Greater

Training yourself to look at things in a light solely your own can mean a shifting from seeing things as they are to seeing things as how you want them to be.

You might ask, “What’s the difference?”

Seeing things as they are is looking at them at face value, no emotions attached. No judgement. It’s about “It is what it is’.”

Seeing things as how you want them to be stirs in you the attitude of always looking beyond what is obvious, of seeing the possibilities on how something can turn out to be extraordinary. You always see the big picture and so no matter how simple or minute a subject is, for you it is special, it is superlative and so you work towards expanding and creating something greater, something that leaves a mark.

It is like having a piece of apple in front of you. Obviously, it is an apple. Everybody expectedly sees an apple. But you, who have the bigger-picture mindset, see a delectable apple pie or a nourishing fresh apple salad, sliced and diced to your liking and joy, or a smoothie with added zesty cucumber. Potential. That’s what you see.

Apply this to other areas of life. There is a child who expresses want to go up the stage as an honor student while sitting in front of the stage watching  others being honored. This child may be your own or a child under your guardianship.

The common response to the child is a command, “Study hard,” then you start pushing everyday, pressuring without stopping. Another response will be incentivizing, which entails giving incentives when desired results are accomplished. The long term outcome? When child becomes an adult, expect this adult to perform only when there’s an incentive. No incentive, no performance.

One response that works is this: when a child expresses desire to be up that stage, as the guardian, help the child see the bigger picture.

Ask the child, “What will make you become an honor student?” The child’s answer, “‘High grades.” Then ask another question, “How do you get high grades?” The child’s answer, “Study hard.” You ask another question, “What happens then?” The answer, “I go up the stage.”

And so with right guidance and support, the child develops right habits then eventually consistently goes up the stage for honors, among other achievements.

See the difference? The first scenario: “Study hard” is dictated by the parent or guardian. The second scenario, “Study hard” is volunteered by the child. The long term outcome? The child, who one day will become an adult will love working defining own standards with or without incentive. No need for you to push.

Achieving and not incentive is the motivating factor for this group of people.

Leave a mark. See the bigger picture always,

Joji