LIFE Acronym #5:
"Lame Infomercials Fill Evenings"
I am actually not going to be talking about infomercials in this post. But I'll be talking about something related to infomercials: TV!
If you're a TV lover, please don't get offended at this post. Just respect my opinions, and take from this post whatever you feel is truth.
I am a fairly opinionated person when it comes to TV. But, as everyone believes about their own opinions, I feel that mine are pretty valuable, and for a large part are aligned with truth.
I've been a success-minded person since I was quite young, and I can date that kind of mindset back to at least age 15. I was a dreamer even at that age. I had big plans. I loved learning, and I loved archeology, science, inventing, etc. I had a concept of the importance of productivity, and I knew the rightful place of entertainment.
Growing up, TV wasn't a focal point in our home, and it was actually rather discouraged. But, when I was 15, I was watching about 4 hours of TV per day. After living like this for a little while, finally something clicked.
One day, I realized that all this TV-watching was hampering my productivity, and was a massive waste of time. You've heard me say it before... Time is life's most precious asset!
So, I simply decided to stop. To this day, I can still vividly see where I was sitting when I made that decision.
I stopped TV entirely, and it wasn't even hard. Today, THIRTEEN YEARS LATER, I have still NEVER resumed a habit of watching TV. I stopped watching TV BEFORE REALITY TV WAS INVENTED!!!
As far as I can remember, the show "Survivor" was the first big reality TV show. I can vividly remember people talking about that show. It was a sensation. It was everywhere!
That was my first time experiencing what it feels like to not be familiar with a show that had become somewhat ubiquitous in American households. And that feeling was to become a very familiar feeling over the next 13 years.
The only traces of TV that I've caught over the years, has been when I've been at someone else's house and they had TV on.
Here are my estimates of the only TV I've seen over the last 13 years:
Survivor: 15 minutes
Friends: 5 minutes
Seinfeld: One episode
American Idol: 10 episodes
So You Think You Can Dance: 5 minutes
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: 20 minutes
Ice Road Truckers: 1/2 episode
Survivor Man: 2 episodes
Man Vs. Wild: 5 episodes
Mythbusters: 5 or 10 episodes
Simpsons: 5 or 10 episodes in my entire life.
Family Guy: 1/2 episode
South Park: 1 episode (very offensive)
Prison break: 15 or 20 episodes (my roommates used to have Prison Break parties at my house.)
The Office: 20 or 30 episodes (all due to my sister and brother-in-law, who I spend a lot of time with.)
Smallville: 20 or so episodes (all due to my sister.)
Lost: 10 episodes (once again, due to my sister)
The Bachelor: 1 episode
[That show where they renovate houses]: 2 episodes
Glenn Beck: 20 or so episodes
That's it as far as I can remember. And NOT ONE SINGLE BIT OF IT (except for Glenn Beck) has been because I purposely turned the TV on of my own accord. I can honestly tell you that I have NOT ONCE turned on the TV in the last 13 years (except for Glenn Beck).
I cannot even BEGIN to count how many times people have mentioned TV shows that I had never heard of. And I can't count the times when I've had to ask "what's that?".
I have never once been ashamed or embarrassed about my lack of familiarity with certain TV shows or commercials. In fact, I am PROUD of the fact. I am happy to openly announce, in any social scene, that I stopped watching TV 13 years ago.
And when I meet a new girl, then check out her Facebook profile and see tons of her favorite TV shows listed on her Facebook page, it's an instant turnoff. The bigger the list, the smaller the odds of her having a chance with me.
When I am married and raising my own family, I envision watching very little TV in my household. And yes, I have actually met a few girls who, just like me, DO NOT WATCH TV.
Now is the portion where I explain some of WHY I am so opinionated when it comes to TV.
Let's start with society's backsliding morals. In just my own 28 years, I have personally witnessed MUCH societal decay. Society's morals and values have been CRASHING DOWN to ever-lower depths, and it leaves me intensely thinking, "What lies at the end of this road?!!". That's a picture that I do not want to see.
I hold a PERSONAL VENDETTA against the many people who are responsible for the various sitcoms and other types of shows that have come out over the last 4 or 5 decades or so.
I am not pointing fingers at every TV producer and TV watcher, nor am I pointing fingers at every TV show. I admit that some of them are relatively wholesome. Yet I still don't get around to watching even the wholesome ones.
I wouldn't mind watching a little wholesome TV here and there, as long as it's monitored and kept within proper bounds. But so far I just simply haven't gotten around to it. I am always doing other things.
It's what I consider to be the "bad" shows that anger me. And believe me, some of the shows on my "bad list" would be on your "good list", because I'm sorry to say it, but you are desensitized to some degree or another.
Any show that I believe has added to the decline of Western Civilization is on my "bad list". Here's why:
I have personally noticed a striking, and SCARY fact! Please THINK ABOUT THIS AS I WRITE IT (or, technically, as you read it)!!!
I have noticed that whatever is portrayed on the sitcoms, begins to become accepted as the way people really are, and as the "normal" way to act.
THIS IS A HORRIBLE, HEINOUS FACT!!!!!!!
Think about it! People see these family situations played out over their TVs for decades of their lives! Kids grow up on it!
These disgraceful "Situation Comedies" are funny, yes they are. I give them that. But, the producers and writers throw so many caustic ideas into these shows! They make bad things look good and normal!
In nearly EVERY SINGLE Sitcom I've ever seen, they portray a screwed-up type of family life. They portray people arguing and being mean to one another. They portray people lying. They portray immorality as normal and acceptable behavior.
They portray off-color humor. They take everything that is sacred, dress it in an antithetical guise, and parade it across the stage of our minds as "the norm".
Think about it!!! 6 or 7 short decades ago, pre-marital sex was widely considered to be inappropriate and wrong, and engaging in such damaging behavior was considered to be pernicious (which was true then, as it is still just as true now).
For DECADES, flippant and accepting attitudes toward pre-marital sex have been displayed across millions of TV sets in America's living rooms. As a result, people now treat pre-marital sex as normal and harmless behavior (and yes, I am aware that there were many other contributing factors to this sad outcome).
Yet, these people have deliberately chosen to ignore the countless studies that have been done, which prove that sex is not a toy or a pastime. These studies have shown that when people engage in sexual behavior outside of a committed relationship, there are psychological and even physiological effects that can seriously alter the course of one's life.
And I haven't even mentioned the sanctity of marriage, nor the fact that God has tried to teach us repeatedly that He considers sex to be very sacred, and desires that we only use that sacred procreative power within the bonds of a proper and legal marriage.
I don't think that anyone would argue that TV has helped contribute to the decline of society's morals.
If you look past all the humor and to the essence of what these shows are really portraying, you will begin to see my point of view.
Here are some of the words that today's TV shows bring to mind: rude, selfish, inconsiderate, brash, obstinate, uncivilized, offensive, dishonest, emotionally abusive, unethical, disrespectful, immoral, indecent, impure, pornographic, violent, profanatory, sacrilegious, suggestive, etc.!
If you argue with me, it just means that you are desensitized like everyone else. Here's the sad fact about desensitization: when people are desensitized, they rarely have any idea that they are. They feel that they are perfectly in touch with what's really wrong and right. And THAT'S THE SCARY PART.
When people grow up seeing these things all the time, it becomes a part of them, and shapes their paradigms; it shapes the way they see the world, and shapes their opinions if what they hold to be true.
HERE'S A PARADIGM FOR YOU. Allow me to get a little more religious here if I may...
Picture all those TV shows. Picture the portrayals of pre-marital sex, lying, arguing, disrespect, immodesty, and off-color humor that goes on in those shows.
Now, picture a stark contrast to all of that. Picture the most righteous, pure, loving, and perfect being who ever walked this Earth; even Jesus Christ.
He is our perfect example. The scriptures tell us that it is our job to do our best to be like Him.
