Check Out The Other Corner

At times, we find ourselves trying to improve a… situation (job, business, relationship, etc.). Something we do seems like it could be better. 

Typically, we start looking around among the immediate circumstances to see how we can make the most of them; how we can get more out of what we have.

However, there is the chance that, in the immediate context of our… situation, we are already doing the most we can with what's present.

Sometimes, if we want things to be better, we need to branch out. We need to get out of the corner where we sit and find out what the other corners have to offer. A business might need to expand one product line or drop another. In a job, maybe it's time to brush off the resume and see if more rewarding possibilities exist in a different department. Or company.

Sometimes, in order to improve things, we need to look past the immediate and examine other possibilities. Maybe… just maybe, we need to play in a different sandbox!

Actions Reveal Priorities

A guy spends six hours every Saturday morning working in his yard. And a half hour or more each workday when he gets home. What seems obvious?

His yard is a priority. Hopefully, it's also something he likes…

You can tell what is important to people in various ways. One is that how they spend their time. The things that are highest priorities will be done first. Lessor priorities next. Lowest priorities will come last, if they ever get done at all.

Given more than one option, the chosen actions reveal the priorities!

Silence Is Not Agreement

People sometimes say things with which nobody around them agrees. But, the silence of those hearing the remark fails to convey their beliefs.

Just because no one protests or complains does not mean they agree with you. 

People who disagree might just be keeping quiet because they think a reply is pointless. They think the speaker is, frankly, not worth the trouble to engage in discussion. They think the speaker is hard-headed. Stubborn. Closed-minded.

Silence is NOT a measure of agreement!

Bill Snodgrass - Actions Are Loud - (Original, Official Music Video)

Anyone can say anything. They can claim anything to be anyway they wish to claim it to be.

But words, alone, are weak representations of what is really going on.

Actions speak louder than words. It's an old expression but it is true.

You can say you are fine. You can say your are okay. You care. You're ready. You're satisfied. And you might even want those things to be true.

But, your actions—including your mood—tell the real story.

Behaving in a caring, concerned way tells more than saying you're not interested. Being unkind and hurtful carries more weight than saying you care.

It's worth mentioning that sometimes, saying something is an action. Things like "I hate you" or "You're worthless" are acts as much as they are words. They are attacks. Assaults.

The actions will line up on the side of truth. If all the words say "blue" but all the actions say "red," then the truth is… "red."

Hear the words. But believe the actions.