Extremes

Humans are creatures of extremes.  And impulse.

And it includes myself, I am not denying that!

My question is why, when something goes wrong (or even right), do people over-compensate?  Why do they suddenly put everything into a new idea?  This includes things like their jobs, a new religion or returning to their religion, a new hobby, changing lifestyle to compete with the Jones's... you name it.

Why are we unable to keep the balance?  Why don't we plan to spend our time equally between all the important things in our lives?

Would love some comments and ideas.

Motivation - a follow up

I listened to a podcast from Zig Ziglar this week entitled "What positive thinking is and isn't".

What he said was very interesting and in my mind very true.  I also wrote my thoughts in another post. Click here to revisit that post as what I am about to say supports what I said then.

He made a couple of points and I will leave it up to you to link it back to my own thoughts that I shared in May 2011.

First thing he said was that Positive thinking alone won't help you do something that you do not have the ability for.  In other words, just because you think positively about something (like singing for instance) doesn't mean that now you can get up and become the next Idol (unless you do have the ability and talent to do so of course!).  What it will do is make sure that you are able to do everything that you can... Think about that for a moment...

Another thing he said was that motivation does not last.  Neither does bathing.  That is why it is a good idea to do it regularly.

By changing one's attitude and view of things and most of all what you believe about the things concerned, the longer your motivation will last.

Some tips that I use myself everyday:

• Do not listen to other people.  Many people might be high spirited and easy to get along with, but the things they say are stealing your energy and you actually feel tired after talking to them.  They will give you all the reasons in the world why you shouldn't do something, because they was not successful at the same thing.  If it is meant to be... it is up to me I say!
• Do your own research or get to know someone yourself and make up your own mind.  Don't take the shortcut and listen to what others say about someone or something.  You might just miss out!
• Avoid people that are energy thieves and that have a "entitlement"-mentality.  They constantly complain about things that are wrong and why they will never get what they want.
• Never allow other people to steal your dream!

Always go for what you dream of!

Thanks for reading my blog!

Francois

Some observations

After my first week in Bloemfontein and being back in the Free State after 7 years, I made an observation (which I think is quite funny and ironic!).

In Johannesburg life is a rush.  You are spending a lot of time in the car and every day it just feels like you don't have enough time to do what you have and want to do.  You are forever rushing everywhere (yes, I admit, maybe my time management skills are not tip top, but it also isn't that bad at all!).

In Bloemfontein my experience this week has been that I have a lot more time to do what I want to do and I am not nearly as rushed as I was in Johannesburg (or did my time management skills evolve over night?).

I am spending 10 minutes to get from where I am staying to the office on the other side of town in Bloemfontein.  In Johannesburg it used to be at least 25 to 30 minutes and even up to 45 minutes to drive a mere 15 kms.

So according to me - Bloem affords me more time and very little rush - Johannesburg afforded me less time and rushing a lot.

Here is the punchline:

In Johannesburg most people drive slowly at about 80 km/h when not on the highway.  In Bloem I am driving at the same speed and I am overtaken by millions of drivers driving at a much faster speed...  in town!

So my question is: Why if you have more time are you rushing to get somewhere and where we had less time we are driving at a slower speed?

Ironic!