ANTICIPATION
As I see it, a major source of problems arise when individuals are caught with their thumbs in their mouth, figuratively speaking. In life, you are either anticipating or reacting. But, one thing for sure, you can not be both at the same time. You can't be on offense and defense at the same time. You can't be smiling and angry at the same time. You can't be financially secure and living in poverty at the same time. It sounds pretty basic but some appear to be testing common sense. I am a huge people watcher. I continue to learn so much just by watching others. This is an invaluable portion of my learning constantly about human behavior. It has also shaped my philosophy about how I see life. You see, life is not supposed to be lived in a haze of confusion. If you take the time to study people and life situations, it leaves you wondering. Anticipating an unexpected situation is crucial in how well you will do in life. Most of us get caught, as aforementioned, clueless. If you want to get a clear picture of this phenomena watch little children play a baseball game. One of the infielders, fields a ground ball and, although he may have fielded the ball cleanly, more often than not he is standing with the ball in his glove with a big smile while the base runners are running around the bases and scoring. He was not taught to anticipate the ball being hit to him and where to throw the ball. Adults are not immune just because the are grown up. In fact, there is no excuse for adults to lack anticipation but unfortunately some do. I have many examples but I'll just mention one that is much too common. Driving under the influence. I have represented many individuals that just plain and simple did not anticipate what can happen when they go out and decide to drink to a point of becoming impaired. If they just would have anticipated what can happen, they would have saved thousands of dollars, amongst other things.
Many individuals on the other hand are in reaction mode. They react to the situation in the moment. I see this even in my current profession as an attorney. There can be two opposing attorneys arguing a motion in court and the judge may ask one of the attorneys a question and the attorney looks like he's in agony. Why is that? Lack of anticipation! I have been told that I am quick on my feet in court. But, that's not because I am smarter than the other attorney. It is because I have an enhanced sense of anticipating what judges will ask. I didn't learn that in law school. They don't teach you that in law school. And, I don't have a special gift from god because we all have it. But, not everyone uses it. This happens in all aspects of life. The choice to anticipate or react. It shocks me when parents get approached by their pre-teen children and asked about life and in particular sex and the parents react like the aforementioned attorney because for some reason they never anticipated that their children will grow up one day and ask life questions.
I believe those who anticipate are the successful doers in life. Look at any segment of society for proof. The successful athletes are the ones that anticipate their opponents move. The successful financial adviser is the one that can anticipate the ups and downs in the market. The successful investor is the one that can anticipate turmoil in the market. The successful surgeon is the one that can anticipate, more often than not, complications that arise in surgery. I can go on and on but in general, the anticipator as opposed to the reactor is the more successful. Even a person who is driving a vehicle can use a little anticipation to get to where they are going. I leave you with a poem by Michael Faudet titled, "Anticipation;" "Anticipation is the breath we take, a silent pause with lips awake, a lingering kiss two lovers make, to be with you I can not wait, each passing day I contemplate. Anticipation is the breath we take."
Just a thought.
Many individuals on the other hand are in reaction mode. They react to the situation in the moment. I see this even in my current profession as an attorney. There can be two opposing attorneys arguing a motion in court and the judge may ask one of the attorneys a question and the attorney looks like he's in agony. Why is that? Lack of anticipation! I have been told that I am quick on my feet in court. But, that's not because I am smarter than the other attorney. It is because I have an enhanced sense of anticipating what judges will ask. I didn't learn that in law school. They don't teach you that in law school. And, I don't have a special gift from god because we all have it. But, not everyone uses it. This happens in all aspects of life. The choice to anticipate or react. It shocks me when parents get approached by their pre-teen children and asked about life and in particular sex and the parents react like the aforementioned attorney because for some reason they never anticipated that their children will grow up one day and ask life questions.
I believe those who anticipate are the successful doers in life. Look at any segment of society for proof. The successful athletes are the ones that anticipate their opponents move. The successful financial adviser is the one that can anticipate the ups and downs in the market. The successful investor is the one that can anticipate turmoil in the market. The successful surgeon is the one that can anticipate, more often than not, complications that arise in surgery. I can go on and on but in general, the anticipator as opposed to the reactor is the more successful. Even a person who is driving a vehicle can use a little anticipation to get to where they are going. I leave you with a poem by Michael Faudet titled, "Anticipation;" "Anticipation is the breath we take, a silent pause with lips awake, a lingering kiss two lovers make, to be with you I can not wait, each passing day I contemplate. Anticipation is the breath we take."
Just a thought.