Are you lucky or a fundamentalist?
I found these two articles in Fast Company. On their own they are interesting, but put together, they help you start understanding your outlook on life.
How To Make Your Own Luck
"Unlucky people are stuck in routines. When they see something new, they want no part of it. Lucky people always want something new. They're prepared to take risks and relaxed enough to see the opportunities in the first place."
The Threat of Pigeons and Other Fundamentalists by Seth Godin
"When I meet someone who's willing to disregard an obvious truth just because it conflicts with his worldview, I wonder about his judgment. I wonder what other truths he's willing to ignore in order to preserve his superstitions. When such a person is in charge, I do more than worry. I think that we're obligated to start pointing out superstitions at work, in politics -- anywhere we find them. Superstitions are the final vestiges of prescientific mankind, and they make the workplace (and the world) a scary place.
Get it? Openness and awareness is key to living life well.
I have a radio I listen to in the bathroom every morning and evening, tuned to the same talk station. Last night I changed the channel because I was tired of listening to the same fundamentalist, Mike Reagan. Lately, he continually harps on parenting and social issues being not 'like when I was a kid'. The world's changed, for pete's sake. And worse than that, all he can see is the bad, disciplinary issues that schools and teachers face. Hint--most schools and kids are doing just fine these days. (And kids aren't allowed to wear Budweiser t-shirts to school anyway.)
Let me go back to Seth's definition of a fundamentalist:
First, they live according to a large body of superstitions. Second, they believe that they are right and everyone else is wrong. They believe that they have found the one and only truth, and they can't abide changing old rules in light of new data. Fundamentalists decide whether they like a new piece of information based on how it will affect their prior belief system, not based on whether it is actually true.
I've found some talk shows interesting, if only to hear an opposing opinion, but when it becomes whining (and inaccurate), you've lost me. Changing the channel was an emotional response to irrationality. Don't call me a fundamentalist, call me lucky!