We are commanded to be "perfect". We know that we will never reach perfection in this lifetime, but it is our quest to get as close as we can. In the original Greek, the word "perfect" meant "complete", "finished", "fully developed".
Once you reach the pinnacle of your perfection, do you think that you will be partaking of such low-quality, debased, degrading, hollow and meaningless types of entertainment?
And most importantly, can you picture The Master Himself sitting down and watching such things? These shows are in almost direct opposition to everything that He stands for.
If He wouldn't, then why do YOU partake in such empty forms of entertainment? Can't you find something better to do with your time than to fill your mind with filth, and desensitize yourself?
Do you really want your kids to see disrespectful, uncivil arguments portrayed as normal?
That kind of thing may have been normal in your house, and you may be tricked into thinking that that is the way that family relationships are supposed to be.
But, allow me to be a voice against the grain; an example of the other side of the story. There IS another way.
In my house, there was very little arguing, and relative peace throughout all my growing up years. I don't think that I've ever once heard my mother raise her voice. And I've only heard my father raise his voice maybe five or ten times in my entire life.
Even though there were nine of us kids, we were for the most part, one big happy family. Arguing was NOT the norm in our house, nor was disrespect and dishonesty, NOR WAS SARCASM.
I was home-taught. I was raised the good-old-fashioned way, similar to the way that people used to raise their children a long time ago. My parents DID NOT leave it up to the world, the TV, the school, daycare, or any other outside influence to raise us. MY PARENTS RAISED US THEMSELVES! What a thought!
Did it work? Did I turn out alright? Do I fit into this society, or am I an outcast or a weirdo?
Go ahead and talk to me. You won't think that I'm Amish (I'm not saying that Amish people are bad, I'm just saying that they stick out like a sore thumb in this society). You won't think that I'm socially awkward either. But this post isn't about me, is it. It's about YOU.
This post is about whether or not you can learn and apply anything useful from my thought processes and musings. I hope that you do.
I'm just asking you to open your mind to other possibilities; to realize that just because the majority of people live a certain way, doesn't mean that it's the best way to live.
In fact, unfortunately, if something is done by the majority of our society, these days that's more of a sign that you probably SHOULDN'T be doing that thing.
I want you to arrive at a place where you are no longer floating through life and being pulled along by the current of society, but instead are actively shaping your habits to reflect your innermost ideals.
I want you to take the helm of your own progression, and DECIDE what you will allow to be put into your mind, and shown to your eyes, and played for your ears to hear.
If you feel that you are already at the helm, then I want to REMIND you of the importance of these things, and reinforce them.
The mindset of treating TV seriously is not something to scoff at, it's something to emulate. And I hope that you do.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Life Angles: LIFE Acronym #4 - Let Inspiration Flow Eternally
LIFE Acronym #4:
"Let Inspiration Flow Eternally"
Tell me. What is the difference between inspiration and motivation? Have you ever used them interchangeably? You probably won't be doing that after you're done reading this post.
Motivation is more of a temporary thing, not unlike a pep talk. It can involve some of the characteristics of hype. It wears off relatively fast, and therefore has to be replenished often, like a gas tank with a leak in it, or an engine that eats oil.
That's why people have to work so hard to keep themselves motivated. They have to be constantly refilling that leaky tank. Motivation burns off like flash gun powder!
And here's perhaps the most insightful part of this entire Blog post. It's a formula that may just solve your motivation issues:
You need to shift your focus from "motivation" to "inspiration". If you can simply find a way to become INSPIRED, then you will no longer have to worry about motivation! What a thought!
This little alternative strategy actually WORKS, and it's because inspiration lasts MUCH longer than motivation, and naturally contains much more power.
Inspiration goes measurably further, and is like a slow-burning candle. Yet, it carries the light of a THOUSAND candles! Being inspired not only helps you to get things done, but it lifts your life and your level of inner fulfillment in many other ways as well!
As a descriptive metaphor, we could say that with the force and momentum of inspiration, one could power a city for an entire year! But, motivation alone has only the power to run an LED flashlight for a couple of hours.
Before I delve into the anatomy of inspiration in more relatable detail, let me delineate some more of the common denominators in, some of the characteristics of, and some of the differences between inspiration and motivation for you:
• Inspiration supersedes motivation.
• You can be motivated without being inspired, but if you're inspired, you're therefore motivated by default.
• Motivation comes from man.
• Inspiration comes from God.
• Motivation connotes superficial excitement and energy, or the driving force behind a conscious choice to accomplish something. This conscious choice is NOT arrived at due to the inspiration of a powerful, worthwhile cause, but instead is arrived at logically. It just seems like the thing to do. It just "makes sense".
• There are no deep feelings of moral obligation or altruistic dedication attached to motivation. Those things are reserved for INSPIRATION.
• INSPIRATION signifies an enlightened state of mind, that transcends common barriers and rockets you to a place of success, inner peace, satisfaction, and ACCOMPLISHMENT.
• Inspiration is a spiritual yearning for something, or a deep, inner longing and passionate desire to get or accomplish that thing.
• Inspiration is linked to and spawned from your human spirit's highest and best ideals and morals, principles and ethics.
• Motivation is what drives you to do something, when your decision to do that thing was arrived at by logical or mechanical processes of the mind.
• Inspiration comes from an alignment of your heart and soul with a worthwhile purpose. This state of inspiration cannot be arrived at analytically or methodically, rationally or commonsensically. It can only be arrived at spiritually.
• Inspiration transcends the external, and takes a deep-seated, internalized position in the innermost recesses of your heart and spirit.
Okay, now that we've explored some of the powerful characteristics of the two, I think you're beginning to see the big difference. It's now time to apply this knowledge to us.
Close your eyes and think about the things that you have the hardest time getting yourself to do. Where are those areas where you engage in self-sabotage, and seem to do the opposite of what you want to do or have chosen to do?
The reason you're struggling with those things is because you are merely "motivated" to do them, but are not INSPIRED to do them! And this brings us to the real action.
When you locate a problem area, you have three choices.
1. You can root it out, replacing it with actions, choices, journeys or paths that actually INSPIRE you.
2. You can dig deep into the fundamental makeup of the problem area, awake your inner inspiration for that thing, arouse whatever virtue and inherent meritorious grace that it contains, and remind yourself of why you are really doing it. This will last much longer than motivation, but it is important to remember that the "inspiration tank" does still need refilling occasionally. Get in the habit.
3. If you don't believe that you can become inspired about that thing, but logically cannot allow yourself to replace it with something that inspires you, then you can stay the course regardless, and continue relying upon motivation and logic alone to get you to perform.
Now, just for a moment, I want to focus on the fourth word in today's LIFE acronym. And, if you remember, today's acronym is "Let Inspiration Flow Eternally."
e·ter·nal
[ih-tur-nl]
- adjective
1. lasting forever; always existing (opposed to temporal): as in "eternal life".
2. perpetual; ceaseless; endless.
3. enduring; immutable: as in "eternal principles".
4. Metaphysics - existing outside all relations of time; not subject to change.
- noun
5. something that is eternal.
6. the Eternal, God.
Now, I purposely used the word "eternal", because I wanted to emphasize the cultivation of an ONGOING HABIT of seeking inspiration.
Inspiration has an intrinsic power that can shape us, dramatically change us, and ultimately drastically alter the course of our eternal destiny.
Now, as a side note, if you happen to think of "destiny" as some sort of a "pre-determined fate" that you have no say in, please remember this:
We all have a blessed thing called AGENCY. Agency is the capacity to CHOOSE our own actions. And we will unfailingly bear the consequences of our actions, unless someone steps in through Grace and bears those consequential burdens for us.
But, the fact remains that our ACTIONS shape our destiny. God may well know where we will end up, as He is omniscient, and sees past, present and future all as one. But, that doesn't change the fact that it is our CHOICES and our ACTIONS that will lead us to that destiny.
