“You can accomplish anything in life, provided you do not mind who gets the credit” (Harry S. Truman). That way any route navigated has potential to produce many delectable fruits. Possessing this humble approach allows true selflessness and greatness to permeate our world. The wonderful gifts we can give by minimizing our own egos and maximizing caring about helping others enhances their joy, as well as our own.
Decisions Create Destiny
“It is a human nature to think wisely and act foolishly” (Antatole France). Rise above the past by allowing your renewed character, values, principles, moral code, and life philosophies describe and drive who you genuinely are. Hold those beliefs and principles close to your heart and soul, while constantly thinking about them, therefore acting in such manners. Be genuine through your integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, goodness, self-discipline, hard work, love, forgiveness, consideration, hope, and tranquil state of mind, high personal standards, and everything that makes you an authentic one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Listen, learn, and lead. Heed opportunities to keep your mouth closed. Being grateful equates to already, right now; not when or what if. Live in the now. This moment is your life. Not yesterday or tomorrow, only now. Live always in the now. Leave the past behind, be present—forgetting about time. Worry divides the mind. It’s not focused on the present, but past or future problems or mistakes. This leads to heightened anxiety. Let forgiveness wipe clean the suffering of memories. Forgiveness doesn’t minimize or change past events, only brightens and broadens the future. Replace if’s with gratitude, jettisoning the fight-or-flight response of real fear. Perception is not the problem, only the way you see it. Let a positive teachable attitude be the resolution. Remember Zig Ziglar’s wisdom, “quitting is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” Decisions create destiny.
Courage
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering” (Yoda). Be appreciative for all parts of your journey. Both the challenging and difficult times in life make us who we are. Live intentionally with a passionate purpose. In every situation, ask yourself, “What opportunity awaits me here?” Be a good-finder by seeking and expecting good, and you will find and have it.
Maturity
“A mature person is one who does not only think in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and all things, and who walks humbly and deals charitably with the circumstances of life” (Eleanor Roosevelt). View life in triads of opinions, advice, expertise, and suggestions. Professionals and skilled individuals may believe they ultimately have your best interests or solutions at hand, while reality and reason points out three drastically opposing views. Seeking out multiple physicians within different specialties regarding treatment modalities can reveal optimal strategies producing superior outcomes. Similar philosophies hold true regarding seeking out great advice from people that have 10 to 20 years further experience beyond ourselves about the dealings in life we desire to victoriously overcome or goals we ardently want to achieve. Be humble, patient, merciful, and grateful, while crossing every person’s path, as these are signs of real maturity.
Involved Growth
“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I’ll understand” (Native American proverb). Developing our ability to effectively think by infusing our mind with positive applicable knowledge allows us to respond from our automatic subconscious mind when inquired. We must not think about what to say when we ought to be fully engaged in listening and observing another person express him or herself. Take full advantage of opportunities to completely engage yourself in understanding other people, while restraining from giving feedback, unless asked.
Motive matters when we speak. People are substantially influenced by the reason why we do something, much more than strictly what we do or say. Let’s be genuinely interested in what other people want by focusing on their desires equally, if not more so, than our own. Be a leader, knowing leaders are meant to serve, enhancing greatness and abilities in individuals. Remember the global golden rule to do unto others what you would like done to you. Daily, practice asking yourself, “What would I like others to say and do for me?” Take initiative to say and do that for them.
Remember, people have different wants and needs at varying times, therefore, be mindful toward those fluxing desires and necessities. Quality, value, caring, love, acceptance, empathy, gratitude, forgiveness, consideration, kindness, helpfulness, adaptability, and appreciation never go out of style. Inculcate these attributes into your character. Tattoo them in your mind.
Seeking Wisdom
“True wisdom is less presuming than folly. The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance” (Akhenaton). Practice making decisions quickly through self-awareness by knowing thyself well and increasing wisdom and understanding, which are lifelong endeavors. The more knowledge acquired reveals how little we truly know. Stay insatiably curious and hungry, constantly hunting to unearth golden nuggets of prudent insights that help mankind.
Art of Listening
“A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something” (Wilson Mizner). We can learn much by observing people, including watching our kids play or through hearing and heeding their wisdom. Old can learn from young, and young from older. Yes, edification occurs through teaching others, yet even more understanding, applicable knowledge, insight, awareness, and life-changing advice or suggestions comes through the art of listening.
Constant and never-ending improvement is an eternal endeavor. Winners commit to a plan, persevering no matter what. This means never, never, never giving up. Additionally, forgiveness breaks chains, thus granting freedom for progressive growth. Simple pragmatic ideas for a better life occur just from listening. Remember, purpose-driven action is imperative for continual progression.
Eternal Sharing
“Thousands of candles can be lightened from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared” (Buddha). Never underestimate the vast glory and power of a soul on fire. One person has the influence and ability to change the world, sending ripples of greatness, inspiration, and love that bolsters the human condition worldwide.
Growth
Live according to the serenity prayer, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference” (Reinhold Niebuhr). Similar to muscles growing with weights, some tension is required to grow spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally, and relationally too. Be grateful for opportunities to become better in each realm of life. Look toward tension as an opportunity to become a better version of yourself. When there is tension in life, know this depicts we are alive, able to feel and grow. Furthermore, we are responsible for controlling the controllable aspects of hormones and neurotransmitters that generate positive responses and disregarding anything outside our control. Don’t focus on perfection, only diligent effort toward aspiring to be extraordinary by doing and giving your best. Ask yourself, “Am I giving myself and others the best of me? What can I do to love myself and others better, today, and each day forward?”
Healing
”The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. But love covers all sins. Wise people store up knowledge. But he who restrains his lips is wise. The merciful man does good for his own soul. But the righteous will come through trouble. A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. But counselors of peace will have joy. But those who deal truthfully are His delight. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge.” (Proverbs 8:13; 10: 12, 14, 19; 11:17; 12:13, 14, 20, 22; 15:14 NKJV). Becoming aware of an underlying etiology or cause about why we feel or behave certain ways can lead to personal freedom. With liberation comes greater responsibility to always be and do our best. Understanding builds wings like eagles, the problems may not go away, yet we can rise above them. Intrinsic conflicts and personal pain or suffering remain choices. The decisions lie in our heightened awareness and willingness to heal.
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