VN April 2023

Vetnuus | April 2023 34 I hope this article finds you and your families well and safe!!! Last month we discussed reputation and credibility as part of our personal development. This month we will look at how barriers are formed in our minds because of circumstances and events that, in turn, create mental pathways that prevent us from even trying to pursue something we want. Several interesting experiments have been done throughout history, one of which was conducted by Dr Eden Ryl on a large great north- ern pike, placed in an aquarium and allowed to feed on small minnows. All the activity in the aquarium was recorded with cameras for days. After some time, things changed, and the scientists placed a glass barrier between the large fish and all the minnows. Each time the pike attempted to eat a minnow, the glass partition obstructed it. After repeated failed attempts and no food as a reward, the larger fish stopped trying to attack the minnows. When it was determined that the fish was extremely hungry, the scientists removed the glass partition. The result surprised everyone. The large fish was desperate and swimming in a tank full of minnows, yet it did not even TRY to eat them. The fish died…it died of starvation in a tank full of food!!!! Food was accessible, but the fish BELIEVED food was unattainable. How many people today are in a similar position? These individuals remember painful attempts at success, past failures, missing the goal and being embarrassed, the rejection and the discouragement…which leads them to form a belief that success is IMPOSSIBLE for them. Our failure to believe this may not necessarily cost us our life; it almost always costs us the quality of life we desire! Why TRY again? People often say,“I have tried that before, and I don’t want to go through it again”. Actually, you don’t go through it again, at least not how you did before! The world changes, and so can we. What was true before may no longer be true now. You can choose to improve your skills before trying again or make adjustments to your approach to the challenge. Thomas Edison exemplified this by failing 10000 times before succeeding with the light bulb. Every time he came back with a new approach. Failures and disappointments are usually one factor along the road to any genuine success. Trying again is part of business, completing tasks or projects, and relationships. I had a friend of mine go through a divorce. He was afraid to go through this pain again. He learned that his past was not his future and that every relationship is different. Recognize that a broken relationship may be a blessing in disguise, saving you much more pain down the line. Gain wisdom and experience , not cynicism. If there is forgiveness to be given…give it. If there is a problem in your own life that needs to be addressed… address it . Get stronger and better , not bitter. Three Major Lessons There are three things that every person would be wise to learn earlier rather than later or teach to their children earlier rather than later: 1. Handling Criticism & Rejection: no matter how your work was criticized or rejected is irrelevant. These are the questions you should be asking yourself when it happens: “What can I learn from this? What do I need to change? How do I need to respond to turn this around?” Focus on what CAN be done rather than on the moment’s emotion. Everybody is criticized from time to time. Nobody is praised, loved, or always accepted by everyone - it is an unrealistic expectation. Influential Life Coaching IMPOSSIBILITY MINDSET Dr Mats Abatzidis B.Sc. B.V.Sc. New Insights Certified VIP Life Coach mats.abatzidis@yahoo.co.za Founder of Influential Life Coaching http://www.matsaba.wix.com/drmatscoach Author of the published book“Life outside your comfort zone. Better and beyond all expectations”. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref =nb_sb_noss?url=search- alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Abatzidis http://www.life-coach-directory.co.za/mats-abatzidis Vet's Health I Life Coaching