When you think you deserve more, you become a victim.
“I deserve more!” says the entitled person. When someone thinks they deserve more, will they ever be satisfied with what they have? No. As a result, entitlement sets people up to become selfish and negative. Who wants to be around, let alone follow, someone like that? Nobody.
In today’s society, entitlement is a debilitating attitude that prevents people from becoming who they are called to be. They become negative and believe that the world is there to fulfill their needs. When it doesn’t, they become selfish and look out for themselves.
Notice this issue is not wanting more. The issue is thinking we deserve more. Wanting more is the American Way. It is the way we make things better. It is the way one generation of a family works to improve things for the next generation. But pay attention to who that progress depends upon - Us!
When we think we deserve more, then it is up to other people to change or for our circumstances to change. When we think that way, we make ourselves powerless victims. We complain. We wait. We stagnate and get mired in our own self pity. That is not what Leaders of Character do.
Leaders of Character recognize that in the midst of uncontrollable circumstances, we still have power to make our own choices. We can choose to see the circumstances and find opportunities. We can choose to wallow, or we can choose to act. We can drag others down or we can lift them up.
The entitled person has made a choice to be the victim. The Leader of Character has made a choice to be a leader - an agent of change. They take charge of their lives, no matter the circumstances or the people around them, and they take action.
They act with Courage even if times are difficult. They exercise Humility, recognizing it is not about me. They choose Selflessness and focus on others instead of themselves.
If you find yourself feeling negative and focusing on what you think the world might owe you, try a simple exercise. Be thankful for what you have. Take time each day and write down three things you are grateful for during the last twenty four hours.
These may be little things like a laughing child, a fun conversation with a friend, and another paycheck. They could be big things like a roof over your head, a good report from your doctor, and the vacation you just took.
When we stop and think about it, we all have been given a lot to be thankful for. Thanksgiving should happen more than once a year. Thankfulness is the antidote to entitlement.
I guarantee you, when you spend time each day focusing on what you have been given in your life, the things that you are missing fade into the background. You will see your world differently and begin to celebrate your blessings, which will lead to Positivity and open your eyes to the needs of others - Selflessness.
If you want to improve your view of the world - get rid of entitlement and replace it with thankfulness.
Question:
When have you let the victim mentality take over?
How can thankfulness help you avoid that the next time?
Here is a quick assessment that will take you 5 minutes to figure it out. Nobody will ever see your results but you.
Warning: If you are not going to be honest with yourself this is a worthless assessment.
To take the assessment use the QR code above or go to www.MYCHARACTERTEST.com
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