Painting by Belynda Wilson Thomas

Those who seek a better life must first become a better person. Jim Rohn

Listening to Jordan Peterson in an interview yesterday, he said, “We have a moral obligation to be optimistic toward the future.” What would it mean to be optimistic about the future, and what does it mean not to be?

Some people go on like the sky is falling and everything will be ruined, and we may be in for hard times. Some of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents went through hard times but through it all they moved toward better, and why are we thinking we can’t move toward better too?

We should always be moving towards better, but that doesn’t mean mistakes aren’t made, unintended consequences don’t occur, and we don’t have to regroup and reorient ourselves. How can we make this year better than last year? Spending our time worrying about what someone else has to do won’t make our lives better, we might feel we can analyze world affairs better than those tasked with the job, but I’m pretty sure it’s hubris on my part to think I see things the people in charge don’t see. How to make things better is for the people in charge to interpret and implement, and we will see the results in the fullness of time, some things they will do well, but there will be mistakes and missteps, and there will be no matter who is in power.

Since most of us have no impact on governance other than our vote, and many don’t exercise our vote, does complaining give us a sense of power? Do we waste our time complaining about what we can’t change instead of changing what we can? It seems like a thankless job to pour your heart and soul into running a city, province, or country; do we need to be grateful people are willing to step up and take on the challenge? How could anyone make most of us happy? Good governance might not be about making the people happy, but doing what is best for the city, province, or country, and what is best might make many people unhappy.

You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength. Marcus Aurelius

We know the government isn’t run perfectly but is our life? I see improvements I can make, but it is easier to complain about what someone else should do than to do what I can do. Perfection is the enemy of the good, and things could be so much worse. I have to remind myself to be grateful for how things are because it is a miracle we have the lives we have, with the conveniences, opportunities, and security we enjoy.

Jordan Peterson tells us we shouldn’t take for granted things going right because they could as easily, or more easily be going in the other direction. How often have we felt something could have been catastrophic, but somehow we escaped?

Are we all wandering in the wilderness; why else are self-help books so popular? Do we need to come upon a burning bush to set our feet on solid ground, find a purpose, and work on becoming better? What would our lives look like if we improved something every year? How would our relationships, health, and interactions in the community improve? Who would we encourage, and whose lives would be better because our lives touched theirs?

Jordan Peterson talked about firing on all cylinders, and he was asked how many cylinders there are. Maybe an unlimited amount was his answer. What if this is true and finding the right cylinders for us is the challenge? What if we can make a difference in our own and others’ lives? What if being better is truly possible if we choose to make it our goal?

You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of. Jim Rohn

When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves. Viktor E. Frankl

You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it. Maya Angelou

Thank you for reading this post. Please come back and read more, and have a blessed day filled with gratitude, joy, and love.