Knowing that... having a clear understanding of that truth... should invariably lead us to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for our lives and for what we make of them here in this Earthly sojourn.
I used the word "ETERNALLY", because seeking inspiration should not simply be "a cool principle" for you. The idea of constantly seeking inspiration should not just be something that you heard of on a blog one day and decided to try out.
It should become a LIFE HABIT for you. It should become a part of your character, a deep-seated characteristic that through time will come to DEFINE you, along with many other virtuous character traits that you habitually seek to develop within your own self.
I am writing this blog to remind myself of the things that inspire me, and also with the hope that it will inspire you.
If all that my blog does is remind you of an important fact or principle, I am satisfied.
If you learn something new... some inspiring, intriguing, actionable insight, then I am more than satisfied; I am DELIGHTED.
But, if what you learn here sticks with you ETERNALLY, and helps to shape who you are, and who you will become, then I am beyond satisfied or delighted; I AM OVERJOYED! :)
"Let Inspiration Flow Eternally"
Tell me. What is the difference between inspiration and motivation? Have you ever used them interchangeably? You probably won't be doing that after you're done reading this post.
Motivation is more of a temporary thing, not unlike a pep talk. It can involve some of the characteristics of hype. It wears off relatively fast, and therefore has to be replenished often, like a gas tank with a leak in it, or an engine that eats oil.
That's why people have to work so hard to keep themselves motivated. They have to be constantly refilling that leaky tank. Motivation burns off like flash gun powder!
And here's perhaps the most insightful part of this entire Blog post. It's a formula that may just solve your motivation issues:
You need to shift your focus from "motivation" to "inspiration". If you can simply find a way to become INSPIRED, then you will no longer have to worry about motivation! What a thought!
This little alternative strategy actually WORKS, and it's because inspiration lasts MUCH longer than motivation, and naturally contains much more power.
Inspiration goes measurably further, and is like a slow-burning candle. Yet, it carries the light of a THOUSAND candles! Being inspired not only helps you to get things done, but it lifts your life and your level of inner fulfillment in many other ways as well!
As a descriptive metaphor, we could say that with the force and momentum of inspiration, one could power a city for an entire year! But, motivation alone has only the power to run an LED flashlight for a couple of hours.
Before I delve into the anatomy of inspiration in more relatable detail, let me delineate some more of the common denominators in, some of the characteristics of, and some of the differences between inspiration and motivation for you:
• Inspiration supersedes motivation.
• You can be motivated without being inspired, but if you're inspired, you're therefore motivated by default.
• Motivation comes from man.
• Inspiration comes from God.
• Motivation connotes superficial excitement and energy, or the driving force behind a conscious choice to accomplish something. This conscious choice is NOT arrived at due to the inspiration of a powerful, worthwhile cause, but instead is arrived at logically. It just seems like the thing to do. It just "makes sense".
• There are no deep feelings of moral obligation or altruistic dedication attached to motivation. Those things are reserved for INSPIRATION.
• INSPIRATION signifies an enlightened state of mind, that transcends common barriers and rockets you to a place of success, inner peace, satisfaction, and ACCOMPLISHMENT.
• Inspiration is a spiritual yearning for something, or a deep, inner longing and passionate desire to get or accomplish that thing.
• Inspiration is linked to and spawned from your human spirit's highest and best ideals and morals, principles and ethics.
• Motivation is what drives you to do something, when your decision to do that thing was arrived at by logical or mechanical processes of the mind.
• Inspiration comes from an alignment of your heart and soul with a worthwhile purpose. This state of inspiration cannot be arrived at analytically or methodically, rationally or commonsensically. It can only be arrived at spiritually.
• Inspiration transcends the external, and takes a deep-seated, internalized position in the innermost recesses of your heart and spirit.
Okay, now that we've explored some of the powerful characteristics of the two, I think you're beginning to see the big difference. It's now time to apply this knowledge to us.
Close your eyes and think about the things that you have the hardest time getting yourself to do. Where are those areas where you engage in self-sabotage, and seem to do the opposite of what you want to do or have chosen to do?
The reason you're struggling with those things is because you are merely "motivated" to do them, but are not INSPIRED to do them! And this brings us to the real action.
When you locate a problem area, you have three choices.
1. You can root it out, replacing it with actions, choices, journeys or paths that actually INSPIRE you.
2. You can dig deep into the fundamental makeup of the problem area, awake your inner inspiration for that thing, arouse whatever virtue and inherent meritorious grace that it contains, and remind yourself of why you are really doing it. This will last much longer than motivation, but it is important to remember that the "inspiration tank" does still need refilling occasionally. Get in the habit.
3. If you don't believe that you can become inspired about that thing, but logically cannot allow yourself to replace it with something that inspires you, then you can stay the course regardless, and continue relying upon motivation and logic alone to get you to perform.
Now, just for a moment, I want to focus on the fourth word in today's LIFE acronym. And, if you remember, today's acronym is "Let Inspiration Flow Eternally."
e·ter·nal
[ih-tur-nl]
- adjective
1. lasting forever; always existing (opposed to temporal): as in "eternal life".
2. perpetual; ceaseless; endless.
3. enduring; immutable: as in "eternal principles".
4. Metaphysics - existing outside all relations of time; not subject to change.
- noun
5. something that is eternal.
6. the Eternal, God.
Now, I purposely used the word "eternal", because I wanted to emphasize the cultivation of an ONGOING HABIT of seeking inspiration.
Inspiration has an intrinsic power that can shape us, dramatically change us, and ultimately drastically alter the course of our eternal destiny.
Now, as a side note, if you happen to think of "destiny" as some sort of a "pre-determined fate" that you have no say in, please remember this:
We all have a blessed thing called AGENCY. Agency is the capacity to CHOOSE our own actions. And we will unfailingly bear the consequences of our actions, unless someone steps in through Grace and bears those consequential burdens for us.
But, the fact remains that our ACTIONS shape our destiny. God may well know where we will end up, as He is omniscient, and sees past, present and future all as one. But, that doesn't change the fact that it is our CHOICES and our ACTIONS that will lead us to that destiny.
Knowing that... having a clear understanding of that truth... should invariably lead us to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for our lives and for what we make of them here in this Earthly sojourn.
I used the word "ETERNALLY", because seeking inspiration should not simply be "a cool principle" for you. The idea of constantly seeking inspiration should not just be something that you heard of on a blog one day and decided to try out.
It should become a LIFE HABIT for you. It should become a part of your character, a deep-seated characteristic that through time will come to DEFINE you, along with many other virtuous character traits that you habitually seek to develop within your own self.
I am writing this blog to remind myself of the things that inspire me, and also with the hope that it will inspire you.
If all that my blog does is remind you of an important fact or principle, I am satisfied.
If you learn something new... some inspiring, intriguing, actionable insight, then I am more than satisfied; I am DELIGHTED.
But, if what you learn here sticks with you ETERNALLY, and helps to shape who you are, and who you will become, then I am beyond satisfied or delighted; I AM OVERJOYED! :)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Life Angles: LIFE Acronym #3 - Laughter Irresistibly Forms Enthusiasm
LIFE Acronym #3:
"Laughter Irresistibly Forms Enthusiasm"
Did you know that the average American child laughs about 200 times per day, while the average American adult laughs only 15?
I recently read a story of a lady who was running a seminar on the power of positive enthusiasm, and had everyone participate in a little activity.
She told everyone to get up and greet the people around them as if they were looking for someone more important. People got up and casually greeted each other, sometimes with their heads down, or looking past the person, or talking with a passive, subdued tone. Then, she had everyone get up again and greet the people around them as if they were a long-lost friend.
The room quickly erupted with noise, laughter, joyous tones, positive energy, and convivial smiles. When it was time for her to speak again, they were so into this positive social interaction that it was hard to get everyone's attention and get them to quiet down.
