Change the World by First Changing Yourself

"When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves." ~ Viktor E. Frankl

On the way home from work today, one of the ladies on the van made an obvious attempt to get my attention. I saw her in the rearview mirror waving her arms and making this peculiar face. Curious, I removed the right earbud from my ear and acknowledged her. "Yes?" I asked. "I want to ask you a very serious question." She replied.

"Ok, shoot!" I said.

After a very long and uncomfortable pause, she slowly started to speak. The gentleman riding in the front seat next to me raised his left hand in a waving motion, as if to say, "Spit it out already!"

Finally, after much hesitation, she asked this question, "With all of the audios you listen to, books you read, and trainings you attend, is it really helping you?"

That was definitely not a question that I was expecting, but one I was more than happy to address. In preparation for my response, I pulled the second earbud from my ear so as to avoid any distractions.

From the look on her face, she appeared genuinely interested, but it didn't stop me from asking her a question in return. "Why?" I requested.

She went on to explain that for as long as she's known me, I regularly buy, read, listen, and consume a large quantity of self-help material. With all of the money I've spent, is it helping? Am I inspired? Motivated? Is my life changing as a result of it all? "Yes!" I exclaimed. "Without a doubt!"

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. ~ Wayne Dyer

In the beginning. I just wanted to change the world because I believed they were the problem, but I have since come to understand that the real challenge and reward is learning how to change me. I am 100 percent responsible for where I am right now. Be it in my love life, career, education, health, or finances, I have the power to stay where I am or continue to dramatically improve my life for the better. It all begins with me.

The same can be said of you. While I don't know where you are in life, I do know that you have the power to choose. You can make it as happy or as miserable as you decide it to be.

As we look toward this day, let's embrace an opportunity to improve ourselves, our thinking, and the way we see the world. Let's get rid of that stinking thinking that has followed us our entire lives and replace it with positive, loving, innovative, and encouraging messages that will inspire, empower, and free us to be the best that we can possibly be.

Let's make today great. Enjoy!