Making the Best of Everything
Making the Best of Everything
Savor the journey
“The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they make the best of everything.”
– Oprah Winfrey
Making the Best of Everything
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life
This message comes from a fictionalized story of an accomplished group of people gathering and slipping into a deficit mindset, rather than one of gratitude … let’s continue to find ways to enjoy life’s ride!
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering her guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups. Some were porcelain, others were plastic, glass, and crystal. Some were very plain looking, others expensive and exquisite. The professor then invited the group to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were chosen, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is also a source of problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups. And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.
With compassion in her voice, she added, "Think of it this way. Life is like coffee. The jobs, money and position in society are the cups. The type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live." While you pursue the fine cups, be sure to keep focus on enjoying the coffee!
Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savor the coffee, not the cups!
"Success isn't about how much money you make. It's about the difference you make in people's lives."
– Michelle Obama
Connecting this quote to the story. Success goes beyond material wealth and personal gain. By focusing on improving people's lives and making a positive difference, individuals can find a deeper and more fulfilling sense of success that transcends the pursuit of materialistic measures.
This week’s Chasing Influence tip: Prioritize your values to create time for what you value.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
Update on Chasing Influence
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life is available as an audiobook, or in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover editions.
For additional resources, links to podcast appearances, and other Chasing Influence news, click here.
©Troy Urdahl, 2023