Albert Einstein was a pretty smart fellow. His scientific achievements form the cornerstone of many things we take for granted today in modern society. That being said, he is also responsible for one of my favourite quotes:

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

I love this as it can be applied to all facets of life. Whether that be you staying loyal to an employer who constantly overlooks you for career progression, always going to the same two bars after work hoping to find the person of your dreams but going home alone, or simply parking under the same tree day in day out, despite the fact that a bird always craps on your car.

Humans are creatures of habit, and none worse than me. But we are smart enough to recognise when things are going as we have planned. Or are we? I look at many of my friends who complain about things not going well. And I note that it is often occurred by repeating the same complaint over and over. Only once it is brought to their attention and they make a change do they suddenly report success.

They key is obviously awareness. Awareness that you are making the same mistake thing over and again. And moreover that it is the cause of the frustration. Sometimes it takes an outsider to point it out to you. Or sometimes it just takes you being truly honest with yourself.

Either way, you need to be open to accepting that perhaps the cause of the problem is in fact you. And then be willing to do something differently to resolve it.