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ANTS AS MODELS FOR CURING COMPLACENCY

Jeff Herring, a licensed marriage and family therapist ([email protected]), suggests that we look at ants for cues on curing complacency. He offers five strategies we can learn from ants:

1. Ants never, ever give up. Put something in front of them, and they will get around it, over it, under it or through it.

2. Ants are always getting ready for what's next. They don't ever rest on their laurels. In the summer, they are thinking about winter and getting ready for it.

3. Ants are creatively industrious and resourceful. Ants don't complain about not having the right tools to do what needs to be done. They take what is available right in front of them and find a way to make it work.

4. Ants are always hopeful. In the winter, when they are holed up in their little ant mound, they are using what they stored up all summer. They know that as cold as it is, summer is coming, and they are getting ready for it.

5. Ants don't seem to believe in the concept of enough. They store up all that they can for the winter.

Herring concludes, "If you constantly follow these five tips, you will consistently beat complacency. Think of it as being content and always hungry to make things better."