You're More Fortunate Than You Realize

Have you ever stopped to consider: We’ve never had it better than…right now?

Name any luminary from history…

George Washington…

Galileo…

Queen Elizabeth the First…

…And transport them to today? They would be stunned speechless by things that we easily take for granted.

Pressurized… hot water… inside houses…

Combustion engines, airplanes, and cars…

And to say nothing of modern health, technology, and even toilets…

The list is endless, of course, but have you ever stopped to actually think about it all? The greatest kings of the past would have given their untold wealth for the modern conveniences we have (and overlook) today.

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No other group of people have ever had the opportunities we have right now…today.

No other group have had the access to education, literacy, and technology than we do… today

And no other group have had the potential to make a lasting difference in the world… than today.

It’s strange to consider that my generation (Millennials) will be the last generation… in human history… to remember the world without the internet and cell phones.

In fact I remember when for an elementary school project, I was learning about the US Presidents. I asked my Dad if we could call… The White House… all the way in Washington DC.

Well, how exactly do you even find the number for the White House?

Curious, we lugged out the phone book (which weighed more than me) and eagerly turned the raspy thin pages until we found (in tiny text) the OFFICIAL number for the White House.

In fascination, we got on our landline telephone (hooked to the wall with the long curly phone cord) and carefully dialed the long distance number. We almost never dialed long distance — or called people in other states- because it was SUPER expensive in those days.

Then we eagerly listened as it rang.

In just moments… the OPERATOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE PICKED UP.

We, of course, had no idea what to do at this point and hung up the phone… and looked at eachother in total shock and surprise that the plan had actually worked.

I fully expected a police officer to knock on our door asking us to not prank call the United States Government anymore…

But to my young mind… calling across the country on a land line… was the awesomest thing I could imagine. I can’t imagine what the phone bill was like that month…

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But both of those things… phone books… and land line telephones in every house… are officially things of the past.

Fast forward to a few days ago, and my wife had her regular video call with her Mom who lives all the way in Europe.

They facetime video-call each other every week.

Suffice it to say, no other group in human history has had it better than right now.

And yet, if you were to look at the news stations and read the headlines on social media… the opposite seems to be true.

We’ve never had it worse.

The problems we face are insurmountable.

Why even try?

To be clear, there are very real and pressing problems, and I’m not trying to sell you a blissfully ignorant way of looking at the world.

But I believe a good chunk of the problems we face today would sting a little less if we were to really look at them in their full context… which is: its never been better than right now.

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So whatever you are facing… yes, it is still difficult. But no other generation has had the amount of resources at their disposal to succeed than you.

Whatever you are carrying… yes, it is still heavy. But no other generation has had the opportunities to reach out for help than you.

And whatever you are trying to overcome… yes, it still is daunting. But no other generation has had the chances to succeed… more than you.

So… what if you put aside the negativity of the news, social media, and politics… and instead took a moment to simply marvel at what you have? I think you’ll discover you are an amazingly fortunate human being.

And suddenly all those obstacles seem a little less heavy to carry, and where you want to go seems a little bit easier to reach than you imagined.

Just like calling the White House with a phone book and a landline telephone.

Christian

CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the 2X #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com