Most people know the story of the ancient Greek mathematician, Archimedes, who said, “If I had a lever long enough and a place to stand, I could move the world!” Imagine that! A simple lever, nothing very complicated or hard to build. Just a long stick or pole. And a place to stand, even a rock or piece of ground would do—IF you understood and applied the principle involved.
I love that story!
So many of us want to improve our world. Particularly during these past months of recession and economic uncertainty, it’s clear how eager we are for things to get better! Many people believe that in our last election, President Obama tapped into a profound desire for “change” to make life better. We are a restless people who want a better life and a better world.
As for specifics, some of us are focused on income and want to “work less and make more.” Some of us are eager for time with family or for greater peace of mind. Some think primarily in term s of their investments and retirement, or changes in our health care system. Some long for “peace on earth” while others simply want a better job, or any job at all.
Well, I have good news! All of this is possible and getting started is relatively simple. Not easy, perhaps. But simple.
Archimedes captured the principle of leverage. Big changes always start with small, simple principles applied in powerful ways. The good news is that it works the same way in our own lives, and we can start today. There is no need to wait for Congress to pass health care reform. Or for the politicians to negotiate peace, or for the global economy to recover.We can take powerful, leveraged actions in our own lives that take effect today.
How? It begins with understanding and applying powerful, basic principles.
1. Order is better than chaos. Too many of us have allowed small bits of chaos to enter and grow in our liv es. Whether it’s credit card debt that weighs us down, or tangled relationships that cause stress, or a messy house that discourages us, we live with too much chaos. Order and routine beat chaos every time. Following basic rules of behavior and using systems to manage our lives are powerful principles that can be leveraged to change everything! Many of us think routine is boring. We value “spontaneity” and enjoy lots of “variety” in our lives. But trust me, order beats chaos every time.
2. Simple is better than complicated. Too many of us allow our lives to become far too complicated. We have too many commitments. We’ve made too many promises. We “have to” participate in too many activities, groups and “networking opportunities.” When too much becomes too much, simplify! Transforming your world sometimes starts by simply saying NO more often. Such a simple, powerful word! Leverage the principle of saying NO to organize and transform your world.
3. Clarity is power. Too many of us are fuzzy about the things we want or value in our lives. The ancient truth that “clarity is power” can be leveraged to get enormous power over our priorities, our time, our energy and our peace of mind. Too often, we want too many things, even things that contradict each other. We end up confused. We get anxious and we make mistakes. Instead, get clear about the things that are actually important and go after them! Let the rest alone! When you’re clear about your values, the world responds with clarity and things get much simpler. Claim your personal power! Get clear.
4. Goals are good. Human beings are goal-seeking creatures. We are constantly working to get more of what we want and less of what annoys or hurts us. The problem is that too often, too many of us refuse to choose. Set goals! Choose the things you want and develop plans, strategies, budgets and rules to get them. Then go for your (few) goals with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all the energy, skill and effort you can muster. “You can have anything you want in life, but not everything you might desire.” Choose goals wisely. Prioritize them. And make them happen. Goals are good.
Mahatma Gandhi once suggested, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” There is wisdom and power in that! Change always begins in the heart, one person at a time. Change always begins with “me.” Simplify. Seek order and use the power of leverage in your life. Go for what you truly want and let the other temptations, distractions, invitations and confusions go hang! To transform the world, start now. Start today.
Quotes of the Week
"We become what we repeatedly do." -- Aristotle
"You are what you think about all day long." -- Dr. Robert Schuller
"Change your thoughts and you change your world." -- Norman Vincent Peale
"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind!"
-- William J ames
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