She then directed their attention to the energy in the room. It was palpable. It had been FABRICATED, yet it was REAL. It had been conjured up from within, by simply having people PRETEND that they were excited to see somebody.
There is a veritable renewing force hidden behind each smile, and within each laugh. There is a powerful, positive energy stored deep within each of us, and it is waiting for us to simply DECIDE to access it.
Think of those times when you are in a low energy slump; the times when you're sad because you let something get to you, something that you have set up as a CONDITION that your happiness is dependent upon.
Happiness is NOT conditional. It is YOUR choice. Your mood is YOUR choice. This is a universal truth that holds true NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE. It is a state of mind, a higher consciousness that can be developed and attained if you seek it.
Do you know how feelings work? Think about that for a moment. I had a friend ask me that question recently. How would you answer that question? It's simple.
Here's how feelings work:
You tell your subconscious mind how to feel, and it obeys! If you do not tell it how to feel, it comes up with its own way to feel, to make up for the lack of conscious instruction.
Think of the times when you're bored, passive, or even sullen. It could be for no apparent reason, or it could be due to an outside catalyst.
When we feel this way, we tend to want to stay there. We tend to want to wallow longer in our own self-pity. This accomplishes nothing, yet it seems to be the accepted norm. We tend to leave it up to external influences, and just wait until "something happens" to lift our mood again.
This is a way of minimizing our own personal power, and passing it on to somebody or something else. Are you in the habit of laying your own personal power on a sidewalk, and leaving it open to the elements and the whims of the city?
When was the last time that you held your own personal power in your hand and kept it safe, and in your own possession? When was the last time that you used that mystical source of power called "your own will" to change the way you felt or thought?
It's there, within your own mind. Just use it. Next time you feel melancholy, make a conscious decision not to wallow. When you wallow in those feelings, you lose precious moments of your life.
And your life is a mere blink in eternity, and is more valuable than the largest King's vault on the planet. Your time is your most PRECIOUS asset. Don't squander it in unproductive, wasteful, hurtful expenditures of negative energy.
I may have made my point, but I'm not sure if you're listening. I don't want you to read this and then forget about it. I want you to REMEMBER it.
REMEMBER it the next time that you are feeling dejected, despondent, or downhearted. REMEMBER it, and CHOOSE to change your mood.
With a little practice, you can begin to control your inner mind simply by DECIDING how to feel. But, before you get to that point, you can simply do it the easy way if you must. Here's the easy way:
• Simply DECIDE to put in a positive CD or video.
• DECIDE to surf to a positive and uplifting website on the internet.
• DECIDE to pick up a cheerful, inspirational book and read it until your mood changes.
• DECIDE to do a Google search for "funny jokes".
• DECIDE to go back and read some of your encouraging journal entries.
• DECIDE to call a good friend or a close family member, and ask them to help you lift your mood. Talk about what's bothering you, but more importantly, relate it to the big picture and talk about the true essence of life.
• DECIDE to somehow remind yourself of what really matters.
• DECIDE to fly up to the stratospheric layer of your life's atmosphere, and view yourself from a better perspective; a less blinded, more open perspective that illuminates the paradigms that reflect PURE TRUTH, and shades the ones that reflect your own perceived realities.
If laughter irresistibly forms enthusiasm, then it is solid proof that we can control our own positive energy.
Remember this:
Even when positive vibes are not spurred by outside influences, but instead are forced because of a CONSCIOUS decision, they still have the same result.
I wish you the best of luck in your journey of LIFE.
One more thing...
Considering the title of this post, I felt it appropriate to post a joke... :)
"The Vacuum Salesman"
A young vacuum cleaner salesman had just completed his training, and was anxious to put his skills to work. He set out to canvass a neighborhood, armed with a vacuum, a small shovel, and a bag full of cow patties.
He took his fancy vacuum cleaner to the front door of the first house and knocked on the door loudly. A rather unpleasant woman answered.
Before she could say anything, he quickly tossed a pile of moist cow patties onto the rug behind her, stepped in past her and ground them into the rug with his cargo boots.
"Lady," he said, "If this powerful vacuum cleaner doesn't completely eradicate all of those cow patties with thorough precision in the next 5 minutes, I'll eat them myself."
"I'll get you a spoon," scowled the lady. "Our electricity hasn't been turned on yet." A look of shock and horror immediately formed on the young salesman's countenance.
Then, after a brief moment of pensive hesitation, he promptly dashed over to the next house, rapped on the door, and said to the man who answered, "Do you have an extension cord?"
"Laughter Irresistibly Forms Enthusiasm"
Did you know that the average American child laughs about 200 times per day, while the average American adult laughs only 15?
I recently read a story of a lady who was running a seminar on the power of positive enthusiasm, and had everyone participate in a little activity.
She told everyone to get up and greet the people around them as if they were looking for someone more important. People got up and casually greeted each other, sometimes with their heads down, or looking past the person, or talking with a passive, subdued tone. Then, she had everyone get up again and greet the people around them as if they were a long-lost friend.
The room quickly erupted with noise, laughter, joyous tones, positive energy, and convivial smiles. When it was time for her to speak again, they were so into this positive social interaction that it was hard to get everyone's attention and get them to quiet down.
She then directed their attention to the energy in the room. It was palpable. It had been FABRICATED, yet it was REAL. It had been conjured up from within, by simply having people PRETEND that they were excited to see somebody.
There is a veritable renewing force hidden behind each smile, and within each laugh. There is a powerful, positive energy stored deep within each of us, and it is waiting for us to simply DECIDE to access it.
Think of those times when you are in a low energy slump; the times when you're sad because you let something get to you, something that you have set up as a CONDITION that your happiness is dependent upon.
Happiness is NOT conditional. It is YOUR choice. Your mood is YOUR choice. This is a universal truth that holds true NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE. It is a state of mind, a higher consciousness that can be developed and attained if you seek it.
Do you know how feelings work? Think about that for a moment. I had a friend ask me that question recently. How would you answer that question? It's simple.
Here's how feelings work:
You tell your subconscious mind how to feel, and it obeys! If you do not tell it how to feel, it comes up with its own way to feel, to make up for the lack of conscious instruction.
Think of the times when you're bored, passive, or even sullen. It could be for no apparent reason, or it could be due to an outside catalyst.
When we feel this way, we tend to want to stay there. We tend to want to wallow longer in our own self-pity. This accomplishes nothing, yet it seems to be the accepted norm. We tend to leave it up to external influences, and just wait until "something happens" to lift our mood again.
This is a way of minimizing our own personal power, and passing it on to somebody or something else. Are you in the habit of laying your own personal power on a sidewalk, and leaving it open to the elements and the whims of the city?
When was the last time that you held your own personal power in your hand and kept it safe, and in your own possession? When was the last time that you used that mystical source of power called "your own will" to change the way you felt or thought?
It's there, within your own mind. Just use it. Next time you feel melancholy, make a conscious decision not to wallow. When you wallow in those feelings, you lose precious moments of your life.
And your life is a mere blink in eternity, and is more valuable than the largest King's vault on the planet. Your time is your most PRECIOUS asset. Don't squander it in unproductive, wasteful, hurtful expenditures of negative energy.
I may have made my point, but I'm not sure if you're listening. I don't want you to read this and then forget about it. I want you to REMEMBER it.
REMEMBER it the next time that you are feeling dejected, despondent, or downhearted. REMEMBER it, and CHOOSE to change your mood.
With a little practice, you can begin to control your inner mind simply by DECIDING how to feel. But, before you get to that point, you can simply do it the easy way if you must. Here's the easy way:
• Simply DECIDE to put in a positive CD or video.
• DECIDE to surf to a positive and uplifting website on the internet.
• DECIDE to pick up a cheerful, inspirational book and read it until your mood changes.
• DECIDE to do a Google search for "funny jokes".
• DECIDE to go back and read some of your encouraging journal entries.
