will keep moving unless something else acts on it to slow it down or stop it, and that if something is standing still, it will continue to stand still unless something else causes it to move. The pendulum, for example, constantly sways back and forth, back and forth, suspended in the same area of space unless something acts on it to change it. And the rock on the mountain: it will be perfectly happy to remain right where it is for eons at a time, under the same evergreen tree, beside the same creek, crawled over by the same insects, brushed by the same weeds—unless it is acted upon… unless a rockslide drags it off its spot, unless a hiker pushes it forward with his foot, unless a child picks it up and throws it, unless the rain gradually wears it away until nothing is left but dirt and dust on the mountain’s surface. This is truly a powerless existence! As human beings, however, we are not powerless like the pendulum or the rock. We are not inert objects. We do not have to wait for external forces to change us—in fact, outside forces cannot change who we are. Unfortunately, even though we may not like what we are doing or what is happening in our lives, instead of using our power to change, we usually stay in the Your New Year Will be as good as you choose to make it
AMESSAGE FROMCEO FRANK VANDERSLOOT
The great author Leo Tolstoy said, “Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself.” As we look at our lives, we are often not pleased with where we are or where it appears we are headed. Our tendency is to blame our situation on others or on circumstances over which we have no control. Most of our attention is focused outwards: if only our spouses would be more sensitive to our needs… if only our children would follow our rules… if only our bosses would be more appreciative of our efforts… if only our parents would be more proud of us… then we could really accomplish something. This kind of thinking is detrimental to our lives, for when we constantly blame other people or outside situations for what is happening to us, we do nothing ourselves to change it! Like a pendulum endlessly swinging back and forth, or a lone rock resting on a mountainside, we continue to act and exist in the same pattern. This brings to mind the concept of inertia. According to Webster’s Dictionary, “inertia” is the tendency of a body to remain at rest or stay in motion unless acted on by an external force. This means that if something is moving, it
1 MARCH 2017 | MELALEUCA.COM
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