One topic that has always interested me was the notion of self-fulfilling prophecy. Robert Merton, a 20th century sociologist, actually coined the term of self-fulfilling prophecy in his 1949 book Social Theory and Social Structure. The prophecy or prediction is false but is made true by a person’s actions. Today the prophecy is viewed as neither true nor false but merely a statement that alters a person’s actions and therefore comes true.
Ask yourself this: Are happy and successful people that way because good things happen to them? Or, do good things happen to them because they look for and have feelings of happiness and success? I see this play out everyday with my clients.
Someone who says, “I will never be very strong,” chooses to work in a group of athletes who uses weight much lighter than he can handle and therefore never improves his strength.
Someone who says, “I am just not flexible,” spends little-to-no time stretching and mobilizing after class. When they do receive instruction on how to improve their flexibility, they rush through the movements and half-ass them.
Those who think everyone is out to get them and that they are being treated differently or unfairly look for instances to prove this true and even open the door to this happening. Their negative actions cause, in return, negative reactions toward them from those nearby.
Or, on a more positive note, someone who wants a chance to prove himself in high school athletics works hard and pushes himself even though there are no promises made to him that he will make it. Hard work and perseverance pay off and the stars align and he becomes valuable player on the team.
These are all true stories and people I know and work with every day. Which of these people is more enjoyable to be around? Which are leading happy and fulfilling lives? Control your own destiny. Which prophecy will you choose?
Ask yourself this: Are happy and successful people that way because good things happen to them? Or, do good things happen to them because they look for and have feelings of happiness and success? I see this play out everyday with my clients.
Someone who says, “I will never be very strong,” chooses to work in a group of athletes who uses weight much lighter than he can handle and therefore never improves his strength.
Someone who says, “I am just not flexible,” spends little-to-no time stretching and mobilizing after class. When they do receive instruction on how to improve their flexibility, they rush through the movements and half-ass them.
Those who think everyone is out to get them and that they are being treated differently or unfairly look for instances to prove this true and even open the door to this happening. Their negative actions cause, in return, negative reactions toward them from those nearby.
Or, on a more positive note, someone who wants a chance to prove himself in high school athletics works hard and pushes himself even though there are no promises made to him that he will make it. Hard work and perseverance pay off and the stars align and he becomes valuable player on the team.
These are all true stories and people I know and work with every day. Which of these people is more enjoyable to be around? Which are leading happy and fulfilling lives? Control your own destiny. Which prophecy will you choose?
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