Tear It Up!

With receipts and calculator in hand, I was pleased to discover that I was only over budget by $132 following a four-day trip to Disney World. That’s pretty good from the financial angle. But, I’ve been home for a week, and I’m just getting back on track with household management and business responsibilities. While a few days away seemed like a great idea for me and the children, I only looked at the money piece. Now, I have the opportunity to reconsider the entire idea from a different perspective. By deconstructing this short trip, I will make a better decision the next time. The time management and wellness consequences of a trip to Disney are minimal, but what about the bigger decisions in life? Marriage? Promotions?

Let’s start with relationships. When we end a bad romantic relationship, we breathe a sigh of relief that the other party is out of our lives. We feel sorry for the other party’s next special friend because we know too well what is coming. But the end of a bad relationship is the perfect opportunity to consider why we chose to allow that person into our lives in the first place. What bad behavior did we ignore? What major lie did we accept as truth? How many times did we act as if we didn’t see the warning signs? We can’t control anyone’s behavior but our own. If every relationship ends on a sour note, it’s time to take some time off, do some serious introspection and work with a counselor to get to the bottom of why we keep making poor choices. Call it romantic deconstruction if you like.

What about work? If I can’t get along with most people at work maybe I’m at the wrong job. If I haven’t gotten along with anyone at work in 20 years, I’m the problem. I’m accepting the jobs. Am I failing to conduct due diligence about the working conditions? Do I say yes to a job offer without considering the pros and cons?

The common denominator in all failed enterprises (relationships, business, money) is the person in the mirror. Similarly, when we’ve experienced a string of successes, the center of all that advancement is one person. When things go well and when they go badly, take the time to pull it apart. What planning went into it? Where did you research the opportunity? Did you spend several days in prayer before making the decision? Figure out what helped you to make a good decision and what propelled you into a bad one. Use this information to make a better choice when the next opportunity arises.