How many of you have focused on a goal, worked hard to achieve that goal, only to have someone knock you down and say that you just weren't good enough? We've all experienced those situations, whether you're a student trying to get into professional school, an employee trying to climb up that corporate ladder, or an entrepreneur starting up your very first business.
I'm reminded about the story of the "Crabs in the Bucket" One time a man was walking along the beach and saw another man fishing in the surf with a bait bucket beside him.
As he drew closer, he saw that the bait bucket had no lid and had live crabs inside.
"Why don't you cover your bait bucket so the crabs won't escape?", he said.
"You don't understand.
", the man replied, "If there is one crab in the bucket it would surely crawl out very quickly.
However, when there are many crabs in the bucket, if one tries to crawl up the side, the others grab hold of it and pull it back down so that it will share the same fate as the rest of them.
" So it is with people.
If one tries to do something different, get better grades, improve themselves, escape their environment, or dream big dreams, other people will try to drag them back down to share their fate.
Our society is very negative in nature.
Misery loves company, and lets face it, most people are miserable.
People are not fulfilled, they feel frustrated, insecure, inadequate, but most of all, feel like a complete failure.
Do you feel this way? Have you ever wondered where these thoughts come from? I can tell you where they come from..
..
They come from your family, your friends, your boss, your superiors, and your customers.
These people are spewing negativity everywhere they go.
When we don't receive the recognition or fulfillment that we so yearn for, we become frustrated and these feelings of frustration lead to feelings of unhappiness, irritability, inadequacy, insecurity, and self defeat.
What's even worse is that we share this negativity and spread it to everyone around us like a disease.
We need to STOP this behavior immediately.
Instead of reveling in this negativity, we can choose to change it.
Instead, we can plant seeds of positive thoughts and success in our minds.
Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something.
You're success is 100% your responsibility.
If you have a boss that says you just aren't good enough for that promotion...
fire your boss.
If your friends/family continually put you down, spend less time with them and make new friends.
If you have angry and bitter customers, get new customers.
Surround yourself with positive, successful minded people.
Just remember, "if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
" Wayne Dyer