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Uncovering Who You Are In Today's Turbulent Times

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

Sand DigIn today's tubulent times in Real Estate and the general economy the stresses of life just seem to be magnified.

You may have financial stress from your business, your employment, from your budget having more bills to go toward the end of the month without the income matching up quite right with it.

Then of course life never pauses in all the other areas of your life with health, relationships with family like spouses and children, and maintenance on the home and car, etc.

During more trying times we learn to handle change. Change is constant and steady throughout our life. As someone told me: Get used to it! But what change really is are a series of little "tests" for us. It

          Uncovers Who You Are.

It allows you to dig deeper into your character. Almost like a day at the beach and you get that shovel out and start whacking into the sand to understand what is really under the surface. Buried treasure? Or a rusty tin can? What are you really made of? You are about to find out.

With change, especially difficult change, character is revealed. The part that others are not sure about us. Shoot, we are probably not sure about it ourselves. But we do have a choice with what is under the covers.

Good attitudes. Learning to Adapt. Practicing the art of effective communication in asking for help. Harnessing all our resources. Knowing that this too shall pass. You might surprise yourself with what you uncover about yourself.

Rock Climbing

Think of change as a challenge. Once again a test. How about an image of you and rock climbing? Scaling that vertical wall. Looks pretty daunting and hopeless at first glance. But there are footholds you can place your feet when you look closer. You string yourself with safety lines. You climb UP one step at a time. You develop a plan to reach the summit despite it feeling overwhelming at first. When you meet the challenge, it's a pretty good feeling. I'd venture to say you pretty much amaze yourself. Trust that what you will discover INSIDE yourself is pretty darn special. Afterall, so are YOU.

Kristin Moran
Owner - RE/MAX Access - KristinMoran@Remax.net - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio,TX - Real Estate - 210-313-7397

If you can make it now you can make it anytime.  I believe it's temporary and we will once again be on top! 

Nov 29, 2008 07:56 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I love challenges, Gary. It's what keeps life interesting. If I had to do the same thing day in and day out, I'd probably go nuts. I always like to try new things, scale new mountains, reach even higher. No obstacle is too great to overcome. Of course, the things that work very well, I keep right on doing those things. :) But we always have room for improvement.

Elizabeth Weintraub Land Park Real Estate Agent in Sacramento

Nov 29, 2008 09:10 AM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

Gary, you have the most positive attitude and thankfully it is contagious.  It has been a crazy year but I am excited about what is ahead.

Nov 29, 2008 10:40 AM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hi Gary,

Good points, one right after the other. You know in the long-run I think most people are a lot more resilient than they think.

Nov 29, 2008 11:30 AM
Lizette Fitzpatrick
Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY
Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes

Good time for me to read this! I'm working on my last challenge for the year...actually for my real estate career. The biggest one yet. It's been hard to keep my mind focused and get finished. I did work on it for a few hours today. My plan is to do the same tomorrow and everyday till I'm ready.  

Nov 29, 2008 11:42 AM
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

Gary,

This tough real estate and mortgage environment has surely pushed me into exploring areas where I haven't been before. It has also widened my horizons about what needs to be done to get through.

Nov 29, 2008 01:01 PM
Ann Hayden 636-399-7544
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Des Peres, MO
SelectAnn.com

Hey Gary,

Great post.  We all have the strength within to move on.  Sometimes it is very difficult.  Having a good attitude is so important.  Thank you for the reminder. 

Ann

Nov 29, 2008 01:11 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Gary this is a great time to sharpen your  skills, since this is when we can truly identify our weaknesses.  The rock climbing would not work for me...afraid of heights....Lol

Nov 29, 2008 02:03 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Well, Gary, this is a great way to start off a Sunday morning!  Your posts have lots of wisdom!

Nov 30, 2008 12:51 AM
Betina Foreman
WJK Realty - Austin, TX
Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

Gary,

My Mother told me something important when I was about 15 and not happy about the changes our lives had taken. "The only constant in life is change and you had better get used to it." She is a very wise woman. Those words have carried me far. You have to be able to adapt to whatever change there is, that is life.

Betina

Nov 30, 2008 02:23 AM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Gary - It's the challenges in life that make us better!

Nov 30, 2008 02:34 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

At times I feel like I am failing the challenge as I am reacting badly to some of the issues going on in my life at the moment.  I have to snap out of it, so every now and again I imagine Cher slapping me in the face and saying... snap out of it...like in Moonstruck!

