The wind is blowing very hard today and that made for a very interesting bike ride. I felt like I could ride west forever, but as soon as I turned east the ride became very challenging. This made my brain a little fuzzy because when the ride west is uphill, and when I am riding east, it is usually downhill. To be able to ride so easily uphill and then to struggle on the down hill slopes was visually boggling.
The effort required to ride, did not fit the picture in front of me. I rode up hill in one of my biggest gears that is usually reserved for down hill slopes and it was easy. Then I found myself having to stand up and ride in one of my easiest gears when I was going down here. I had to really push myself to make it down the hill and it was challenging. It was a bit confusing for me.
The Road Is Not Always How It Looks
As I reflected on this oddity, I thought about life. I have met many people along the way, who appear to be on the same road as I am. I have found those who are going downhill with me, yet for some reason they are struggling. I hate to say it, but I sometimes judged those people to be either lazy or unfocused. I never really considered that the wind might be blowing in their life. I just thought that since they were on the same road as me, they should be able to move forward just as easily as I was.
At other times, I have found those who are going uphill with me and for whatever reason, they are moving along with very little effort. When I thought about those people, I sometimes believed that they were lucky and that they didn't have to face the real world like the rest of us. As I began improving myself, I started to celebrate their accomplishments. The closer I looked. the more I realized that they really were working hard and that they had faced many days when the wind wasn't at their back. I could see that I was catching them on a good day, and that luck had very little to do with it. They had prepared for that moment and they were ready to move forward when the wind began to blow.
Help Is On The Way
As I thought about this in this new way, I began to see myself in a much better position to extend help to others. Some will find the road to be less challenging and others will find it to be more challenging. I can inspire and be inspired if I withhold my judgement from others. I can do more good when I seek to lift and encourage than I can when I seek to judge or tear down.
Those that I find traveling with the wind at their back may not realize it and may not be giving that little extra effort that would pay enormous dividends under those circumstances. They may just be coasting along and feeling like it is a good time to take a break. I can encourage them to step up during those favorable conditions so that they may more easily reach for new heights.
Those that I find traveling with the wind in their face may not realize it and they may be discouraged and feeling like they cannot succeed. They may be blaming themselves even though it has nothing to do with them. I can lift them up and help them see that it is just the wind that is blowing and if they continue forward, it will eventually stop. I can also help them change direction so that they can begin traveling with the wind at their back.
Be The Help That Others Need
You can help others too. Is there someone you know that appears to be struggling? What can you do to help them? How can you either protect them from the wind for a while or point them in a new direction? There may be those in your organization, who you are directly responsible for, that are struggling. How long has it been since you assessed their position? How can you make their life easier for them?
What about those that appear to have the wind at their back? How long has it been since you complimented them and told them how wonderful they are and how thankful you are for their contributions to your team? How can you recognize their success to build them up? What can you learn from them? They need that recognition. Don't be afraid to give it to them.
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