Go out and Seek Solutions.

“It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.’” —Sam Levenson 

Good day! This quote reminded me of one of the primary traits I have discovered in people who are successful in their professional lives, personal lives, and passions. The successful person heeds this quote and understands that in order to move forward, she needs to use her own helping hand. 

We cannot put the responsibility of moving forward on another, or wait for someone to help us. We have to live every day, helping ourselves, leading ourselves down the road of our dreams. That would seem to be common sense, yet I would dare to estimate that maybe 10 percent of people actually live that way. Many people, somehow, manage to remove themselves from the process of change and forward movement (at least part of the time) by waiting for someone else’s hand to lift them up, or engaging in thoughts that allow them to believe their own hands aren’t strong enough to do the job. Here are just a few examples I encountered recently:

• A person sets a career goal. She quickly realizes she doesn’t have the background to accomplish what she sets out to do. She asks someone to help her, but doesn’t get the help she needs. Instead of moving forward, she stops.

• A person wants to make an investment but does not know how to invest. She asks a friend for advice or guidance, but the friend doesn’t have time to help her. She doesn’t invest.

• A person wants their family to eat more healthily. She tries to orchestrate a meeting to get “everyone on board,” but can’t seem to get everyone to sit down together. She decides now isn’t the time to start the new regimen.

Reread these three examples. Can you think of another way they could have been handled had the women embraced today’s quote? Here are my ideas:

The woman with the career goal could make a list of the information she needs answered, and then seek out sources that have the information. If she truly wants to reach the goal, the answers are at the end of her fingertips. The person without investment knowledge could consult a local stockbroker, book, or many online resources to educate herself or create a mock portfolio. The woman seeking a healthier experience for her family might lead by example.

Your Turn:

What area of your life are you waiting for help in? Instead of spending time waiting, spend time generating a list of what you need to know, and then uncovering sources of the information.

Today’s Affirmation:

I do not stall in life; instead, I seek out solutions.

.....................Brook Noel