play. He often told her how he didn’t like that and often said that he wished he had been born into a different family. One day he observed his friend’s father being dragged into the house naked. The man was under the influence of drugs and had no idea what he was doing. Shaken, Nabil got back home that evening to hug his mother and tell her just how much he loved and was proud of her.
Sometimes you need to hear someone else’s tale just so you can have a revelation of your privilege and be thankful. Your eyes can easily be muddied by the problems in your life that they struggle to see your blessings. It is when you hear how tough someone else has it that you can begin to see and appreciate your own position. Just by being a good listener so many good things can happen to you, not to mention those that have already happened that you just need to take note of. Everyone appreciates a good ear. If you have a client base- listen to their stories so that you may know how your product impacts their lives. Listen to your leaders to gain some insight concerning higher matters. As a leader, it is imperative that you lend an attentive ear to those who follow you so that you may improve your leadership skill. Regardless of your position in society, listen.
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