Fun Facts and Perspective Shifts

Before I jump into the topic for this week, I thought it’d be a good idea to put some history in front of you. 

 

Most U.S. citizens don’t know this fun fact. 

While “adopted” by the second continental congress in July, The Declaration of Independence wasn’t actually ratified until August 2nd, 1776. 

 

And then…On September 9th, the Continental Congress voted to change from being the United Colonies to The United States. And since communication didn’t happen over the Internet, but rather by boat, it wasn’t until January 14th, 1784 (almost eight years after creating and signing the Declaration of Independence) that the United Colonies turned United States actually voted to become an independent Sovereign Nation. 

 

That’s significant because we often seem to celebrate the wrong things on the wrong dates. There’s no blame here; I’m inviting you to tilt your head to one side and get that Scooby-Doo curious face. “Huhhh?” It’s okay that we like to celebrate. I think it’s important to know what it is that we’re celebrating. (And don’t get me started about Columbus Day or St. Patrick’s Day or a number of other “holidays” that we’ve put on our calendars.)

 

Again, I’m good with celebration.

 

Celebrating things brings us together, which was the reason behind some of the holidays we have united around nationally and globally. 

 

Today’s point is that we often take things at face value and continue to engage in doing things a certain way “because they’ve been done that way for as long as I can remember.” When I consult in companies, leaders laugh, “No! Of course we would never accept ‘because we’ve always done it that way’ as a reason for doing something.”

 

Except we do.

 

You do.

I do.

We do. 

 

We do, until we don’t. 

 

We integrate the stories of the past – familial, organizational, community, societal – as our own and perpetuate them as a given. 

 

What becomes so overlooked are the stories that we could be telling ourselves about ourselves and our future. You are worthy and you deserve to desire. 

With the year half over, look ahead to how you’ll complete the rest of this year. What new skill will you take on? How will you engage critical thinking differently and look at the way we always do things from a different perspective?

 

Perspective counts. 

 

Keep making your magic and I’ll see you here next week.

 

= Wayne = 

Check out my TEDx Talk with almost 2 Million Views on it. You’ll learn a bit more about perspective! CLICK HERE