Nov 30, 2008 03:59 AM
Anonymous
s.lee.p reads blog #2

Hi Gary-You truly never know how many people's lives you touch each day with your inspirational blogs, your kind, caring and very giving nature and you might not even realize it until someone gets the courage to say something to you. I would say from everything I know already, that the YOU, that you are during turbulent times and good times is a truly wonderful and remarkable man that I'm fortunate enough to call friend. <Big Smile>

Practicing the art of effective communication in asking for help.(this line from above is one that I have struggled with most of my life and it has caused me a lot of unnecessary hardship. I do hope to change that with the new journey I'm embarking on. it won't come easy but I believe necessary in order to having a truly fulfilling and rewarding life.  Thank you for your wisdom, thoughtfulness and so much more. God Bless and pace your self like in a run, as you answer each one of these amazing blogs. Remember like a elephant-"one bite at a time"

Nov 30, 2008 04:57 AM
#19
Laura Watts
Positive Properties, LLC - Laurinburg, NC

Gary-great blog.  I think attitude has alot to do with how you act daily. If I wake up in a bad mood, if I don't change it, someone is going to have to listen to negative remarks. On the other hand, if I wake up with a good mood, and keep it, then someone may benefit from something nice I have said to them.

I think it also applies to how you handle your work, clients, etc.  A poor attitude will get you no where. I like to think every problem will work itself out in time.

Nov 30, 2008 01:00 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Elayna: Very sorry to hear about your friends' and the 3 month old infant death. That kind of stuff takes your breath away, and even though part of life, the grieving doesn't get over with that fast. We live life forward but understand it looking back.

Jim & Maria Hart: Had a great Thanksgiving. We learn when we are tested for sure.

Julie Chapman: Glad you have that edge!! And the great family too. Tremendous blessings.

Debe Maxwell: Adapting does make us stronger.

Lyn Sims: I love that dodging the frisbee view of the world you have. It's not fair when you earned your laurels and they keep wanting to prove yourself. It comes I think with the fast pace of change.

Bo Hussung: Make you or break you, so true.

Kristin Moran: The fittest will definitely survive and the smartest.

Elizabeth Weintraub: Don't let go of what works for sure, but trying new things is invigorating and lets us grow in new directions.

Ann Allen: Crazy year can't last forever. Then we get a NEW year!!

Lynda Eisenmann: People's resiliencies, like those of children, do indeed surprise them if they just keep trying.

Lizette Fitzpatrick: Good luck with your challenge and your day by day plan.

Esko Kiuru: With this market it seems like we are playing the TV game of Survivor.

Ann Hayden: Strength within is a good reminder.

Jennifer Fivelsdal: We'll get you a ride up on a helicopter to get to the summit.

Patricia Kennedy: Glad there was something there for Sunday morning. Usually I just have the Corn Flakes  : )

Betina Foreman: VERY wise Mom. Learn to adapt to change.

Carol Culkin: Sharpening the sword with the fire!!

Susan Mangigian: We all have bad days. You have been officially slapped!! But seriously, I think that's why we have multiple members in our support system to bounce our feelings off of. We never get our response right EVERY day. Call me and I'll let you know how much more imperfect I am than YOU are dear friend. You'll come off looking like the genius compared to my stumbling self.  xxoo

s.lee.p: Effective communication is essential to getting to know others and share our life stories.

Laura Watts: A good attitude makes you stand out from the masses.

 

Nov 30, 2008 01:33 PM
Pangaea Interior Design Kitchen & Bath Design, Remodeling
Portland Oregon - Portland, OR

Not sure how I ended up on this post today. I see it was posted back in November. But it certainly spoke to me. My husband and I are facing the most difficult challenges either of us have ever gone through in all areas of our lives at the moment. Oddly enough, the rock climbing analogy worked for me. I remembered that when I was young (and foolish) I climbed a 1000 foot cliff. I never thought I could have done such a thing. Halfway up I was so frightened that my teeth were literally chattering. But I did make it. My goodness ... thank you for reminding me that I made it.

I will make it through this time too.

Feb 02, 2009 02:14 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Pangaea, thanks for your comment and I will say a prayer for you. Here's another technique I talked about in a blog today.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/913490/Why-Life-Gets-Tough-Paint-Your-Toenails

Hang in there. This too shall pass.

Feb 02, 2009 02:40 PM
Dan Woodworth
The Connection - Garden City, ID
Encouraging Communicator

Hi Gary,  Character is grown on the ground of adversity.  It doesn't happen on the mountain top!

Feb 03, 2009 01:53 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Dan: You are right that adversity makes us stronger.

Feb 03, 2009 11:52 AM
Norma J. Elkins
Elite Realty Group - Morristown, TN
Realtor - Elkins Home Selling Team
Thanks for sharing. A positive attitude and good work ethics is what it takes to keep you in business.
Dec 18, 2012 07:32 PM