Business Dreams Consulting

Let It Begin With Me

There's a song that has been playing in my head for a few months now - a song that has a line that I feel sums up the way that I want to approach life. That song "Let There Be Peace on Earth".  The line that I resolve to live is "Let it Begin With Me". If I want a different world; then I need to make it different. 

If I want a better environment; then I need to live that. I need to do more of what I have been doing - I use my car very little and want to cut that out even more. I have made a conscious decision to fly less; so I vacation at home. I have never used my dryer much - prefer to make my home more humid by air drying clothes - but I resolve to do that even more. And I need to think of more ways to make a difference. 

If I believe that our spending on health care is getting dangerously out of control; then I need to ensure that I don't place demands on the health system. I need to take care of my own health which means eating well, getting enough rest, and exercising. 

Most importantly, if I want a world that is more peaceful, safe and loving; then I need to ensure that I am carrying a positive attitude each day. Just as negativity breeds negativity so does a positive attitude breed more of the same. I look for the positive. I smile more. Each time I find myself getting irritated or thinking 'they should ...' I stop myself and ask what I can do about the situation. If there is nothing I can do; then I dismiss the thought because getting irritated and complaining doesn't create a better world. If there is something I can do; then I resolve to do that.   

I could go on with more examples but I think the point is clear.  None of the above has a cost except a conscious effort to do as Gandhi says "we must be the change we want to see in the world".  That is the way I resolve to live my life.  Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. 

 

Why Is Why So Important?

Why?  Why?  Why? 

Ever spent time with a young child?  Why seems to be the only question they ask!   They ask it over and over, and even though it might seem that they do it simply to drive adults crazy; that itsn't it.  They ask "why" to discover how their world works.  If you google the question "why do kids ask why" you get a response that says that it helps them feel more in control of their life and it fosters independence. 

I think that we forget to ask why as we get older.  We get so caught up in the day to day details of life and get so busy 'doing', that we forget to ask ourself why we do what we do.  "Why" is the most important question you can ask yourself; particularly if you ask it with the right intent.  Ask why with the intent of learning about yourself.  The purpose is not to beat yourself up ("why did you do that - you are so stupid") but to help you gain control of your life or to simply understand yourself better.  "Why do I feel like I have no time to myself".  "Why am I constantly complaining about ...".  "Why am I saying yes to that when I don't want to do it".

Explore your life with the curiousity of a child.  Ask why, and don't stop at the first, easy surface answer.   Ask it again and again.  We often question why others do things; but how often do you ask yourself why you do something?  Why you believe something?  Why ...

Why is why so important?  Because it might be the key question that helps you change your life.  If it helps kids feel more in control of their life; perhaps it can do the same for you.