How many, how much? It depends...
How much success have I achieved?
Depends how I define it.
How much fulfillment inside my life?
Depends how I design it.
How focused are my actions?
Depends how much I refine ‘em?
How strong are my goals?
Depends if I align ‘em.
—MARIA TRAINO: An entrepreneur’s rendition of a Shel Silverstein classic
I was 7 when my grandmom gave me my first Shel Silverstein book for Christmas.
I loved it! As a creative kid I really loved his sense of humor… and as a kid who struggled to read I really appreciated the short poems.
Grandmom Claire gave me three of his books over the years, and I’ve had them tucked away in my daughter’s closet for safe keeping until she was old enough to read. Well… over the weekend my 7-year-old found them and joined me on the back porch for an early morning reading sesh.
We flipped through the book and I read a few out loud to her. My child-like curiosity was piqued again with this short, funny poem… which is also quite deep.
HOW MANY, HOW MUCH
How many slams in an old screen door?
Depends how loud you shut it.
How many slices in a bread?
Depends how thin you cut it.
How much good inside a day?
Depends how good you live ’em.
How much love inside a friend?
Depends how much you give ’em.
—SHEL SILVERSTEIN
This poem made me think about how unique each of our perspectives are, when it comes to… well… almost everything!
A la təˈmātō / təˈmätō…
Our perspective is what creates the world around us.
What we see in the world around us reinforces the perspective we take.
Trust me, you know what I mean. Think about it… even inside the same family, different people can have different perspectives on past events, which may have elicited different memories and emotions. One singular event happened, yet each witness could have a different perspective based on their life experience, knowledge at the time, personality, belief system, etc.
When we believe in something, our brain naturally finds evidence to support it. There’s actual brain science behind that, it’s called the reticular activating system. The RAS supports our beliefs. Our beliefs influence our RAS.
What’s your perspective on your wealth? Health? Relationships?
What you see in the world around you are clues to your perspective… it’s evidence! How you react and the feelings you have toward the world around you is a direct response to your perspective… that’s evidence, too!
Here’s the cool part… If you’re not happy with the evidence, you can change your perspective. Here’s how:
- Identify your current perspective
- Desire a different outcome
- Make a choice to change your perspective
- Practice
- See evidence reinforcing new perspective
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 until evidence of old belief doesn’t carry any weight
Don’t believe me? Here’s some new evidence to support my perspective on perspectives:
- “Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to them that believe’” (Mark 9:23)
- “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” —Wayne Dyer
- Google “Observer Effect”
What do you think? Are you ready to get out of your own way—define your blocks, design your goals, develop your dreams—and finally shift your perspective toward one of YOUR definition of success?
Will you see success this year? It depends!
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Author
Maria Conigliaro
Neuro Coach + Speaker
Maria Conigliaro is the daughter of third-generation Italian restaurant owners – learning hustle, service and adaptability from a young age. These qualities served her well as she built and elevated her award-winning design and marketing agency, Inspired Studio, now in its 10th year. Over the last decade Maria has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, executives, and marketing directors to craft one-of-a-kind brand identities for businesses throughout the country. Maria engages with her clients fueled by curiosity and creative problem-solving, helping others to discover and communicate their authentic purpose. As a certified NeuroCoach, her work is much the same. She partners with motivated entrepreneurs and business leaders to define and design their version of success with intention, using a brain-based framework that rewires neuropathways through bespoke counsel and action. Maria is active within the business community where she resides in northeastern Pennsylvania with her two daughters.
