THE SEASONS OF LIFE by Jim Rohn, Part 3 of 5

This week is part three of our five part series on The
Season's of Life.

In Part One of the series, I stated:

a) That life is about constant, predictable patterns
of change.

b) For all of us, the only constant factor is our feelings
and attitudes toward life.

c) We as human beings have the power of attitude and that
attitude determines choice, and choice determines
results.

In Part Two of our series, I stated:

a) Life and business are like the changing seasons.

b) You cannot change the seasons, but you can change
yourself.

c) A major lesson in life to learn is how to handle
the winters.

d) Winter time allows you to get stronger, wiser, better.
The winters won't change, but you can.

This week we talk about spring. Fortunately, following the
turbulence of winter comes the season of activity and
opportunity called springtime. It is the season for entering
the fertile fields of life with seed, knowledge, commitment,
and a determined effort.

However, the mere arrival of spring is no sign that things are
going to look good in the fall. You must do something with
the spring. In fact, everyone has to get good at one of two
things: planting in the spring or begging in the fall. Take
advantage of the day and the opportunities that spring can
bring.

It is the promise of spring that as we sow, so shall we also
reap. Faith further provides to us an irrevocable law decreed
in heaven which assures that for every disciplined human
effort we will receive a multiple reward. For each cup
planted, a bushel reaped, for every good idea given to
another, many shall be given to us in return. For every
demonstrated act of faith, a multiplicity of the rewards, and
for every act of love given, a life of love in return.

Just remember it is a natural characteristic of springtime to
present itself ever so briefly, or to lull us into inactivity
with its bounteous beauty. Do not pause too long to soak in
the aroma of the blossoming flowers, lest you awaken to find
springtime gone with your seed still in your sack.

With the intelligence, wisdom, and freedom of choice given to
us as humans exercise the discipline to plant in spite of the
rocks, weeds, or other obstacles before us. The rocks, weeds,
and thorns of the world cannot destroy all your seeds if you
plant massively enough and intelligently enough. My
suggestion is to choose action, not rest. Choose truth, not
fantasy. Choose a smile, not a frown. Choose love, not
animosity. Choose the good in life in all things, and choose
the opportunity as well as the chance to work when springtime
smiles on your life.

Spring shows us that life is truly a constant beginning, a
constant opportunity, a constant springtime. We need only to
learn to look once again at life as we did as children,
letting fascination and curiosity give us welcome cause to
look for the miraculous hidden among the common.

Get busy quickly on your springs, your opportunities. There
are just a handful of springs that have been handed to each of
us. Life is brief, even at its longest. Whatever you are
going to do with your life, get at it. Don't just let the
seasons pass by.

(Next week we will talk about Summer, the time of testing.)

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

The Seasons of Life by Jim Rohn, Part 2 of 5

Yesterday we started a five part series on The Seasons of
Life.

At that time I stated that I believe there are overriding
principles that we should follow and be led by. That life is
about constant, predictable patterns of change. And that as
we approach the future; for all of us, the only constant
factor will be our feelings and attitudes toward life.
Secondly, we as human beings have the power of attitude and
that attitude determines choice, and choice determines
results. All that we are and all that we can become has
indeed been left unto us to decide and interpret through our
attitude and choices.

This week we will begin our discussion of the four seasons.
I'll start by making two comments. First, life and business
are like the changing seasons. That's one of the best ways to
illustrate life: it's like the seasons that change. Second,
you cannot change the seasons, but you can change yourself.

Now with those two key phrases in mind, let's look at what I
consider to be the first major lesson in life to learn, and
that is how to handle the winters. They come regularly, right
after autumn. Some are long, some are short, some are
difficult, some are easy, but they always come right after
autumn. That is never going to change.

There are all kinds of winters - the "winter" when you can't
figure it out, the "winter" when everything seems to go
haywire. There are economic winters, social winters and
personal winters.

Wintertime can bring disappointment, and disappointment is
common to all of us. So you must learn how to handle the
winters. You must learn how to handle difficulty; it always
comes after opportunity. You must learn to handle recessions;
they come right after expansions. That isn't going to change.

The big question is what do you do about winters? You can't
get rid of January simply by tearing it off the calendar. But
here is what you can do: you can get stronger; you can get
wiser; and you can get better. Remember that trio of words:
stronger, wiser, better. The winters won't change, but you
can.

Before I understood this, I used to wish it were summer when
it was winter. When things were difficult, I used to wish
they were easy. I didn't know any better. Then Mr. Shoaff
gave me the answer from a part of his very unique philosophy
when he said, "Don't wish it were easier, wish you were
better. Don't wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills.
Don't wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom."

(Next week we will talk about the second major lesson in life:
learning how to take advantage of the spring. Spring is
opportunity. Fortunately, spring always follows winter.)

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn