An all time great prank is loosening the lid on a salt shaker so that when the next unsuspecting sucker...er...I mean user shakes some salt on their meal the contents of the entire shaker fall out. Slightly more amusing in my opinion is filling the shaker with something that looks like salt, let's say sugar, and diabolically waiting for someone to use it. The look on their face when they take a bite of their sugary mashed potatoes or sugar-coated french fries is a combination of repulsive and confused. What they expected to come out when they shook the shaker and what actually came out were two very different things and causes a hysterical reaction (for the prankster at least).
The salt shaker test has a great application for our character too. Life will sooner or later shake us and what comes out can be confusing, hysterical, and unfortunately repulsive to the people we influence. Here are three quick ways to prepare yourself for your impending and unannounced salt shaker test:
What goes in will come out: Fill a salt shaker with sugar and that's what will come out when you shake it. The same goes for ourselves and the 'shakes of life.' What are you feeding your heart and mind on a regular basis? What type of people are spending time with? How do they respond when life shakes them up? Have you ever taken time to speak with someone who handled a really challenging 'life shake' with grace and poise? How'd they do it? Fill yourself with what you really want to come out when life shakes you up.
Unannounced does not have to mean unprepared: Whether or not you read or believe the Bible, there's a lot of good wisdom in it. If you're unfamiliar with the story of Job, it's about the most devastating example of being shaken by life that you can imagine. In his writings Job tells the readers that 'man is born for trouble...' Job was telling us that being shaken up by life is part of being human. He's right and we should start preparing now. Be intentional about what you are filling your salt shaker with. As hard as it sounds, visualize difficult challenges that you are yet to face and pre-determine how you handle them. I live in Florida and during the summer and fall months, hurricanes are a very real threat. We receive messages from the state government all of the time about being prepared because hurricanes are unannounced. It sounds like a great mantra for preparing for the shake ups of life too.
Look back to look forward: Leadership expert, John Maxwell, says that experience is not a great teacher; evaluated experience is a great teacher. When was the last time that life really shook you up? What came out of you? Anger? Depression? Avoidance? How did you treat those around you? Did you blame them? Stop communicating with them? Reviewing your last shake up (and having the humility to admit what you could've done differently) is a huge step towards making sure what comes out of the next time helps the situation and doesn't make it worse.
The next time you use a shalt shaker, take a moment to think about what's going to happen the next time life shakes you.
The salt shaker test has a great application for our character too. Life will sooner or later shake us and what comes out can be confusing, hysterical, and unfortunately repulsive to the people we influence. Here are three quick ways to prepare yourself for your impending and unannounced salt shaker test:
What goes in will come out: Fill a salt shaker with sugar and that's what will come out when you shake it. The same goes for ourselves and the 'shakes of life.' What are you feeding your heart and mind on a regular basis? What type of people are spending time with? How do they respond when life shakes them up? Have you ever taken time to speak with someone who handled a really challenging 'life shake' with grace and poise? How'd they do it? Fill yourself with what you really want to come out when life shakes you up.
Unannounced does not have to mean unprepared: Whether or not you read or believe the Bible, there's a lot of good wisdom in it. If you're unfamiliar with the story of Job, it's about the most devastating example of being shaken by life that you can imagine. In his writings Job tells the readers that 'man is born for trouble...' Job was telling us that being shaken up by life is part of being human. He's right and we should start preparing now. Be intentional about what you are filling your salt shaker with. As hard as it sounds, visualize difficult challenges that you are yet to face and pre-determine how you handle them. I live in Florida and during the summer and fall months, hurricanes are a very real threat. We receive messages from the state government all of the time about being prepared because hurricanes are unannounced. It sounds like a great mantra for preparing for the shake ups of life too.
Look back to look forward: Leadership expert, John Maxwell, says that experience is not a great teacher; evaluated experience is a great teacher. When was the last time that life really shook you up? What came out of you? Anger? Depression? Avoidance? How did you treat those around you? Did you blame them? Stop communicating with them? Reviewing your last shake up (and having the humility to admit what you could've done differently) is a huge step towards making sure what comes out of the next time helps the situation and doesn't make it worse.
The next time you use a shalt shaker, take a moment to think about what's going to happen the next time life shakes you.
‘Bite Down and Don’t Let Go’ is a collection of writings on
being intentional about life in a way that produces great persistence. Read
about it more here.
Dr. Chris Hobbs is an educational leader and Director
of Athletics at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida. He’s earned a few
degrees and won some awards. He’s happily married to his high school
sweetheart and they have three teen age children. Life is messy and complicated
most of the time. You can follow him on Twitter
for all sorts of inspirational thoughts and good laughs.
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