Conversation between my wife and me:
Wife: Let me wash your gym bag. I’m doing a load of darks.
Me: It doesn’t need it. It’s not dirty.
Wife: You’ve had that for years. Have you ever washed it?
Me: No, because it doesn’t need it. It’s still as red as ever.
I stood firm on my convictions.
As I was speaking, she grabbed my gym bag, emptied it and put it in the washer.
After the gym bag dried, I was amazed.
It was a brighter red than I ever imagined.
It smelled so clean. It was beautiful!
I washed everything that I put back in it so that each item was also clean.
Before I jumped into the pool to swim laps that next day, two people commented on my “new” gym bag. I let them know it was the same one I had before.
All that gym bag needed was a good washing, but I just hadn’t thought about it. I needed someone else to give me a different perspective.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
- How often do you look at the things you do and make sure you don’t need a good “washing”?
- Who is someone you trust you could help you analyze what you do?
- Would they suggest that you use some new words to express yourself?
- Are there some behaviors they think you should change?
- Do they think you are a good listener and empathizer?
- Could they offer some new strategies that would work better for you?
There is no better time to “level up” and no better way than to invite some input from someone you trust.