• DECIDE to call a good friend or a close family member, and ask them to help you lift your mood. Talk about what's bothering you, but more importantly, relate it to the big picture and talk about the true essence of life.
• DECIDE to somehow remind yourself of what really matters.
• DECIDE to fly up to the stratospheric layer of your life's atmosphere, and view yourself from a better perspective; a less blinded, more open perspective that illuminates the paradigms that reflect PURE TRUTH, and shades the ones that reflect your own perceived realities.
If laughter irresistibly forms enthusiasm, then it is solid proof that we can control our own positive energy.
Remember this:
Even when positive vibes are not spurred by outside influences, but instead are forced because of a CONSCIOUS decision, they still have the same result.
I wish you the best of luck in your journey of LIFE.
One more thing...
Considering the title of this post, I felt it appropriate to post a joke... :)
"The Vacuum Salesman"
A young vacuum cleaner salesman had just completed his training, and was anxious to put his skills to work. He set out to canvass a neighborhood, armed with a vacuum, a small shovel, and a bag full of cow patties.
He took his fancy vacuum cleaner to the front door of the first house and knocked on the door loudly. A rather unpleasant woman answered.
Before she could say anything, he quickly tossed a pile of moist cow patties onto the rug behind her, stepped in past her and ground them into the rug with his cargo boots.
"Lady," he said, "If this powerful vacuum cleaner doesn't completely eradicate all of those cow patties with thorough precision in the next 5 minutes, I'll eat them myself."
"I'll get you a spoon," scowled the lady. "Our electricity hasn't been turned on yet." A look of shock and horror immediately formed on the young salesman's countenance.
Then, after a brief moment of pensive hesitation, he promptly dashed over to the next house, rapped on the door, and said to the man who answered, "Do you have an extension cord?"
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Life Angles: LIFE Acronym #2 - Learning Increases From Experience
LIFE Acronym #2:
"Learning Increases From Experience"
It's the quintessential catch 22: a company won't hire you unless you have a certain amount of experience. Yet, how are you ever expected to GET any experience if nobody will hire you?!
Too many people get college degrees and are left earning minimum wage or slightly better. And at this point, it's not just something I hear about or read about. I have seen it myself many times.
You can get all of the book smarts about a subject, and that will prepare you pretty well. But, it's not until you couple that knowledge with STREET smarts that you will REALLY metamorphose into a force to be reckoned with.
I have experienced this first-hand. Back in 2002, I went on a 2-year mission for my church. I was called to preach the Gospel in the Spanish language, in Dallas, Texas.
In my church, when someone is called to serve in a language other than their native language, they are sent to an intensive training facility for 2 to 3 months, depending on the difficulty of the language.
I had 4 years of high school and college Spanish already, and was proficient enough that they put me straight into the intermediate class, skipping the beginning level.
For 2 months, the missionaries in my class lived in this facility, ate there, and never even left the premises. We were literally taught the Gospel and the Spanish language for TEN HOURS of class per day, for 2 months. We learned from lectures, books, and computer software, and were even expected to do our best to speak only Spanish amongst ourselves for the whole 2 months.
I was obsessed with the Spanish language, and felt almost fluent by the time the 2 months were up. By that time, we could communicate pretty much anything that we wanted to. We had memorized literally THOUSANDS of nouns, verbs, verb conjugation rules, tenses, etc. We started dreaming in Spanish occasionally. Let me tell you, that is a very cool experience!
The next thing scheduled to show on the theater screen of my life's experiences was the shocker that I was on for when being faced with the task of communicating with real natives!
It was December 6, 2002 that I was thrown into the field in Dallas, Texas. They had me translating in church! They had an English-Spanish mixed congregation, and had headsets that people wore to listen to the translations.
Speaking it was not the problem. I did fairly well at translating, for a beginner (greenie). I probably kept up enough to correctly translate about 70% of what was said.
The SHOCKER came when I found myself in someone's house, listening to a language that I had previously deluded myself into thinking that I was proficient in.
It was almost 100% UNFAMILIAR! It sounded like gibberish! They spoke so fast! Slurred their words! Added slang! Everything ran together like a zoomed-in view of a Claude Monet watercolor painting!
It took another 3 to 6 months in the field, practicing and hearing these natives speak every day, before I really understood them and felt like I was actually mostly fluent in Spanish.
Now, if I were to end this blog post now, I'd be leaving you saying to yourself, "I already knew that experience was important. I already knew the difference between book smarts and street smarts. What good it it do me to read this blog?".
But now is the part where I tell one more important story, and then relate it to YOU. My job here is to give YOU some semblance of actionable data, or remind you of something that is important to know.
Life is all about reminding ourselves of the things that are most important. We are flawed beings, and are quick to forget. So, remind you I will. But first, one more story.
This next story is about Network Marketing. But do not skip it if you are not a Network Marketer, because the principles can be applied universally to many different industries and business structures. They can even be applied to non-business aspects of life in general. Read on!
When I was 17, I was introduced to my first Network Marketing company. I was enthralled by the idea of how the whole thing worked.
Think of it! Everyone owns their own business, and works together for a common cause. But, unlike a tradition business structure, all the paperwork, product fulfillment, warehousing, manufacturing, customer service, website creation and hosting, and things of the like are taken care of. All I have to worry about is marketing and customer retention.
Add on top of those benefits the fact that the potential for building up a residual, nearly hands-free income is staggering! The whole thing glistened in my youthful, teenage eyes.
Picture the wonderment that fills the mind and heart of a child as he gazes upon the pile of presents on Christmas morning. Can you picture a child's eyes reflecting the magical glow of the tinsel, glass ornaments, and multi-colored strings of lights on Christmas morning? The excitement and the curiosity? The euphoric sensations dancing through the brain?
This is how I felt. And it wasn't just dollar signs in my eyes. It was freedom and potential. It was free time and resources. You might say, "what 17-year-old thinks like that?" Well, I did.
Prior to this point, I had dedicated myself somewhat to the study of wealth, due to the fact that when I was 10 years old I had decided that I would someday become a millionaire. And I was already somewhat adept at business, having proven myself as a top salesman by out-selling every kid in my entire high school in a fund raiser (I sold something like 450 candy bars, for $1 each). But, back to the story.
Having learned of the existence of this exciting Network Marketing business model, I was so excited that I called the corporate headquarters of the company, and begged them to give me an exception to the age limit of 18. They conceded, and thus began my adventure in Network Marketing.
How good would a 17-year-old kid do in this type of business? What would happen? Where would this adventure take me? Read on to see how it unfolded.
I became obsessed with studying the business and products, inside out. I had decided in that little teenage mind of mine that I really needed to become proficient and professional with the information, before I talked to even one person. And it was partly that I didn't feel comfortable and confident with my own ability and knowledge.
As a result of my false paradigm that kept me from talking to anyone until I had gleaned all the knowledge I could, I ended up fading out. I never even talked to a single, solitary person about the business.
If I had just jumped into it, swallowed my pride and insecurity, and started talking to people about it, I would have likely met with some success.
We've all heard the old adage, "Experience is the best teacher". This is no lie, but that does not mean that you cannot succeed without it. In fact, quite the contrary.
It's been proven that in Network Marketing, there are two groups of people who build huge organizations, fast. Those two groups are:
1. The newbies who don't know all the details, but are just plain excited, happy, sanguine, positive and enthusiastic. They splatter excited confusion all over people, and it works! Their prospects become curious and ask questions, then get referred to someone who knows more, and BAM! They are suddenly a new business partner! Beginners on fire are far better than professionals on ice.
2. Speaking of professionals, they are the second group. But it's not "professionalism on ice" that this group consists of. It's "professionalism on fire"! Where there are successful business builders, without fail there also can be found rampant action. That's the common denominator.
This second group has a double-edged sword; they wield EXPERIENCE, AND action! This group is the group that helps the first group close their prospects.
