Richard Craig, Author at GraceAndWorks - Page 33 of 59

We deal with egos everywhere and every time we have associations with other people. We have those that are of low self esteem (little or no ego), those that have ultra egos and those with super egos. Each one is individualistic in their own way and need to be handled somewhat differently. Checking your ego at the door does away with who you are as an individual. Never be self conscience about yourself, your beliefs or how your particular ego functions (Egotistic).

I was listening to an interview with Coach “K” the other day and he was talking about egos. He said to never check your ego at the door because you will lose your individuality. There are things in life that we need to learn to ignore and peoples traits that rub us wrong are one of those things. It’s hard to ignore those kinds of traits and it is a learned process. We need to be the bigger person at times like these and let the little things that bother us just go away.

He also said that we need to live in the moment. Don’t be concerned with what happened yesterday and don’t worry about tomorrow. Just live for today!! As he talked about his teams and especially the Olympic Basketball Team, he said it is not all about the numbers, but, more about those special moments that players have with each other and the success they enjoy not only as an individual, but, also as a team. The Coach, watching, as the passion, smiles and high fives occur. He said that is what keeps him coaching.

As I thought about that, I though about a congregation of Christians. How peaceful it would be if we could look past peoples egos and just get along. How nice it would be to not be so concerned with numbers and live in the moment. How nice it would be to watch the passion and smiles of the ones that have worshiped their God and not have to be individuals, but, a true congregation of God’s people. How special, that moment, when someone comes up from the watery grave of baptism, and we celebrate as one. Those are the types of moments Coach “K” was talking about.

Be happy with yourself and “Live In The Moment”. That’s what Coach “K” says, that’s what I say and that’s what God says!!

Have a good week all.

I always hear comments that, “I gave a 110%.” Really?? How is that even possible? 100% would be the maximum, and if you gave 100%, what would happen? Would you still be alive? I don’t know, but it is something to think about. I really wonder if most times we even give 50% or less. What would you need to give your “All” or most of it. I think three things come to mind–Attitude, Opportunity and Preparation.  Those three words come into play whether we are talking about doing enough at home, work, in our relationships with others, church and with God.

I want to relate a story that happened one day when I was canvassing for sales. It was about 10:00 AM and I had been working for about a half hour when I came upon the house where a new move-in was. I stopped the car and proceeded to go to the door and knocked on it. The guy that opened the door must have been having a bad day because he was mad and told me he wasn’t interested and SLAMMED the door shut. I didn’t even get to say Hi, let alone tell him what I was selling. I was thinking as I walked back to my car, how could he tell me he wasn’t interested when he didn’t even know what I had or how it worked. It’s really hard to be interested in something you know nothing about. By the time I got to the car, I was really “Ticked Off” to say the least. I decided that this guy was not going to ruin my day nor was he going to get by with what he did. He had patio doors on the back of his house so I walked around back and knocked on those doors. Now you can imagine what happened next. He came to the door absolutely mad. However, before he could say a word, I said to him, “That guy that answered the front door was having a bad day and was really mad at me and I just hope you’re not the same way.” He looked at me and started to laugh, it took him by surprise so much that he asked me what I was selling. After we had visited for a couple minutes, he invited me in to show him what I had and how it could help him. The rest of the story is that he became a good customer and gave me several referrals. (I could have just left with a bad attitude and gone to the next house)

Without a positive attitude, opportunity (New home owner) and preparation (I knew my equipment and how to present it), non of the above would have ever happened. Are you doing enough” Are you going the extra steps to be successful? Do you have a good positive attitude? Do you know your job or profession well? Are you taking advantage of or creating opportunities?

In our Christian lives are we doing enough? When someone shows no interest or says no to study, what do you do? Do you just let it be or do go the extra step to find a different approach, change the attitude from negative to positive and set up an opportunity? I think there are too many times we give up too easy and, as the Apostle Paul said, “If they have closed minds and hard hearts, shake the dust off your feet and move on.”

Don’t move on too quick whether it be trying to do enough with family, relationships with friends, job, church or what ever else you may be involved with. Regroup with a POSITIVE ATTITUDE!!