Changing Our Environment

So many changes! They keep coming! It’s so hard to deal with.

We will have discovered on our joyful pursuit of happiness we cannot just let change happen to us.

We will have found we benefit from changing some things we do not like about our environment. We might change a friendship, a job, a relationship, a community, a cause. Changing our environment means we are likely to change others’ beliefs. We will likely need to influence others to agree with and embrace the change.

We also will have discovered it is helpful to change some things we do like about our environment. Building on strengths can be a great part of this. Another part is we may eventually find we become bored with something for which we were once thrilled. We will discover it is best to change before becoming bored rather than long afterward.

Influencing Others

Wow. If only they would stop it, change it, leave it alone. They just don’t get it!

The best first step toward changing others’ behavior is to change our own behavior. The best first step toward changing others’ beliefs is to listen and to find some value in those very beliefs we hope to change. The best first step toward changing others’ attitudes is to display the attitude we wish to see in others. 

Quote on Influence

Example is not the main thing in influencing others.

It is the only thing.

Albert Schweitzer

This is a tough, but true, roadsign for our joyful journey to the pursuit of happiness.