You probably spend quite a bit of your time watching people perform and noticing some people tend to do things really well while others tend to do things poorly. At least from time to time, you probably think about people making changes and improving…learning how to make fewer errors, figuring out how to have more-positive attitudes, etc.

But, do you ever step back and consider the question – Who wants to improve?

You know some people do want to improve – you see them seeking out motivational speakers and courses. These people want something and recognize the status quo isn't going to bring that something.

You know some people don't want to improve – you see them more or less doing the same things day after day. They discount or ignore the advice they receive (regardless of how it is delivered). Sometimes, they blame others for their predicament...as victims do. For example, you may have heard people say things like, “I like being poor. I am supposed to be poor. I have no desire to change anything.”

But - is that actually true?

I mean - do many people truly/sincerely have no interest in improving? Or, is that just what they say...their way of victim-speaking...their way of justifying lassitude/laziness/lack of ambition…their way of blaming Fate or Destiny for their shortcomings?

Certainly, some people have this mindset: life has beaten some people down.

Other people believe in the overarching control held by Fate or Destiny or other beyond-our-control things that place limits on people’s accomplishments.

Whether we agree with these sorts of beaten-down or fatalistic mindsets or not, we can understand how other people can think that way. For example, we can understand how lingering, serious health problems can wear down the spirit and cause people to give up on life.

However, aside from extreme cases that provide reasonable justification, are people being sincere when they say they do not want to improve?