Listen

 

If you have followed the MMM for long, you know this is a big topic for me. Today’s thought on listening has to do with people who have varying viewpoints and different opinions. The art of respectfully listening to another person’s point of view seems to be lost these days. Listening does not mean you have to agree with the point being made. It simply means care enough to allow them to be heard. It is a matter of respect. If you want to share your opinion, be prepared to listen to others. Consider this…

“It is the mark of an educated man to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

-       Aristotle

Focus

That is my word for 2026. I am not good at it. I am easily distracted and try to do too many things at one time. But I recently came across another way to think about focus.

Focus means choosing what does not matter.

Think about that. We think focus allows us to do more. Maybe we focus on the wrong things. What you choose not to do determines what you can do. Perhaps focus is meant for us to be able to do less better?

Maybe I have been looking at it all wrong. Maybe I need to decide NOT to do something!

Focus

Reputation

 

How do you define your reputation? What does that word mean? It seems intangible to me. Do you see people who try to flaunt a reputation? Maybe even market a curated reputation?

Your reputation is not your decision. You certainly influence it by your behavior and actions. But I don’t think you get to say what your reputation is. I don’t think we get to talk about our own reputation.  Your reputation is determined by others. It is talked about by others. Consider this…

Your reputation is not what you shout, it is what others whisper.

Grudges

Do you hold grudges? It can feel like we’re protecting ourselves by holding on to anger or resentment. But more often than not, the weight of a grudge hurts us more than it protects us. Holding a grudge actually feels like work.

How quickly are you to forgive? Forgiveness is about choosing your own peace and allowing yourself to move forward. It doesn’t require reconnecting or trusting someone again. It simply frees you to move on. It just means you’re done carrying what they left behind. Let it go. Do it for your own peace. Enjoy the quote below…

“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”
— Buddha