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