the problem with thinking you're perfect

you know sometimes we seem to lose focus in life.  We think that our little world is the only world that matters.  In a way, this is true - you control your life just by your thoughts and actions and responses.  you should always try to improve your life and be the best person you can - if that is what you aspire to do.  the only problem with that mindset, though, is that sometimes you forget to step out of your mind and see things from another perspective. 
one of the best kept secrets in life is that when you give to others freely, with no strings attached and nothing expected in return, you will be happy.  there is a certain empowerment that comes from giving something to someone just for the sake of kindness.  kindness is also a form of love, and love is the source of all happiness.  think now about what you love to do.  think about one of your favorite people, or a place that you like to be or would like to be right now.  love is associated with this feeling.  if not, please let me know what it is you feel, i would be interested to know. 
in my opinion, it is sometimes a wise thing to consider another person's likes, dislikes, and what is going on in their life.  Zig Ziglar made a great point when he said you should listen to others and take interest in what they have to say.  We tend to take what others say and relate it to our own lives - all the while not fully listening or trying to relate to what the other person is saying. 
in some extreme cases, people just totally disregard other people.  these people are so embedded in their world that nothing outside of it even merits recognition.  i like the color red - if you don't like red, you are stupid and insignificant.  what I like is law.  what I like is the only possible option.  these kind of people are hard to deal with because they are so content in their shell of comfort that they may get aggressive or hostile if you try to pull them out.  It is like trying to pull a sleeping child out of bed on a school day! 
Take some time today and try to really consider someone else you know, or even a stranger - just consider their life and what they may be going through.  It is good to think about others sometimes just to broaden your own thinking about how the world works.  practice this and I think you will feel better and more "in touch" with the world around you.

Set your Standards Higher

I just watched a great video clip from Tony Robbins where he was talking about the standards we allow for ourselves.  He talked about how we all have potential to make something of ourselves, yet we don't always do it.  He told a story about a bum on the street that asked him if he could "borrow a quarter"  Tony had more than a quarter, and the man saw that, but the man still only wanted a quarter.  Tony told the man that "life will pay you only what you ask for" and the man thought that was crazy. I think it is interesting that we all write our own stories.  as we grow up, we form perceptions of ourself and sometimes that helps or hinders us, based on those beliefs. We often sell ourselves short and settle for less because it is just not the effort to keep pushing forward.  

I for one realized after seeing Tony's speech that I have probably set my standards at "just above water"  I don't have excess and I get by.  I am grateful for all I have but I realize that I need to set the bar a lot higher for myself.  I think it is a good idea for all of us at some point to evaluate where we are in our lives.  We should ask if our self-standards are right for us.  As for myself, I am working on evaluating and focusing on raising my standards.