Regret versus Hope
by Vicki Simons
(USA)
On December 31, we sent a tweet on regret versus hope through our Twitter feed.
We wrote ten simple words:
"Some look back in regret. Others look forward in hope."One statement expresses pessimism, the other optimism.
Some people call this "seeing the glass as half empty" versus "seeing the glass as half full."
A truck driver who is paid by the hour -- and whose company experiences its slow season in the winter -- bemoaned his low paycheck from last week.
I commented that he had had Christmas Day off. Behind this statement were two others:
- he got to be home on that day and
- he got to be with his family that day.
How many other truckers were home with their families on Christmas Day?
I also commented that
as low as his paycheck was, it was better than zero. A lot of people have no jobs -- and no income -- right now.
Often, if we examine things carefully, we can find the good in them.
For example, if Mike had not had an on-the-job accident, we never would have learned about a way to have
uncapped income. Now that we do, we can also help rescue other truckers from their
linear income.
Regret versus hope also has an impact on one's physical
health and wellness. Positive and negative thoughts matter. If you've ever seen guys get "psyched up" before playing a sporting event, you know this is true.
So, no matter what time of year it is when you read this, you can determine to
look forward in hope for the future versus
looking backward in regret over the past.
What will this look like for you? Here are a few ideas that may spur your thinking:
- "I've been working for X cents per mile for a while now. I'm good at what I do. I think I should be earning more. I will explore getting a different trucking job."
- "I don't think my driver manager is getting me all the miles he could or that other driver managers in this company get for their drivers. I'm going to ask to be moved to another fleet."
- "I've been a company driver for a long time and I've saved up my money. I know as much or more than a lot of owner-operators. It's time for me to strike out on my own."
Consider the pros and cons of each move you make. Carefully evaluate everything. I wish you well on your prosperous future!
