by Zack Parker
Life Changer
Life Changer
Success in Life Is a Matter
Of
Perspective
Part 1
Zack Parker
Copyright © 2018 Zack Parker.
All Rights Reserved
ISBN: 978-1-7325580-1-4
Cover design by May Phan
“We know what we are, but not what we may be”
William Shakespeare
I would like to dedicate this book to my wife Alise and our daughter Adaline. Adaline was born during the publication process.
This is all for you, my loves.
Life Changer
Introduction
T his life we live can be quite difficult. There are so many struggles that can keep our focus on the more negative aspects of our reality. In this book, I will touch on many of the struggles that we all encounter day to day, in hopes that you will find help in some area of life where you may currently struggle. If you are able to harness the power that a change in perspective can offer, then you may one day have the strength to avoid similar hardships as your journey continues.
At this moment, we all find ourselves in a completely unique situation. How exactly we got here and where we are headed are details that are known only to us. It is this intimate knowledge that provides each of us with such a keen understanding of our individual realities. Depending on our perspective of this unique type of intimacy, we can either become slaves to our lives or masters of our reality. I have written this book to share some of my own realizations and unique perspectives. The reason I feel the need to share these personal changes in perspective is because they have changed every part of my existence for the better.
Most of the information you will read here comes from personal experience throughout the course of my life. I got my first job at the age of 12 at a farmer’s co-op, loading feed and seed. Since then, I have worked many other jobs and gotten to know a wide variety of people along the way. What I have learned through all of my experience has consistently changed my life for the better, as my perspective of reality has developed and changed. I hope that some of my insights are useful to you as well.
Some of the subjects we will cover may not speak to you as loudly as others. However, keep in mind that I am trying to help you create a better overall mindset with this book. Try to think of it like cooking a delicious soup, it's the combination of all the ingredients that make it so unique. Some chapters you will grasp and appreciate immediately, while others may take more time. Just read, enjoy, and let each bit of information you encounter do its job. Remember that you are who you are today because of the all the experiences you have had up until now; the good and bad. Let's start intentionally stacking up more good than bad and take a little more control over what we become, instead of just hoping for the best.
You have in front of you a book that was written by someone just like you; someone who wants to help you live a better life through mild changes in perspective. Take this tool and use it to your advantage. Start today. Don't continue to postpone the attainment of the life you desire because of misguided perspectives. Change them and create a life with improved health and a deep sense of prosperity, gratitude, adventure, love, and peace. Let's work together to change your perspectives and bring about the type of reality that we all dream of. I promise that if you can take what you read here and apply it as often as possible, then your life will begin to change in ways you can't even imagine.
I humbly thank you for picking my book, and I pray that you enjoy and benefit from what you read. If you do, then this book will have become what I intended for it to be; A life changer.
Table of Contents
Perspective
Potential
Comfort Zones
Decisions
Follow-Through
Discomfort and Adjustment
Carpe Diem
I Am Grateful For…?
Health
Sugar, Salt, Fat
Moderation
Indulgence
“Body”
Movement
“I see” Said the Blind Man
You Got This!!!
Notes
Chapter 1
Perspective
U pon opening our eyes each morning, perspective is the first thing to which we are introduced. By definition, perspective is “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something.” It is how we perceive things both visually and mentally. Simply put, perspective is our point of view. With this being understood our reactions to the things that happen to us, and around us, are strongly influenced by our perspective.
Perhaps, you are the type of person who wakes up each day thankful for seeing light in your eyes and having air in your lungs. Maybe just being alive is enough for you. That certainly sounds good! However, you may be the type of person who doesn’t know how they feel about their day until you have had that first cup of coffee. I can definitely relate to that. I think most of us can. You may be different though. Maybe you have never considered your perspectives, and this is all a new idea. Whether this is the case or not, what I hope to achieve is to convince you to take just a minute, as often as possible, to consider your perspectives and actively work to change them positively and productively. If we are successful together in this endeavor, I can assure you that you will find greater ease in navigating the same life you have always had but may have struggled with in the past.
Most of the time, our perspective at the beginning of the day has enormous power over how the rest of it is going to play out. We often hear the expression "I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." When we start our day with a negative outlook, we tend to continue along that path. The point of my writing is to show you that you have the power to change this. It is important to understand where you are mentally and to then make the decision to change it for the better. Once this philosophy is applied, it can bring about impactful and positive changes that will improve your quality of life in ways you may have never imagined.
