Self Justification

As we strive to define our world, we are often guilty of justifying our choices because it “feels good.” Whether right, wrong, or straddling the fence of opportunity, we want to do what we want! Don’t tell me I can’t.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”
~Henry Ford

Justification begins with the framework of our thinking process. When you think you can, then you try until it’s done. Right? But was it the right thing to do? On the flip side, if you think you cannot, you don’t even begin. You justify your results based on your internal process of selecting your capabilities.

I remember the first time I was hired to teach a college-level class for the American Institute of Banking. The course was run through the local junior college in Anchorage, Alaska. The beginning session did not get a sound footing – late arrivals, nervousness, and wondering if this was my forte. I turned to the grease board, ignored everyone, and talked with myself. “You can do this!”

So, I did. The rest is history.

The strangest of all times is probably when you do something you aren’t sure about, and you look back over your shoulder from the future and say, “I wasn’t sure I could do that.” Any “first time” is probably the strangest time. It truly sets the stage for your future. Once you’ve tried, whether there was a success or not, you now have history – which is the foundation for your thinking process.

Question: What are you successfully doing that you can remember back to that first time? Did you know you could rebuild a carburetor, bake a cake, sew a new set of clothes, earn a buck, stand in front of a class and give a speech?

That First Time

Jitters abound the first time, right? After a few successes under the belt, you become more confident. Suddenly, you wonder what you were ever worried about the first time!

I wanted to be a pilot: classes, instructor-led flights, practice, practice, and some more practice. The day came when my instructor, Wes Ballard, had me taxi to the tower and gave me my final instructions. Something like, “Make three flights in pattern, touch down but then go (touch-n-go) and do a full stop on the third landing. You can do this!”

This was my first time leaving the ground without an instructor! Nervous. Can I do it? I’ve probably landed 100 times at this airport, so it’s not a strange situation. But suddenly, there’s no shoulder pressing against mine as I am now the PIC (Pilot in command.)

I pulled out my cheat cards, studied the process one last time, contacted ground control (the tower), and began my routine. I never thought about doing anything wrong and the consequences of the moment. My mind was made up. I got this!

Success! My first solo flight, done and done!

From there, I planned and flew my cross-country flights, making landings at other airports and enjoying the solo experience.

Confidence Builder

We all need something that builds our confidence, so we find success and growth comfortable. Sudden fame can be your downfall. There’s a process of starting small before tackling something more considerable.

When I teach, I learn twice, says the old adage, so I keep learning the more I teach. Stop teaching, then your experiences are less, and your confidence for the next “up front” time is jittery. From repetitiveness, you build a flow. From your scarcity, you wonder if you remember.

What did Bruce Lee say? He’s not worried about the one who practices 10,000 maneuvers but is concerned about the one who practices a single movement 10,000 times.

It’s called Second Nature. You do something enough, and when the times suddenly demand it, you do what you were trained to do without thinking about it. Wax on. Wax off.

But everything we do can still be tweaked as we age through life. Tiger Woods still has a golf coach who would watch every movement and help him fine-tune his swing so he would become better. Baseball pitchers and hitters? The same thing. Well, what about widget makers? Ditto!

Next Step

After building your confidence, your next step is to persevere. Don’t give up. Do not walk away. Keep on, keeping on.

The writer of Hebrews says it like this:

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV

Confidence produces a spirit of endurance.

The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue;
courage is only the second virtue.
~Napoleon Bonaparte

Once you’ve achieved it, you move on to the next step. One man I know you to say about rejection (he was a sales personality), “Next!” When the waters get a little muddy, just keep moving on. Your next step is the best thing you can do next.

Here’s My Thought

This morning, I’m thinking about successes, failures, choices, and where to go next. We can justify our choices based on how we think about something or keep moving forward until it’s time to stop. I’m a move, not a stopper.