Tip of the Week

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Why not just be a healthy dog?!

I have finally figured out what the biggest relational problem is in all of life!  It is when you have two ticks and no dog!  A word of further explanation is certainly needed at this point!
 
Wherever two people are connected in some kind of relationship, it is important to understand exactly what is going on.  Whether it is a husband/wife relationship, two business people working together, a parent/child relationship, or any other endeavor, everything begins to fall apart when you have two ticks and no dog! 
 
Ticks are simply "takers".  A tick will take and get what he wants, but it is always at the expense of someone other than himself.  If you put two ticks together, they will not co-exist for very long because of their nature.  Neither tick has anything to offer the other.  Yet, both want to take from any animal to which they are attached.
 
There is a second scenario that is also not very healthy.  That is when you have one dog and one tick.  The tick provides nothing of any value to that relationship.  It will just take, and take, and take, and "go along for the ride," as long as it possibly can.  The nature of a tick is not to provide anything of any value, but simply to get all that it can, for as long as it can.  And, that is a sad situation! 
 
Do you like ticks?  Do you know of anyone who likes ticks?  See, what I mean?
 
There is, however, one other option that, in my mind, creates a very profitable scenario.  That situation occurs when you have two healthy dogs and no ticks.  When both dogs are strong and healthy and do not have something "sucking the blood out of their life," they tend to be much happier and healthier.  They do not waste a lot of time trying to find out why something is making them feel uncomfortable or irritated in certain areas of their life.
 
Imagine for a moment that you are a dog.  Wouldn't it be nice to be tick-free? 
 
I know this may sound like the weirdest Tip you have ever read in your life, but I recently spoke about this on two different occasions.  Both audiences really connected with it.  They were able to fix in their minds an image of what they wanted to be in their own personal lives.  Several people indicated to me that this illustration painted a clear picture for them that being a healthy dog is much better than being a tick.
 
When we are able to look at situations and circumstances in our lives, we are able to make adjustments.  But, if we don't know what is going on around us, then we will simply "go along" until something bad or difficult happens that suddenly wakes us up to reality.  At that point, it may be too late.
 
My personal goal is to be a healthy, responsible person who contributes to the world in which I live.  I want to be a blessing to my family.  I want to be an encouragement to my co-workers.  And, I want to be of value to everyone with whom I come in contact.  Although I sometimes stumble, I am not looking for anyone to do anything for me.  I really want to be the kind of person who is willing to do things for others.  In other words, I want to be a healthy dog, not a tick!
 
Open your eyes and look around you.  See if you are in a situation where you might possibly be a tick or a dog.  It may be time for a change.  This is not always a fun process, but it sure is healthy for your own sanity, emotional stability, and personal future!

This information is provided in congruence with Personality Insights USA.

Tip of the Week Archive