My intention is not to present you with some fantasy that every day can be nothing but endless bliss simply because you decide to change your perspective. I am only hoping to show you that small daily changes can create dramatic improvements in your overall quality of life. The information in these pages is what has helped me to have more joy and success in my life. That’s why I am sharing it with you.
I believe that we would all love to have more “good” days. As a result of being intentional and having a realistic perspective, I have been able to improve my life significantly. The more effort we can put into enjoying the day we have before us, the more “good” days we will ultimately have! The great news is that you don’t necessarily have to give up anything. You must only work at developing a healthier perspective.
For the past several years I have worked in an outpatient physical therapy clinic. Most of the people I see are recovering from corrective surgery. I can tell you a couple of things that I have learned during my time in this field. One is that a positive mental perspective makes all the difference in the world, even when discussing healing and progressive strengthening of the physical body. When I am just getting to know a patient, and I realize that they are a hard-working person with a positive mental attitude, it makes my day. Not because they will be easier to work with, but because they possess more of an opportunity for positive change. The positive expectation of their goals directly impacts their potential as well as the outcome. Unfortunately, I have observed that the opposite is also true. Individuals who think negatively, are lazy or have a sense of entitlement, almost always struggle. This is the “victim mindset.” They feel that their circumstances have been thrust upon them unjustly or that their desired goals will somehow
achieve themselves. Some people think that everything will be ok because they deserve positive results as much as anyone else, but without the effort. Maybe they do deserve it, but the attitude of entitlement is in no way a guarantee of positive results. For the most part, these attitudes become self-fulfilling prophecies. The person who is ready to do whatever it takes to get back to their previous quality of life will usually accomplish their goals. Reversely, the person who actively avoids the process and doesn't want to participate in the struggles of their own life is typically going to struggle and continue to experience hardship. This is true for these individuals while being treated and it will continue to be true in other areas of their life if a change in perspective is not made. It is their perspective that makes all the difference.
I often find myself working with someone who complains of the intense pain associated with a total knee replacement. These individuals usually do experience a great deal of pain. They complain, worry, and doubt their ability to get through the rehabilitation process. I encourage them with the fact that we are in the age of medical miracles. I explain that in the past, those who had the same joint issues didn’t have the option for joint replacement. They simply had to learn to live with the pain and make the best of their situation. I share with my patients how lucky they are to be alive at this time! Instead of just a burden, I try to convince them to see their situation as an excellent opportunity for positive change. I tell them that nothing worth having in this life comes without hard work and that they now have clear goals to focus on. I do whatever I can to evoke a positive change in their perspective. Sometimes it works. I get to witness the transformative effects that a change in perspective can have on an individual. I see adults go from a negative state of mind, filled with self-pity and anger, to a mindset filled with drive, purpose, and an appreciation for positive change and personal growth. It is at this point that things begin to change for these individuals.
Other times, I am working with someone who acts like the victim of a heartless crime. They have excuses galore. These individuals focus most of their energy on trying to find someone to blame rather than focusing on the present and developing a better understanding of what it will take to overcome their circumstances. They prolong their own suffering by looking for an easy way out, but it doesn’t exist. The advantage between these two very distinct perspectives goes to the individuals who decide to see their situation as an opportunity for positive change and personal development. The decision to then follow up with action is what really sets some people apart and attributes to their success. These benefits are not just limited to these circumstances, so never forget that they can be applied to almost all other aspects of life.
There is no limit to the benefits that a change of perspective can offer us, even in the worst of environments. Sometimes we may just have to accept that what we are going through could be happening to us just so that we can learn from the experience and one day use that knowledge to help someone that we find in a similar situation. I know that can be a difficult viewpoint to acquire, but it is generally true. It’s all a matter of how you decide to see it. Your struggle may never benefit you in a way that you can fathom, but there may come a day when what you learned may help someone else more than you will ever be able to understand. As you continue to read this book, you will begin to understand more about how this philosophy can work for you. If you adopt it and apply it to your life, you may never again see yourself as dealing with a “bad” situation. If you are willing to consistently put in the effort and be conscious of how you let your life affect you, then you will be able to approach those situations with the understanding that something positive can be gained from them.