Remember, you always want to be in one of these two groups, never in between. As a member of the first group, your goal is to develop yourself into a competent leader, and eventually graduate to the second group!
Salient Facts:
• You can gain knowledge by study. But knowledge alone benefits you comparatively very little.
• It is the APPLICATION of knowledge that makes all the difference.
• You can only gain EXPERIENCE by getting out there and WORKING! Work is where the experience comes from. Without work, experience lurks in dark, hidden crevices, far from reach.
• KNOWLEDGE without WORK is dead.
• But WORK without KNOWLEDGE breeds fast success, when coupled with business partners who have the knowledge and experience required for streamlined progression.
• KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, and WORK together are the TRIPLE-THREAT for success, and the simultaneous possession of all three should be the goal of every person who aspires to accomplish anything of meaning.
• So it is an inter-connected triangle, all designed to build upon itself and lead you to success, if you follow it correctly.
• A lack of consistent WORK, in the VAST MAJORITY of all cases, is the principal culprit that is responsible for failure in Network Marketing. Remember that fact, because you can take it to the bank!
Those bullet points may have gone in one ear and out the other, but they are fairly deep and philosophical when you give them some more dedicated thought. That said, I recommend that you go back and take a moment to re-read them, and ponder them...
...Done reading? Good. Now go get to work. :)
"Learning Increases From Experience"
It's the quintessential catch 22: a company won't hire you unless you have a certain amount of experience. Yet, how are you ever expected to GET any experience if nobody will hire you?!
Too many people get college degrees and are left earning minimum wage or slightly better. And at this point, it's not just something I hear about or read about. I have seen it myself many times.
You can get all of the book smarts about a subject, and that will prepare you pretty well. But, it's not until you couple that knowledge with STREET smarts that you will REALLY metamorphose into a force to be reckoned with.
I have experienced this first-hand. Back in 2002, I went on a 2-year mission for my church. I was called to preach the Gospel in the Spanish language, in Dallas, Texas.
In my church, when someone is called to serve in a language other than their native language, they are sent to an intensive training facility for 2 to 3 months, depending on the difficulty of the language.
I had 4 years of high school and college Spanish already, and was proficient enough that they put me straight into the intermediate class, skipping the beginning level.
For 2 months, the missionaries in my class lived in this facility, ate there, and never even left the premises. We were literally taught the Gospel and the Spanish language for TEN HOURS of class per day, for 2 months. We learned from lectures, books, and computer software, and were even expected to do our best to speak only Spanish amongst ourselves for the whole 2 months.
I was obsessed with the Spanish language, and felt almost fluent by the time the 2 months were up. By that time, we could communicate pretty much anything that we wanted to. We had memorized literally THOUSANDS of nouns, verbs, verb conjugation rules, tenses, etc. We started dreaming in Spanish occasionally. Let me tell you, that is a very cool experience!
The next thing scheduled to show on the theater screen of my life's experiences was the shocker that I was on for when being faced with the task of communicating with real natives!
It was December 6, 2002 that I was thrown into the field in Dallas, Texas. They had me translating in church! They had an English-Spanish mixed congregation, and had headsets that people wore to listen to the translations.
Speaking it was not the problem. I did fairly well at translating, for a beginner (greenie). I probably kept up enough to correctly translate about 70% of what was said.
The SHOCKER came when I found myself in someone's house, listening to a language that I had previously deluded myself into thinking that I was proficient in.
It was almost 100% UNFAMILIAR! It sounded like gibberish! They spoke so fast! Slurred their words! Added slang! Everything ran together like a zoomed-in view of a Claude Monet watercolor painting!
It took another 3 to 6 months in the field, practicing and hearing these natives speak every day, before I really understood them and felt like I was actually mostly fluent in Spanish.
Now, if I were to end this blog post now, I'd be leaving you saying to yourself, "I already knew that experience was important. I already knew the difference between book smarts and street smarts. What good it it do me to read this blog?".
But now is the part where I tell one more important story, and then relate it to YOU. My job here is to give YOU some semblance of actionable data, or remind you of something that is important to know.
Life is all about reminding ourselves of the things that are most important. We are flawed beings, and are quick to forget. So, remind you I will. But first, one more story.
This next story is about Network Marketing. But do not skip it if you are not a Network Marketer, because the principles can be applied universally to many different industries and business structures. They can even be applied to non-business aspects of life in general. Read on!
When I was 17, I was introduced to my first Network Marketing company. I was enthralled by the idea of how the whole thing worked.
Think of it! Everyone owns their own business, and works together for a common cause. But, unlike a tradition business structure, all the paperwork, product fulfillment, warehousing, manufacturing, customer service, website creation and hosting, and things of the like are taken care of. All I have to worry about is marketing and customer retention.
Add on top of those benefits the fact that the potential for building up a residual, nearly hands-free income is staggering! The whole thing glistened in my youthful, teenage eyes.
Picture the wonderment that fills the mind and heart of a child as he gazes upon the pile of presents on Christmas morning. Can you picture a child's eyes reflecting the magical glow of the tinsel, glass ornaments, and multi-colored strings of lights on Christmas morning? The excitement and the curiosity? The euphoric sensations dancing through the brain?
This is how I felt. And it wasn't just dollar signs in my eyes. It was freedom and potential. It was free time and resources. You might say, "what 17-year-old thinks like that?" Well, I did.
Prior to this point, I had dedicated myself somewhat to the study of wealth, due to the fact that when I was 10 years old I had decided that I would someday become a millionaire. And I was already somewhat adept at business, having proven myself as a top salesman by out-selling every kid in my entire high school in a fund raiser (I sold something like 450 candy bars, for $1 each). But, back to the story.
Having learned of the existence of this exciting Network Marketing business model, I was so excited that I called the corporate headquarters of the company, and begged them to give me an exception to the age limit of 18. They conceded, and thus began my adventure in Network Marketing.
How good would a 17-year-old kid do in this type of business? What would happen? Where would this adventure take me? Read on to see how it unfolded.
I became obsessed with studying the business and products, inside out. I had decided in that little teenage mind of mine that I really needed to become proficient and professional with the information, before I talked to even one person. And it was partly that I didn't feel comfortable and confident with my own ability and knowledge.
As a result of my false paradigm that kept me from talking to anyone until I had gleaned all the knowledge I could, I ended up fading out. I never even talked to a single, solitary person about the business.
If I had just jumped into it, swallowed my pride and insecurity, and started talking to people about it, I would have likely met with some success.
We've all heard the old adage, "Experience is the best teacher". This is no lie, but that does not mean that you cannot succeed without it. In fact, quite the contrary.
It's been proven that in Network Marketing, there are two groups of people who build huge organizations, fast. Those two groups are:
1. The newbies who don't know all the details, but are just plain excited, happy, sanguine, positive and enthusiastic. They splatter excited confusion all over people, and it works! Their prospects become curious and ask questions, then get referred to someone who knows more, and BAM! They are suddenly a new business partner! Beginners on fire are far better than professionals on ice.
2. Speaking of professionals, they are the second group. But it's not "professionalism on ice" that this group consists of. It's "professionalism on fire"! Where there are successful business builders, without fail there also can be found rampant action. That's the common denominator.
This second group has a double-edged sword; they wield EXPERIENCE, AND action! This group is the group that helps the first group close their prospects.
Remember, you always want to be in one of these two groups, never in between. As a member of the first group, your goal is to develop yourself into a competent leader, and eventually graduate to the second group!
Salient Facts:
• You can gain knowledge by study. But knowledge alone benefits you comparatively very little.
• It is the APPLICATION of knowledge that makes all the difference.
• You can only gain EXPERIENCE by getting out there and WORKING! Work is where the experience comes from. Without work, experience lurks in dark, hidden crevices, far from reach.
• KNOWLEDGE without WORK is dead.
