Success Information

The Circular Blame Game


Mike, his feet dangling above the city, opened his lunch box and groaned.

Todd, his friend, a fellow construction worker on the high-rise, pretended that he hadn't heard the groan.

Rick, more aggressive, asked, "Is it peanut butter and jelly again, Mike?"

"Yeah," said Mike, his voice heavy with frustration.

"Listen," said Todd, "You've been complaining about your sandwiches for weeks now."

"Right," chipped in Rick. "Why don't you just do something about it?"

"Sure," said Mike, sarcastically, and tossed away his sandwiches. He watched them make a lazy arc above the city and disappear from view.

"Now you're going to go hungry for the rest of the day,"said Rick. "It wasn't a smart move."

"Listen," said Todd, "I'm sick of hearing you bellyache every day. Why don't you just tell your old lady that you don't like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

"What old lady?" asked Mike, surprised.

Todd and Rick glanced at each other. It was their turn to be surprised. "Come again?" they said in unison.

"I don't have an old lady. I'm single."

"Who makes your sandwiches?" asked Todd.

"I do," said Mike.

In this amusing story, we see something that almost everyone does. They blame circumstances and other people--for what they do to themselves. Because of the element of time between cause and effect, they forget that they did this to themselves.

People complain about their jobs; yet, they are the ones who agreed to be hired on.

They complain about their spouse or their friends. Yet they chose to be with these people.

They complain about their bank account, luck, or any other misery that they're experiencing. Yet they brought all those circumstances into creation.

So, unless a person decides to accept responsibility for where they're at and what's happening to them, things will continue to escalate out of control.

Change happens when we decide to make a different kind of sandwich.

Resource Box

Saleem Rana got his masters in psychotherapy from California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Ca., 15 years ago and now resides in Denver, Colorado. His articles on the internet have inspired over ten thousand people from around the world. Discover how to create a remarkable life

Copyright 2005 Saleem Rana. Please feel free to pass this article on to your friends, or use it in your ezine or newsletter. It's a shareware article.


MORE RESOURCES:

Wall Street Journal

It’s True: Success Succeeds, and Advantages Can Help
New York Times, United States - Nov 18, 2008
Much of what Mr. Gladwell has to say about superstars is little more than common sense: that talent alone is not enough to ensure success, that opportunity, ...
Malcolm Gladwell's 'Success' defines how an 'outlier' achieves USA Today
Malcolm Gladwell all over the place Los Angeles Times
The secret of your success? 10000 hours This is London
Blogcritics.org - Salon
all 26 news articles


Current World News

2 brothers forever seek success in 'Road Show'
The Associated Press - 6 hours ago
And as he dabbles in poker, prizefighting, play-producing and horse racing, the one thing he has in common with his brother is a persistent lack of success. ...
Brothers in Flimflammery on a Continental Sojourn New York Times
Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's 'Road Show' finally hits New York Los Angeles Times
all 98 news articles


WJBF-TV

Alaska Pilots to Management: Success Generated by Alaska-Delta ...
MarketWatch - Nov 18, 2008
As Alaska Airlines continues to develop and expand its relationship with Delta, it is time to stop excluding this pilot group from that success," Shivers ...
Alaska pilots issue warning to management Bizjournals.com
all 113 news articles


Seattle Post Intelligencer

Success of 'Twilight' would lead to bigger role for actor in 'New ...
Tampabay.com, FL - 6 hours ago
By Steve Persall, Times Film Critic By STEVE PERSALL No one hopes the teen vampire flick Twilight is a hit more than 16-year-old Taylor Lautner. ...
Trying To Understand The “Twilight” Fad eFluxMedia
Twilight brings beloved vampire novel to life Houston Chronicle
Wooden stakes couldn't keep 'Twilight' fans from premiere DetNews.com
eFluxMedia
all 857 news articles


ABC News

Can You Smile Your Way to Success?
ABC News - 1 hour ago
By LEE DYE Could it be that the only thing that stands between you and success on an important project is the absence of one of those ubiquitous happy faces ...


Seeding Entrepreneurial Success - Real Life Tips from Budding ...
SYS-CON Media, NJ - 2 hours ago
Through the "Seeds for Success" grant program sponsored by Yahoo! Small Business and Carolyn Kepcher's fwm(TM) (Finding What Matters), the entrepreneurs had ...


Is Nintendo's software success really a curse?
CNET News, CA - 21 hours ago
In an era where success means placing titles on multiple consoles, the Wii becomes the "other" hardware for most developers. The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 ...


A brush with success in Genoa
The Courier News, IL - 5 hours ago
"We're looking forward to doing something even bigger and better next year and building on the success of this year," Evans said. ...


Govs' success a product of inside-out game plan
Clarksville Leaf Chronicle, TN - 4 hours ago
By JAMES D. HORNE • The Leaf-Chronicle • November 19, 2008 At one point, Belmont fans started screaming, "He can hit the 3-pointer. Why is he open? ...


Los Angeles Times

Michigan Football '08: When Success Becomes Mediocre
Bleacher Report, CA - 13 hours ago
By far this has been the worst season in Michigan history. But I do not have to tell you that, just look around. Dozens of fans and haters alike here on B/R ...
Bob Hunter commentary: Success vs. Michigan starts with Tressel Columbus Dispatch
It's hard to feel sorry for Rich Rodriuguez Baltimore Sun
Full Transcript: Coach Rod on "The Game" Wolverine Insider (subscription)
all 438 news articles

Success - Google News

home | site map
© 2006