clear.your.mind

How is that? Yes, if you think on yourself you are going to do more on your life. If you think on others, well.. you aren’t going to do a lot, and you will probably don’t be of any help for those people. Let’s put it this way: if you focus on what you can do as a person, for yourself, or for others; you may achieve great things. If for the other hand, you focus on what you can’t do and what others aren’t doing, you will lose. Simple as that. So yes, be more egoist, think on yourself and how can you grow up better on every aspect of your life. That is the only way you are going to help others with their problems (of course, if you want to!)

Don’t focus on the problem. Focus on the solution.

That is the best advice anyone can give to you. Along with:

If a problem don’t have a solution, its not longer a problem.

Oh yes. True. And strong on some ways. Now, Stephen “Cheesy” Covey is a genius, and I like to read it a lot. Some people may not agree with all of what he says, but they can’t deny the power of what he says, of his subject. And he knows about it!

One part of the 7 habbits of highly effective people I like a lot is the circle of concern, because it shows how we think on daily basis and how can we change that. I did a little mockup about it, so you guys/gals can take a better look:
Now what is that? The small circle in the center represents you and your capability to do things. The larger circle represents, your surrondings (sort of speaking). Your mom, your dad, your brothers and systers, your friends, your coworkers, your employeers, your employees, etc. Everything you know that isn’t you is on the concern circle.
The outside circle always is pushing our inside circle and it makes it smaller and smaller. Everyday we take less and less important decisions. We are always surronded by other people issues and problems and many times a day, we act upon them without any success because… well… if we can’t solve our own problems, how can we solve other’s people issues?

Are you being productive enough?

Let’s see, tell me if you recognize one of this:

• Gossip about friends/boss/company/etc.
• Talk about politics
• Talk about other people way of being (he do this wrong, he can do this right, etc)
• Talk about your problems with your friends, an entire evening

Well, if you recognize one of those you may want to try thinking on:

• No gossip at all, that are other people issues
• Let other people take care of their own lives
• Talk about your problems, yes; but don’t exagerate. Is better to talk and discuss a solution than a problem

Now this may sound like common sense, but why isn’t everyone doing it? because they are too worried about what others are doing. We may want to start worring (or thinking) on what we are doing for yourself.

What will happen then…

If we start thinking on what we can do, on how we can do it, and why we are going to do it we can change things. If we keep thinking on how horrible the problem is or why “that” person we know don’t change their way of thinking we won’t be able to solve any problem, or situation. We will keep on that track forever.

The only thing we need to do to do more is being a little more egoist, we need to think on our own problems and we need to do it now. Your circle of influence will grow up and end up changin your circle of influence. Your actions will become example. Your actions, your way of thinking will be followed by those you want to “change”. Or not, but you won’t be stuck with other’s people issues.

Once your circle of influence is big enough, you will gain access to act on those problems. In the mean while, don’t break your head against the wall thinking on what you can do the impossible, but how can you do the possible.

Hope it helps!