Are You Approachable?

I read a book recently that had this section in it about approachability:

Years ago there was a piece called “The Art of Getting Along,” which stated,

Sooner or later, a man, if he is wise, discovers that life is a mixture of good days and bad, victory and defeat, give and take. He learns that it doesn’t pay to be a too-sensitive soul, that he should let some things go over his head like water off a duck’s back. He learns that he who loses his temper usually loses out, that all men have burnt toast for breakfast now and then, and that he shouldn’t take the other fellow’s grouch too seriously.

He learns that carrying a chip on his shoulder is the easiest way to get into trouble, that the quickest way to become unpopular is to carry tales of gossip about others, that buck-passing always turns out to be a boomerang, that it doesn’t matter so much who gets the credit so long as the job gets done.

He learns that most others are as ambitious as he is, that they have brains as good or better, that hard work, not cleverness, is the secret of success. He learns that no man ever gets to first base alone, and that it is only through cooperative effort that we move on to better things.

He realizes (in short) that the “art of getting along” depends about 98 percent on his own behavior toward others.

If you want to make yourself agreeable and approachable to others, then you need to put them at ease. The book then went on to share how to make yourself approachable.

But then, I guess the real question is - do you WANT to be approachable? I would think we all do, to some extent. True, there are some people we wish would stay away from us - but there are many others that we like to be around. It doesn't matter where you are, or what you are doing - we all have people in our lives that we have to look at how to approach them.

There are some that always walk around with a chip on their shoulder so you have to be careful what you say to them, and how you say it, or they will explode on you.

There are some that are huggers who just love everyone and gives everyone a hug - the 'chip on the shoulder' ones as well.

Then there are some that are standoffish, distancing themselves from everyone. I think they have the least amount of fun. I mean, what fun is it if you just show up and don't participate in anything? B-O-R-I-N-G.

We all have good days and bad days, days in which we succeed at all our tasks for that day - and days that we don't quite make the grade. What is important is what effort we put into that day.

Do we try to keep focused and keep going - or do we slack off and let things fall where they may? Some of us can't do that. I have one son who delivers parts to different locations throughout the valley. He also has to load his truck each morning before he leaves. If he just threw the parts onto the truck in any manner, if he just grabbed some things here and there and didn't keep things organized so he not only knew where they were, but that they were in one piece, his job would not last long. He has to make sure each part gets delivered timely to specific locations in good condition. He can't say, 'Oh, I forgot that one, will get it next time if I remember', or he wouldn't have a job for long. He is depended up on to complete the task assigned to him.

And although it may be hot and sticky out, he knows that he needs to maintain a good attitude when he delivers these parts. It's his job. And he has learned to do it well. It doesn't matter if he has had a bad morning, or having a bad day. He has to determine if he will let that control the rest of his day or will he rise about it.

We all have been around people with a 'chip on their shoulder' and usually start to back off from them because we don't want to set them off. Until we have had enough then we give them a chip off of our shoulder!

One thing I have discovered over the years - be careful, very careful, about giving someone a 'piece of your mind'. I've discovered I can't afford to lose any of my mind. It isn't easy to end a disagreement by not responding. But sometimes that is what you need to do.

So for today - think about how you get along with others. Do you go around with a chip on your shoulder? Do you blame others for your attitude? Do you complain and whine about how you are this way because you have always been this way? Then stop it. Determine that your behavior will be a positive influence - not only for others - but for yourself. You will find that when you think positive thoughts, it soon will be a natural decision to have a good, approachable behavior.

Have a great hump day!

Blessings!