• But WORK without KNOWLEDGE breeds fast success, when coupled with business partners who have the knowledge and experience required for streamlined progression.
• KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, and WORK together are the TRIPLE-THREAT for success, and the simultaneous possession of all three should be the goal of every person who aspires to accomplish anything of meaning.
• So it is an inter-connected triangle, all designed to build upon itself and lead you to success, if you follow it correctly.
• A lack of consistent WORK, in the VAST MAJORITY of all cases, is the principal culprit that is responsible for failure in Network Marketing. Remember that fact, because you can take it to the bank!
Those bullet points may have gone in one ear and out the other, but they are fairly deep and philosophical when you give them some more dedicated thought. That said, I recommend that you go back and take a moment to re-read them, and ponder them...
...Done reading? Good. Now go get to work. :)
Monday, July 25, 2011
Life Angles: LIFE - Living Intentionally For Excellence!
Those four words engender so much meaning! They instill within me a recognition of an innate passion that has been a part of me since before I came to this sojourn. I am going to attempt to articulate what they mean to me in this blog post.
But first, let me tell you where I got them. Over the weekend, I was privileged to meet the #7 Leadership Guru in the WORLD. Credit for those four words must go to him. As far as I know, he came up with the acronym (perhaps with help from others).
Hearing this acronym, and seeing him speak several times, has inspired me to go back to my dusty blog for some more inter-mind interactions, which will be portrayed here in this outer-mind communication medium called a "Blog".
I am trying to write faster than I have in the past, because a friend of mine suggested that I post every day for 100 days, and I rather liked the idea.
Considering that my blog was already named "Life Angles" long before I heard this LIFE acronym, it seemed fitting. So I've decided to come up with a new acronym for LIFE every day, and write a post about it. :)
This brilliant idea would have normally been immediately shot down by me, owing to the busy nature of my life of late, combined with my tendency to be a perfectionist when composing a blog post.
As a result of the intersection of those two things with my new goal to write a post every day, I have of necessity decided to curtail my perfectionistic nature, and just pump these blogs out of my brain as fast as they can flow.
But, I hope and pray that I will still be able to inspire you, my loyal readers (whoever and wherever you are) with my words. Inspiring others is the secondary purpose for which I created this blog in the first place (the first purpose is that I enjoy writing).
And, rest assured, when I speak, I am speaking with passion. These things really do come from within my heart. I do not simply compile a string of words that are likely to inspire people. I write from my heart, about what inspires ME.
I write about the multifarious subjects that have ever caused, or will cause a stir, big or small, within myself.
When I first created this blog, I had planned to comment on anything political or humorous as well, and I may still throw some of those anecdotes into my blog here and there.
But for the next 100 days, I want to focus primarily on whatever inspires me, and hopefully may inspire you as well.
L.I.F.E.! "Living Intentionally For Excellence!!!" These four words enshroud my spirit in a conscious power! They define so much of what I am all about! Let's dissect them:
1. LIVING
Living! We are all living, breathing, original, creative, powerful beings who were created by a loving God, and placed here on Earth upon our own consent and ardent desire to experience, learn, grow, and progress!
Think deeply for a moment about what the word "life" itself signifies. Life boggles my mind at times, just as time and space do. And "life" is what you and I are. We are intelligent life!
We have the agency, and the powerful faculties of our minds and bodies, to enable us to do anything that we want, and make anything of this LIFE that we want and decide to. And we can help and lift other living, intelligent beings (people) along the way as well.
We can even bless the lives of animals. Animals have a lower intelligence than humans do, but they are our chums here on Earth, and are still "LIFE", just as we are. As such, they deserve our respect. But I suppose that that is a subject for another post. On with the subject at hand...
2. LIVING INTENTIONALLY
"Living Intentionally"! INTENTIONALLY! Will Smith in one of his movies said, "Begin each day as if it were on purpose". Think of the many people out there who seem to be living life "on accident". They need to be reminded why they are here! That task can fall upon you and I, if we will let it. But first, let us make sure that WE are living our OWN lives on PURPOSE!
Those two words, "Living Intentionally", carry so much meaning for me. They send vivid pictures into my mind of the way that I have always dreamed of living, and have been working hard to live.
I have not found my sweet, strong, virtuous, beloved angel wife yet, but I know that she's out there. I often imagine and visualize the type of husband and father that I want to be. And I work constantly to learn, grow, and prepare myself more and more to be worthy of such a woman.
Here and there in life, I see and hear of people who are hurting inside, and don't know where to find relief to their emptiness.
Picture the struggling teenagers, the at-risk youth, or the college drunkards and partyers who obviously have no meaningful purpose driving their actions. Picture the rock stars and the celebrities that use drugs, have many other glaring problems, and are not happy.
Picture the struggling marriages. Picture the fights. Picture the divorces and the torn families. Picture the miscommunication, and the absence of a conscious plan and effort to grow closer, and understand one another.
Picture a husband who comes home from work, plops down on the couch in front of the TV and demands dinner. Then, he gets upset when his wife asks him to do something for her to help out around the house, saying that he's been working hard all day to put food on the table, and a roof over HER head.
Next, picture that one of his beautiful children (we'll say a 3-year-old) comes up to him and says "Daddy, let's go play with toys!", but is met with "not now honey, I'm busy". His wife then decides to harp on him because she can't take it anymore, and the children see their parents raising voices with anger and malice toward one another. Eventually, the children may have to cope with the caustic experience of seeing their parents split apart.
Don't get me wrong. I know that SOMETIMES, divorce is the correct remedy. But, that is only true because we are all on different levels in our own personal growth and progression. Divorce and many other difficult experiences may be a part of our learning process here on Earth.
But, what if you knew that there was a way to better yourself faster, climb higher in your goodness and strength, and leave many of those harsh experiences in the box labeled "what may have happened if I had not grown myself to who I am today"?
There is a way, and it's called "LIVING INTENTIONALLY"!!! To me, "Living Intentionally" means that you are constantly measuring yourself, constantly looking into your soul and spirit to find out why you do the things that you do.
It means that you SEEK to learn how to change yourself, so that you do more of the things that you want to be doing, and less of the things that you don't want to be doing. It means that you do not "go with the flow". It means that you are not COMPLACENT!
LIVING INTENTIONALLY means that you MEAN to be the way that you are, and that the way that you are is not a result of the sundry experiences that have shaped you over the years, but rather is a result of the MULTITUDINOUS exertions that you and God have INTENTIONALLY applied upon your life over the years, to shape and mold you into a better, more intentional, more prudent, more loving, more powerful, more serving, more influential, more sacrificing, and more SCRUPULOUS, ethical, and principle-centered person than you would have been absent such catalysts!
That was a very long sentence on purpose. I didn't want to deliver that message in a slow, methodical way like a college professor would. I wanted you to hear me saying those words with power and passion, as a motivational speaker would, with a growing speed and intensity as the idea progressed! So go read it once more real quick.
3. LIVING INTENTIONALLY FOR...
What are you living FOR? What word would you put at the end of those three words, if it were required that that fourth word be a word that accurately describes what your most prevalent, and you most powerful desires and purposes for living are?
Do not just put the word that describes what you feel is most important. That would be the answer if you were asked what you SHOULD be living for; what SHOULD be your purpose.
To find the right word to describe what you live for, you must close your eyes and think of the things that have consumed the majority of your thoughts, actions, passions, and desires over the years. To find what you really live for, look at the most up-front, obvious outward things that have at times driven you to stay up late, write journal entries about, or make sacrifices for.
If you are really passionate about something, the majority of your closest friends and family will recite that very thing, if asked what they think you are passionate about.
It's not the things that you consider are the most important that you are really passionate about, it's the things that consume you the most. THAT is the true measure of a man's passion. THAT alone betrays what you really live for.
