Posted by Jason on: 09.08.2008 /
Robert posted a blog last week about greed. He made some points about how greed can work to the detriment of people. He posted this situation as an example of where greed made someone lose $½ million by making a bad choice.
I maintain that she didn’t lose out on $1 million but actually won $5,000. She could have won more if her decisions had been different, but they weren’t. Having won $5k should she spend her time lamenting the loss of $1m or make the most of what she has? It is better to learn from mistakes that to feel shame about them. It is better to move forward than to dwell in the past.
Still in doubt? Take a look at this clip. It’s a tribute to Christopher Reeve and many, many others that they work so hard seeking a cure for spinal cord paralysis. Then ask yourself whether it is better to make the very best of your situation and move forward in life or allow your past to overwhelm you.
The first clip showed someone taking a risk and failing. That happens sometimes when you take a risk, the bigger the risk the more likely you are to fail. Failure is good though because it lets us learn what we can do and what we can deal with. We shouldn’t be afraid of failure because we need to fail sometimes in order to succeed later.
The only way to lose in life would be not to live it. If you go through life thinking about might-haves and maybes then you’ll always be disappointed about something. It’s more positive to enjoy what you do have and work to improve that than to lament lost opportunities. The wonderful, moving clip with Christopher Reeve and Hilary Clinton in shows how one man’s tragedy can be used to great, positive effect. Even his death could be said to inspire people.
The difference between lamenting a misfortune and making the very best of it is simply attitude. This might be a willingness to move on and adjust to new circumstances. It might be a positive outlook on life that simply allows a person to see the good in a situation where others see only bad. My daughter, Caitlin, would call it “intelligent emotion” and I think the phrase is appropriate. We can use out intellects to change the course of our emotions so that they work for our happiness rather than against it.
Comment by: Mike O
1That was really good! I haven’t had a chance to watch the videos yet (I’m at work on a break), but your words are right in line with what I’ll be teaching in my Curveball group starting this Thursday.
It’s cool when we end up on the same page.
Comment by: Karen
2What was interesting in the first clip is that she appears to call on some kind of “name it and claim it” philosophy when she says she “believes” the million is in her case.
That language is identical to the prosperity gospel and to The Secret, as I understand them, and they are both decidedly scams that this poor woman may have bought into (the prosperity gospel in the U.S. is unfortunately prevalent in the black churches).
She gambled and lost, which I agree with you is no cause for shame. However I tend to favor the “bird in the hand worth two in the bush” take on things. It hasn’t served me wrong so far in life!
Comment by: Mike O
3Attitude is everything. No matter what happens, the world is still out there ahead of you. Sure, your course may change, but you still have a course!
This post was really inspiring for me - thanks, Jason!