Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Some Things Never Change...

This year's Election Day led to voiced criticism that President Obama has not lived up to the Change and Hope he promised. It got me thinking about the impact one person can have.

The catch about improving a government... or a business... or a family is that you can't change people.

You can try to motivate and encourage, but changes can only happen by individuals who want better - people who are willing to work at it every day. Groups that all see the same desired goal and each do their part to achieve it.

How can things change if you are the only one who sees the great need? How can one inspire all the others to change? Most importantly - what do you do when all efforts fail and nothing seems to ever change?

It is hard for some of us to give up. Especially when your belief can be so large, so passionate. Yet, sometimes letting go of the vision you have is the only option.

Obviously, I am not Barack Obama. I wish I could stay positive in the face of challenge and harsh resistance. There are, however, also important lessons in these situations. Accepting what cannot or will not change... taking the positives that can be discovered... limiting your exposure and focusing attention and efforts elsewhere.

While you are not able to change others, you can make adjustments to yourself. Some things never change, but we can choose not to be one of those things. We can be better, working from the inside out.