Standing Tall

It is that time again, political ads are flooding the airwaves, and as we are faced with evaluating what we believe, what we want, and who we are going to trust, I can’t help but think about the importance of standing up for what we believe. Now, I’m not here to tell you what to believe, only that you need to stand tall in what you DO believe.Think about the young people today who are being bullied… literally to death. They don’t know it is okay to stand tall in who they are and not care about what others think. And we adults, well, we often do the same thing. We don’t want to make waves; we don’t want to look bad; we don’t to put ourselves in a position to be judged and evaluated—any more than we already are. We simply want to fit in, and so we sit in silence “hoping” for the best. Well, my friends, how’s that working out?If you are sitting back and waiting to see how things around you turn out, who has a say in how your life turns out? Here’s a hint: Not you! And you are a leader in the world. You have people whose livelihoods depend on you being great. If you aren’t willing to stand tall in what you believe, what are you teaching those who look up to you to do?We have national holidays that honor people for the changes they helped to make in our world, simply by their standing up for what they believe in. Yet, far too often it seems that we ourselves choose not to stand up for what we believe in because we don’t believe we have the power of those that have gone before us. Think again!Only when we stand up for what we believe it… only when we are willing to put what we believe to the test, do we and those around us have the opportunity to learn something new!Keep in mind, we aren’t always going to be right – and let’s face it, there are many issues in which there is no right or wrong! So what if you are on the losing end of a stand?

• Stand tall anyway… you are making people think – whether they will admit it or not!
• Take the opportunity to learn whatever it is you don’t know about the issue – this is a chance to learn what you don’t know you don’t know! In doing so you will either come to the conclusion that your position is valid or you may change your position.

Either way, you are both teaching and learning… very cool!You’ve heard me say it a thousand times by now: If there is something you want and you don’t have it… ASK FOR IT… STAND UP FOR IT… MAKE A DIFFERENCE… MAKE PEOPLE THINK… DO WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS RIGHT… TAKE ON BEING UNSTOPPABLE!!Give up worrying about what others will think or say… give up the fear of not being “right.” Instead, stand tall in what you believe. In the end, any criticism you receive is just that… criticism. Criticism doesn’t mean anything, and ultimately your taking a stand could make a difference for an entire nation, or it just may make a difference in your own business and family. But either way, you’ve made a difference, even if no one buys into your conviction because you taught those around you how to stand up for what they believe in. Now that my friends, is one of the greatest gifts you can give anyone! Warm Regards,