Hey you Seinfeld fans! Remember the Opposite George episode? In it, George Costanza realized that he would be more successful in life if he just did the opposite of any thought that came into his head. Immediately his life changed for the better.
I was reminded of this while reading a daily testimonial from Clint Hurdle’s post (former MLB star and manager). This is from Rick Warren, a MLB clubhouse chapel leader and frequent contributor.
If you truly want to be happy in life, you’ve got to care about the needs of those around you—and move the focus away from yourself. That’s the starting point for all happiness.
If you want to be one of those rare, unselfish, happy people, you need to change your focus.
Putting your focus on others doesn’t come naturally. Most people don’t walk into a room and think, “Who in here needs my help today?” Instead, you think, “How do I look? Am I put together just right? What are people going to think of me?” So, you have to intentionally train yourself to do the opposite of what you normally do—to shift the focus away from yourself.
I have to admit that it saddens me how many times I’ve missed the needs of people around me—even the needs of people I love—because I wasn’t paying attention. I wasn’t taking an interest in them. I hadn’t shifted my focus off myself. And because I wasn’t looking out for their needs, I missed the chance to help.
Is it time for you, like George Costanza, to be opposite you and think of others first? Like your long-term happiness, it is totally up to you!
