What I know about people is that we need other people. You can try to go along your life’s journey alone and things can actually go pretty well, for awhile. When they don’t, you can become cynical, blaming, self-deprecating, or even arrogant and be in denial. Until you break through these thoughts about what has happened, you cannot overcome and you need others to help you. So you reach out, get help, and then, this crazy cycle continues. Things start going well, you get a little credit and may think you are doing it on your own, and then something changes and you go through the same feelings and behaviors. You need people every day, all the time, every step of the way, in everything, for everything. 

I also know that our world and society is so fast and busy and that there is so much impatience, distraction and stress. This all affects your ability to get anything done. You react by getting angry, discouraged, depressed, anxious or even numb to the wonders around you. You just don’t stop, slow down, and pause. You don’t take the breaks to think deeply, to take care of your physical, mental, emotional, and relational parts of your life. 

Sometimes you expect that business success, jobs, other people, vacations, toys, things you add into your life will help you unwind, de-stress, give you calm. (Ask anyone after a vacation if they are calm, and most people say they need a vacation from a vacation). And when they don't, you feel stressed and sometimes take it out on those around you.

What if it were different? While circumstances may not change, how you relate, cope, and even lead others can create in you a person that is calm and ready to seize the opportunities before you.