True Worth

“The longer I live the more I realize the importance of family and friends. We can replace the material things in our lives, but the priceless gift of family and friends can never be replaced. Cherish those who love you and love those who cherish you.” Tony Friday

On The Apprentice season opener there were 12 unemployed individuals who have been off work for over 3 years. One of the contestants lost his business and his marriage. During one of his on camera interviews he stated that due to his unemployment he felt less than a man because he was unable to take care of his family. He asked the question” What good am I?” That question made me extremely sad. Have you ever asked that question?

There are over 30 million Americans who have lost their jobs and are struggling to survive the seemingly never ending down turn in the market. Many have lost their homes, cars, savings, and more importantly their self worth. If you are in this situation you may ask yourself, how do I go on? Is there any hope for the future? Will I ever find work or is this my new reality?

I speak to unemployed individuals virtually every day and try to encourage them to stay focused and positive in their job search and to remind themselves of their past successes and accomplishments. I believe past success fuels future success. You say to yourself, I was successful before, I can be successful again.

There is so much opportunity in the marketplace. The opportunity to redefine what is possible and create for yourself a new reality. Don’t just sit back and let circumstances dictate the rest of your life. You have to seize control. But first it is important to choose the attitude that you are going to embrace for the day. Not just for one day, but every day. A positive attitude allows you to recognize opportunities. If you are in a negative state of mind they will pass you by.

If I had the opportunity to answer the question the contestant raised I would have said his worth is found in more than a job. It is about his life and having value to his children and those who really care about him. Our significance does not come from a job, but in whom God created us to be.

Remember you are significant and your life matters!

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee grandfather told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

~author unknown

While sitting in a coffee shop I had a conversation with a man who told me about his life. He said that he was divorced, with little money left. He proceeded to blame his ex-wife for all of his misfortunes. “She is a control freak; she made me feel less than a man” was his song. As a result, he said that he had a lot of anger and rage built up inside of him. 

He was feeding his inner evil wolf with self-pity, resentment, sorrow, regret, and anger. The evil wolf inside him is ravenous with an insatiable appetite. The battle is raging inside of him and the wolf howls for more.

I began to have a different conversation with him that went something like this: Do you believe you can make a different choice in how you respond? He said yes. I challenged him to focus on his strengths, skills, and his ability to rise above his past and create a new future. I believe I helped him make some headway on turning his attitude around, but only time will tell.

Which wolf are you feeding? I hope it is the good wolf that feeds on joy, peace, kindness and love. When you allow the good things of life to fill your inner being, it is unbelievable how strong and hopeful you will begin to feel. If the wolf inside you is full of negativity, feed the other wolf. 

The choice is yours.