Category Archives: blame

Wanting tells the lie that having will fill every void

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“Wanting tells the lie that having will fill every void. It does not.”

—Stephen St. Amant, from a post on the wisdom of Jim Carrey

Image from Unsplash by Dayne Topkin

What do you want that you don’t already have?

This question is worth a deep dive, especially if you find yourself fundamentally dissatisfied with your life.

It’s easy to blame it on the media or the people with whom you associate — we are just trying to keep up with the Joneses!

It’s a lie that having more of what’s missing will suddenly quench your insatiable thirst.

It won’t.

Regardless of whether people seek fame, power, money, status, or just more stuff, the evidence from others who actually seem to have won their life lottery leave many still feeling empty.

EXERCISE:

In what ways do you buy into the lie of wanting?

How much of what you have wanted has already been realized?

Where might the pursuit of less be more satisfying and meaningful than always wanting what you don’t have?

 

Friday Review: Blame

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Friday Review: Blame

Where do you notice the blame game being played in your world? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.”

 

 

 

“Finding fault replaces peace of mind.”

 

 

 

 

“If you blame it on someone else, don’t expect it to get better.”

 

 

 

If You Blame it on Someone Else

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“If you blame it on someone else, don’t expect it to get better.”

—Author Unknown

Blaming and making others wrong is like a black hole in the world of relationships. Nothing good ever comes out of it.

Unfortunately, we each view the world through our own perceptual filters. On many occasions, our views do not agree or align with others. This is not bad in itself, except that we often go a step further to prove our point or to undermine those who think and do otherwise.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you reduce or eliminate playing the blame game, personally or professionally, to improve your life?

Friday Review Blame

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FRIDAY REVIEW: BLAME

Where does the blame belong? Here are a few posts about blame you may have missed. Click the links to read the full messages.

 

“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.”

 

 

 

 

“When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that three of his fingers are pointing at himself.”

 

 

 

“Finding fault replaces peace of mind.”

 

 

 

 

 

pointing at himself

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“When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that three of his fingers are pointing at himself.”

—Author Unknown

Image of a man pointing one finger with three fingers pointing at himself

Image from idgconnect.com

There sure is a lot of finger pointing going on these days! Pick almost any hot topic in the news and you will see people on all sides taking dead aim at one another.

Blaming others, finding fault, and making others wrong seems wired into us in spite of the fact that we are all highly aware of its consequences.

EXERCISE:

Knowing that three fingers are always pointing back at us when we point at others, how can you take far more responsibility, accountability, and ownership regarding the events in every aspect of your life?

Finding Fault

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“Finding fault replaces peace of mind.”

—Author Unknown

Image from alarminfo.org

Image from alarminfo.org

 

There doesn’t seem to be much peace of mind, serenity, tranquility, or calmness in people’s lives or in the world these days. In our hyper-connected, media-inundated society, the levels of judgement, blaming, and outright hostility are unprecedented.

In addition to conducting your own version of a media diet or even a complete media fast, take a very close look at your immediate professional and personal worlds to determine the level of fault-finding you observe and perhaps initiate.

EXERCISE:

Beginning with yourself, make an extra effort to see what is right with people and in the world around you, and replace fault finding with the peace of mind you desire.

Primary Choices in Life

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“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.”

— Denis Waitley, American motivational speaker and writer

image from http://www.faithingyourblueprint.com

image from http://www.faithingyourblueprint.com

When I read today’s quote, I felt a bit troubled. Observing the world around me, I notice many people making a third, and yet very undesirable choice in life: the choice to be the victim. This is where individuals, organizations, and sometimes even nations, blame others for their current conditions.

Waitley points to two better choices for us to consider as we journey through our days. As the serenity prayer suggests, it is often helpful to simply accept those things we cannot control or influence, and of course, accept and take responsibility for those situations about which we can do something.

EXERCISE:

What choices are you currently making in your professional and personal life? Where would greater acceptance of your responsibility to change for the better make the biggest difference?