Of Mice and Me (Expect the Best)

Do you ever feel that life comes at you fast and furious?  One of my favorite quotes is from Robert Burns ‘The best laid schemes of Mice and Men oft go awry, And leave us nothing but grief and pain, For promised joy!’ My week has been just such a week.

On Wednesday morning, I participated in my weekly Master Mind call. I was invigorated for the rest of the week. I initiated a wonderful planning session for the future of my company and for life in general. Life was good and I was prepared for the next challenge. Then it happened, the phone rang and everything changed.

Life is like that.  Sometimes it seems that even the unexpected changes from minute to minute. What this experience is teaching me is that I may not be able to control the circumstances.  I may not be able to change to control those around me.  I can, however, control how I react!

Rather than being prepared for and anticipating the worst in another, I am looking for and anticipating the best. It is improving my attitude; as you might expect. The unexpected benefit is that the others are rising to meet my expectations. Just as self speak creates an environment of self filling prophecy in our own lives; it often creates that same environment in others.

I cannot say that the other person changed. What I can say is that by looking for the good, I found it. If I were still looking for the bad, I have no doubt I would have found it as well.

Try it in your life. It is impossible to plan for everything life may throw at you. What you can do is be prepared to look for the best. To expect the best, not only of yourself but of others.