Victim vs. Victory
“A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.”
May has arrived and with it comes the Victory Circles month long exploration into what it takes to fully embrace each of our individual and collective roles as a leader.
This year we have all been hearing the question, “Where has the leadership gone on the political front?” I am happy to say that in the business world - especially small business - it appears to be alive and well.
Watching with a smile, there are so many entrepreneurs seeking to be the best they can be in their businesses. Whether it’s leading employees, customers, or colleagues, a business driven by a strong leader provides the best possible results for all parties concerned.
Isn’t the beginning of true leadership about cleaning up your own house before you try to clean the house of others? Sure, none of us are perfect, however, the aspiration to be the best we possibly can should be our guiding light.
A question has been circulating in my head for the last month or more: What makes some people extremely focused on being victorious (a key attribute in leadership) and some who cannot get out of the role of always being a victim? You know it’s always someone or something in life that is causing those with a victim mentality to stop in their tracks or barely limp along.
And with that said, I most certainly get it that life comes at us fast and hard. And, at times throws us punches that we didn’t quite expect. It’s what we do with what we are handed that makes all the difference.
In fact, I want to share with you a little health adventure I have been on for the last 30 days. And while it could be considered small in contrast to some huge elements others might be dealing with (such as a life-threatening situation) it is what is true from me right now today.
Over the course of the past 10 or so years I have been trying without much success to lose about 15 pounds in order to gain optimum health in my body. No matter what I have done, nothing has really gotten the results I am looking for. No pounds have been lost and a feeling of defeat has been pretty consistent for me in this area of my life.
No doubt there has been a ton of advice given to me, and no matter what I have done nothing seemed to make a difference.
Today actually marks the 30th day of a 30-day challenge I embarked on of removing alcohol from my diet. In it, thinking my love of a nice glass of wine or cocktail might have been playing into the no loss scenario. While I learned a lot about myself including will power over the last 30 days, still nothing changed on the weight front.
Then just this past Thursday I learned from an allergy blood test that my nutritionist recommended I am in fact highly allergic to gluten, whey, almonds, and EGGS! What?? I cried inside, as some of my favorite things are wrapped up in these key food items! How in the world can I give them up?? What will I eat??
Well then those words “victim versus victorious” went running through my head pretty immediately. And with those words came some strong words of support from those that I love the most.
This led me to be excited about this new day of knowing that this information is not going to make me a victim, but rather lead me finally on a path of victory with my own health.
How about you? What makes you victorious versus a victim? What element of your life or someone you know has resulted in the higher road of actually being a better version of ones self? Would love to have you share your thoughts in the comments below!
Why share? Because as I have always relayed to my kids while they were growing up - sharing is caring. You never know who could be impacted by the words you share ;)
Have a most victorious week and month ahead!
To Your Successes and Victories,
- Cheri
Cheri Ruskus
Author, Business Growth Coach,
and Founder of the Victory Circles
www.VictoryCircles.com