The influence of others on our perspectives is paramount and should not be underestimated. We all inhabit this world together. We experience and are affected by the actions and opinions of the good, the bad, and the ugly that surrounds us. Those who are closest to us can have a profound effect on us, and this effect is not always for the best. Friends and family have a powerful ability to pull us into the chaos of their own lives. The poisonous perspectives and poor decision making of these people can have highly undesirable effects on our own existence if allowed. Sometimes, a change in perspective regarding the people we spend our time with is much needed and justified. Toxic relationships, when looked at from the proper perspective, are quickly identified as unneeded sources of turmoil that can quickly take peace from our lives. We must assess the need to make adjustments and if necessary, reduce or perhaps even eliminate those interactions altogether. On the contrary, we should embrace, cultivate, and grow relationships with the people in our lives that bring out the best in us and influence us in a positive manner. The more we surround ourselves with like-minded individuals, the more our way of looking at things can grow into a healthier state. Seeing the positive effects that come from interacting with like-minded individuals will promote in us the desire to be a positive influence on others as well. Understanding the impact that our outlook on life has on those around us really helps to bring home the importance of living a good life.
Almost every great person who has ever brought about change in the world achieved their success by influencing others to change their perspective. They were only able to do this by first attaining a new perspective for themselves. Are we any better? Can we hope to be a positive influence on the world around us without being open to and seeking out change for ourselves? These are important questions that we should all consider.
When discussing active consideration of a change in perspective, we have to understand that before these changes can take place, there is always a pivotal moment where we are exposed to a stimulus. In that instant, we either consciously or unconsciously experience a change in our overall perspective. These changes have happened throughout our entire lives. For the most part, these are passive changes. We subconsciously adapt to our circumstances. Slowly, they mold our worldviews and contribute to who we are as individuals. As any Psychologist will tell you, our environment holds enormous sway over who we are and what we will inevitably become. For some, however, there is eventually a day, very much like today, when we begin to actively consider what things we allow into our lives and how they contribute to who we are becoming and how we view the world. That process starts when we take control through making intentional changes in our perspective. It is through a deliberate shift in perspective that we are able to achieve rapid positive change. For example, if someone close to you dies, it can be a time of severe confusion, pain, and very often, regret. These emotions can quickly create a perspective that most of us have experienced but very few desire. Times like this can be transformed into tools of wisdom when we practice active consideration and control of our own perspective. We can use times like these to help us realize how precious life is. Not just our own lives, but the lives of the people we love and care for. By making an effort to change the way we see death here, we could potentially transform those helpless feelings into a guiding light. It's all just a matter of perspective.
The lesson here is that there is something useful to be found in every circumstance. Author Napoleon Hill put it this way, "Every adversity carries with it the seed of equivalent benefit.” Although these benefits can be hard to see and even harder to appreciate, if you are diligent, the benefits received from less desirable situations become great assets as life moves forward. Traits such as humility and patience can be some of the most powerful characteristics that a person could ever hope to develop. Actively seek out these characteristics and make an effort to develop and cultivate them within yourself. You will benefit much more than the person who does not. It is only through the proper perspective that we seek out positive change and allow ourselves to achieve some of the greatest gifts of all. We are able to accelerate the accumulation of understanding and wisdom. This mental gold is usually reserved for our elders. They possess it because of all the lessons that their life’s experience has taught them. In this way, our elde
rs do deserve our respect. However, sometimes because of a lifetime of experiences that were guided by a warped perspective, they lack the wisdom that many associate with their age. This unfortunate type of life spent harvesting the fruit of a misguided perspective, manifests in the form of bitterness, disgust, and often anger. If you find yourself harvesting these unwanted fruits, then stop, take a deep breath, and remember that you have the power. You have the power to act preventatively.
I want you to understand that all that is required of you is a simple decision, made consistently, to have the perspective of a student. Just study life, and I can promise you that you will learn. Start today. Don't expect anything to be easy. That's just not life! However, you can plan for things to change and become much less complicated. Prepare yourself through active consideration of your perspective as you pass through your days and I can promise you that very soon, you will begin to develop a whole, new, perspective.
Chapter 2
Potential
“Y ou’ve got so much potential! If you would only apply yourself.” These are words that I know I have heard in my life, and I imagine you probably have as well. Perhaps they were not spoken directly to you, but you have heard them. You may have wondered what it means or whether it applies to you. The truth is, this statement applies to us all. We all have potential. Potential is defined as a currently unrealized ability or having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future. Potential is something that an individual or object is capable of but has yet to become or do. This is NOT something that will just inevitably happen. The revealing and unleashing of potential requires specific action. Not just action, but specific action. The question is “what is the action?” The correct action that will unleash your potential and change your reality is right at your fingertips, but camouflaged, if you will, by the mystery of what to do next. Rest assured, inaction will never bring about the answers that you seek. It’s up to you. You are laden with limitless potential that can only be realized with decisive and specific action. Your potential is not what you will be. It is what you can be.