Holy cow it's been a while since I've blogged on here. Too much time on my Facebook page I guess.
I found a GREAT blog recently from the legendary "Pitbull of Self-Development" himself - Sir Larry Winget.
It's called...
"It's Easier To Be Stupid!"
That’s right. It’s easier to be stupid than it is be smart.
It is easier to listen to the political pundits and television news anchors and trust their words completely than it is to study, read, and search to discover the truth about a political issue or to actually read one of the bills or proposals you are so vehemently for or against.
It is easier to believe Rush or O’Reilly or Hannity or Olberman or Rachel or Beck or even Larry Winget than it is to actually do a little fact checking of your very own. It’s work to find the truth out about any issue, so it’s easier to just accept what you hear as fact.
It is easier to listen to the preachers and believe every word they say from their pulpit than it is to read the book yourself, or maybe lots of books and search for your own insight and develop your beliefs based on your own experiences.
It’s easier to just toe the party line because you are registered Democrat or Republican than it is to ask whether the party line makes sense or not.
It’s easier to believe your doctor when he tells you that you should take a pill rather than to do some research or get a second opinion to find out if he knows what he is talking about or whether he is padding his pocket and those of the pharmaceutical companies.
It’s easier to buy a pill or have surgery to lose the pounds than it is to start eating right and doing some exercise.
It’s easier to steal a car than it is to get a job, earn money, build credit and buy a car.
It’s easy to charge something than it is to pay cash.
It’s easier to blame than to take responsibility.
Bottom line it’s just easier to be stupid and do stupid things.
Smart people take responsibility for their lives. They require a lot from themselves and from others. Smart people work hard and pay their bills. Smart people are good parents. Smart people are concerned about their health and the health of their family.
The argument from many is going to be that there are many smart people who aren’t good parents. Or that there are smart people who don’t work hard or pay their bills. Or that there are plenty of smart people who are obese. You can’t sell me on that argument. These people all might be intelligent, but they aren’t smart, they are stupid.
Being smart requires that you do the right thing or at least work at trying to do the right thing.
We are a society who loves to brag about how smart we are. But are we? It doesn’t appear so on many fronts. Being smart requires that we be responsible and that simply is not the case for most people. We require almost nothing of ourselves that involves any real work, effort or sacrifice.
The Bible says “to whom much is given, much is required.” And each of us has been given a lot.
We have been given a great planet to live on yet we stupidly spend most of our day destroying it. After all, it’s work to conserve. It requires sacrifice. Not big sacrifices for sure, but even a small sacrifice requires more of us than no sacrifice. “Give up my gas guzzler? No way!” “Put in energy conserving light bulbs? They cost a dollar more!” “Turn up my thermostat two degrees? What? I’ve earned the right to be as cool as I want to be!”
We have been given a job yet few people do more than what is minimally required of them in order to keep their job and draw their check. After all, giving your best requires integrity and it easier to live without integrity than with it.
We have been given great kids yet we don’t communicate with them, spend much time with them or set good examples for them.
We are given great civil liberties yet few people vote or become involved.
Most of us were given health yet we ate our way, smoked our way and lazyed our way out of that great gift.
We have been given the opportunity to accomplish great things yet we squander that opportunity by sitting on our ass and watching mindless drivel on the television.
We have been given all the keys to success, happiness and prosperity but only a few will ever bother to read the books that hold those keys.
Instead, we take the easy way out. The stupid way out. Because anything else would require effort and few are willing to put in the effort to change their lives or their circumstances.
Instead, they would rather just complain about the hand they have been dealt and their lot in life. They would rather bitch about Obama or Bush or the stupidity of others than own up to their own laziness and stupidity. They would rather blame the economy or Wall Street rather than own up to the fact that they overspent and never saved. They would rather blame their boss than own up to the fact that they called in sick when they weren’t and took longer breaks than allowed and gave 75% effort instead of 100%. They would rather blame the school system than realize that they never spent any time with their kids making sure they could add or read or spell. They would rather blame the government for squandering their tax dollars than admit that they cheated on their own income taxes.
Being given much really does mean that much is required of you.
It means that if you have money, you are required to do the right thing with your money including saving, investing, spending and being charitable.
It means that if you have kids you are required to talk to them, spend time with them, teach them and set a good example for them.
It means that if you have a job you are required to give it your best for no other reason than you were hired to do so.
It also means that if you are smart, you are required to use your smarts in ways that serve yourself, your family and others in responsible ways. And that requires work. That’s why it’s easier to be stupid – it doesn’t really require any work.
I will readily admit that I often do take the easy way out myself. I find it easier to NOT do something than it is to do something. I try not to get caught in that trap often and I try not to let it spread like a cancer into all areas of my life. I try to recognize it quickly, correct it even quicker and get back on track immediately. But it still happens and I still offer myself excuses for it. Bottom line: There is no excuse. Doing the easy thing is rarely about doing the right thing. If the wind is at your back, you are going the wrong direction.
What are YOU doing? Are you taking the easy way out?
I want to add to this but I think Larry said it all!
Until next time...
Peter
http://www.peterwink.com/
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