Susanna texted me the other day and asked if I had time to grab lunch before her doctor’s appointment. Being the efficiency-minded engineer, I suggested the hospital cafeteria, as it would be easy for her to go straight to her appointment afterward. Oh, and it happened to be half the price of the restaurant we considered going to. She reluctantly agreed to the plan.
Walking into the cafeteria, I saw her waiting for me at a long white table. The look on her face wasn’t one of unbridled joy. It seemed that everyone but us was dressed in hospital scrubs. Most were in line for burgers and fries. We filled our plastic salad containers with iceberg lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, pressed chicken cubes, garbanzo beans, sunflower seeds, and croutons. I was delighted to see the bucket of free saltines at the checkout line. As we sat down to our delicious feast, Susanna turned to me and said, "Just so you know, Tarek, this does not count as a date!” This was not my finest hour as her husband of 33 years!
A few days later, I had lunch with some colleagues at a local restaurant called Mirabella’s Table. They had a vast all-you-can-eat salad bar with good lettuce, grilled chicken, veggies, high-end toppings, homemade dressing, and—here’s the kicker—pizza and dessert. Yes, it was twice the price of our hospital "date," but this spread was amazing! The error of my ways was instantly revealed to me. You definitely get what you pay for.
How often do you settle for the half-priced salad bar when you could enjoy the bounty of a never-ending big salad?
The truth is that changing yourself starts with changing your mindset. Changing your mindset from “I can’t” to “I can” begins with changing your habits. As John Maxwell says, “You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”
Here are some practical examples:
Wrong Belief: I am who I am. I will never change.
Right Belief: I am my daily habits and can change them one day at a time.
Positive Action: Pick one area you want to change and take small daily actions that shift your mindset.1Wrong Belief: I am stuck in a job I hate, which will never change.
Right Belief: I’m only stuck if I choose to be. I can change my situation.
Positive Action: Hire a resume coach. Realize all that you’ve accomplished. Start looking for a job that leverages your gifts and allows you to add value to others.Wrong Belief: I am who others say I am.
Right Belief: Others have power over my mindset only if I give it to them. I was made on purpose and for a purpose by my Creator.
Positive Action: Start your day by listing all the blessings for which you are grateful. At the end of each day, write down your successes.
Hey, y’all, don’t settle for the half-price salad bar. You deserve the best life has to offer. The only thing standing between you and that life is your mindset. Today is the day to start your changed life.
This isn’t the first salad-themed post I’ve written. Here’s another one on an entirely different topic!
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I used to be embarrassed to say this, but I love salads (the food) and now, thanks to you, I also love them as a metaphor! :)
Last weekend I was camping and realized I felt such a feeling of dread that I wasn't enjoying myself. I certainly didn't feel relaxed, which is something spending time in nature should provide. I reflected on how I was feeling and why and realized that my morning routine is awful. I grab a cup of caffeine and begin with emails, then the news, then back to emails because they continually come in, then back to the news in case I missed something or wanted to fact check something. My morning, for up to two hours, has been spent consuming, most of which is negative and scary right now. I decided to change my morning routine. I still read emails (most of which I signed up for and interest me), but after that I do Pilates, and then have a time of prayer...all before my husband gets up. I already feel better and it's already gotten to be something my body reminds me of...and is becoming a habit.