Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Adapting

It is evident that each of us will be challenged to change or adapt an aspect of our life in order to better ourselves, our company, or perhaps a team. Adapting can evident in our lives through examples such as... 1. Ordering a Pepsi product when Coke products are not available 2. Switching from sugar to another type of sweetener per our physician's order 3. Ordering Fat Free Yogurt instead of custard 4. Potato Chips instead of French fries 5. Paper grocery bags instead of plastic As you may be able to discern, I have food on my mind currently. Anyway, I think that we can all agree that due to circumstances within our environment, one's self, or in accordance to meet a greater need- adapting from what we may normally prefer is necessary. To take this subject further it may be necessary for us to continue to adapt or change to avoid complacency; hence also bettering ourselves in the process. Have you ever heard anyone say. "that's the way we have always done it"? You, yourself may be guilty of this explicitly ignorant statement; I know that I have! Whenever I catch myself or hear another person proclaim this, I want to respond with- "that begs the question- I guess that it has always been accomplished inaccurately". Naturally, out of respect for myself, and other interested parties- I simply ask them to explore the effect of something being done differently. What is handicapping you from growing? It may be personally, spiritually, relationally, or professionally. Be honest with yourself, because I know if you are anything like me (human), then adaptation (i.e. learning, observing, strategic, implementing) is a part of the natural cycle in which our creator endowed us with. Being a person of faith, I believe that God created us with this wonderfully complex mind so that we are uniquely able to explore, discover, and reason the vastness of his creation. If this is true, how does it apply to me? Unfortunately, I am not going to begin to speculate what your gifts, or abilities in which God has blessed you with. What I do know is that whatever he has created you for, it is your responsibility to hold steadfast to it with uncompromising devotion. What do I mean by this? Whatever situation that you find yourself in within life do it with all of your ability. 1. If you are blessed to be a parent, be the best parent that you can be. This may involved reading, mentoring, counseling, etc- but it is your duty to do it right! 2. If you are a custodian- then make sure that your floors and windows are the shiniest around. That your abilities and gifts are imprinted on everything that you do. 3. If you are a teacher- you are the best teacher that you are capable of being. You adapt and change your curriculum and teaching style in order to reach more students. 4. Instead of watching TV on your lunch hour, read a book or explore ways to improve yourself. The principle is easy in concept, but difficult in practice- that is why it is necessary to constantly ADAPT or change. Think of it this way, would you want to have cardiovascular surgery performed on you by a doctor that was a "C" student in college twenty years ago- and does not keep up on the most advanced procedures? Then why do you expect less of yourself? JFH