So, what do YOU live for? God gave the Israelites 10 commandments. Just 10! 10 things that were most important to Him; 10 things that He hoped they would follow before worrying about any of the smaller things.
One of those 10 is translated thus: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Gospel scholars hold that this primarily refers to the idol worship that was so prevalent during that particular time in Earth's history.
But, applying it to today, I would wager that there are millions of people who would feel comfortable defining the word "idol" as it applies to religious things thus:
Idol:
"Anything that consumes so much of a person's thoughts, desires, and actions that thoughts of God, His will, and His Kingdom take a secondary or lower place in that person's mind, actions, and most powerful desires".
That said, think of your thoughts. Replay your last week, your last month, your last year, your last decade. What has consumed you? Did it take precedence over your daily communion with Deity?
Did it slip into a higher slot of priority than you think it deserved? Remember those days when you couldn't sleep because you were so excited? Did you talk to God and share with Him your thoughts about the matter? Did you talk to Him about your number one, most high priority, which was to serve Him and His children here in Earth; to do His will and live for Him, and build His Kingdom? Did you talk about how that subject that you were so excited about was related to and could be applied to those number one priorities?
Think of the people who make unwise financial decisions, so that they can get that next fancy car, boat, or anything like that. When something causes someone to be foolish because of their brash determination to have that thing, it is an idol. It just slipped into the number one spot in their priorities, and proved to everyone what that person is living for at that moment.
Picture the men who wash and wax their fancy cars and boats so often, and will scarcely share those things with others or let other people use or even touch them. Those men are like CHILDREN!
Picture how they get angry and yell at people if someone accidentally touches, smudges, dents, or scrapes that idol of theirs.
When someone yells at a person for something so trivial, it shows that they value that thing more than they do the person.
A man or woman should never value things more than people, and when they act so rashly, it is an outward sign that they do just that. That thing is more important to them than the person.
There are other ways to handle such situations. He could have been gracious about the accident and told the person not to worry about it, but kindly asked them to please try to be more careful in the future. Such actions would betray that he values that person more than he does that object (idol).
"Living Intentionally For..." Tell me, what is it that YOU live for? Is it what you would prefer to be living for? Is it the thing that you feel you SHOULD be living for? If not, make a conscious decision and a goal to push the things that you know you SHOULD be living for into first priority as much as you can in your life.
4. LIVING INTENTIONALLY FOR EXCELLENCE!!!
ex·cel·lence
[ek-suh-luh ns]
- noun
1. the fact or state of excelling; superiority; eminence
2. having excellent qualities or features
3. superior, wonderful
SYNONYMS:
accomplished, admirable, attractive, capital, champion, choice, choicest, desirable, distinctive, distinguished, estimable, exceptional, exemplary, exquisite, fine, finest, first-rate, good, great, high, incomparable, invaluable, magnificent, meritorious, notable, outstanding, peerless, priceless, prime, select, skillful, sterling, striking, superb, superlative, supreme, top-notch, transcendent, world-class
ANTONYMS:
bad, failing, imperfect, indistinguished, inferior, poor, second-class, second-rate, unnoteworthy, unworthy
ex·cel·lent
[ek-suh-luh nt]
- adjective
1. possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good.
2. extraordinary; superior.
su·pe·ri·or
[suh-peer-ee-er, soo-]
- adjective
1. above the average in excellence, merit, intelligence, etc.
To sum it up, the word "Excellence" basically means:
"having excellent qualities or features, possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good."
This is the type of thing that I shoot for. This is why the words "Living Intentionally For Excellence" mean so much to me!
I see so many "lemmings" in this world, who are happy to just float along through life, and live, act, and be like society in general says that they should be.
They wake up, go to a job that they are not passionate about or interested in, come home, and entertain themselves with TV, movies, video games, or going out to dinner. They sit around and chat about menial subjects (nothing of real significance), they do a BBQ, or some home improvement projects. Then, they go to sleep, and do it all over again the next day. On the weekends, they go to the lake with the boat that they financed with debt, or they go ride financed recreational vehicles in the mountains.
This is America.
Don't get me wrong. I believe strongly in the importance of a work ethic, and I applaud those people who can do that so well, and provide for their families, even though they hate or are bored of their jobs. But, I submit that there is a step above that.
Our society has turned work into something that you do because you have to, and once you're done with that, your focuses can be spent on relaxing, having fun, entertaining yourselves, refilling your tank, etc.
HERE is what I envision as the step above. I recommend that people find something that they're truly passionate about or enjoy doing, and creatively find a way to meet their temporal needs with THAT thing, rather than just working for some big corporate conglomerate, and being just another number on someone's list; just another investment that a corporate manager buys at wholesale and sells at retail.
As a contrast to my earlier visualization, picture this:
Imagine a man who spends the majority of his daily time and efforts on something that truly MATTERS; something that has real SIGNIFICANCE, and something that he is PASSIONATE about. He's making a real difference in someone's life, and perhaps many people, or the whole world (it's said that once you affect 17% of the people, that's the point where it breaks loose and spreads to most of the rest).
THEN, after his daily expenditures of energy towards a worthwhile cause, imagine that he refills his tank by wrapping his arms around his sweet wife and telling her how much he loves her, and how much she means to him.
Then, he refills his energy tank by spending some time playing with his kids. Next, he does some household chores to help out his wife. He offers to cook dinner, and the family sits down together and eats.
Maybe the family goes to town for some fun, or goes in the back yard and plays games and makes family videos of the kids.
Maybe they watch a clean movie together, that's inspiring and/or fun. Finally, Mom and Dad put the kids to bed, after family scripture study and prayers.
The kids being asleep, this man sits down on the bed with this wonderful woman that is his wife, and talks about her day. They talk about his day as well, and the thoughts and concerns that prevail in their minds at the time.
They talk about their relationship, and as often happens, they learn another little tidbit of wisdom that will help them to better communicate with each other, and respect each other, and love each other.
They have gone though some difficult times, but those times have drawn them closer together, because of the obvious pure love and acceptation that they have for each other.
The man is truly happy, incandescently so, because of this life that he, with God's help, has created by working on HIMSELF over the years, and constantly striving to be the absolute best person that he could be.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, people, is PARAMOUNT. It is not something just for those motivation-hyped people who read self-help books. It is for EVERYONE, and that includes YOU!
There are thousands of wise people out there, who have learned many valuable lessons of their own accord, and are willing to teach US those lessons, if we will just open up the books that they've written!
There are thousands of people that are ready and willing to share with us their wealth of knowledge and PURE TRUTH (which must be discerned by us, with God's help).
But we have to listen to them! We have to take some time to say, "Yes, so-and-so author or speaker, I believe that you do indeed have something valuable that I can learn or REMIND myself of, and I am willing to prove it by actually TAKING SOME TIME OUT OF MY LIFE TO LISTEN TO YOU!".
If we will just PUT IN A CD that these servers and inspirers have authored, rather than listening to songs that numb our brains and discourage us from using the faculties of our minds for thinking, we will begin to open our world to a whole new level of happiness, knowledge, wisdom, fulfillment, growth, and joy.
GROWTH AND PROGRESSION, my blog-reading friends, is not meant to be an esoteric art. It should be UBIQUITOUS! But I am sorry to say that it is not as prevalent as I believe that it should be.
Once you delve into personal progression, self-help, personal growth, introspection and character shaping, you will wish as I do, that more people would do just that. And you will desire to SPREAD IT. And you WILL spread it.
Once you have helped to spread it, you will have the inner satisfaction of the knowledge that several people are today better, more effective, and happier people because of the influence that one person has had on them. That person is YOU!
So, what does "Living Intentionally For Excellence" mean to me?
It means that I dream big, because if other people have accomplished great feats, so can I!
It means that I consciously remind myself that human potential is vastly more great and far-reaching than I realize!
It means that I seek constantly to discover and develop higher levels of my own potential!
It means that I do not blindly "accept as truth" everything that society and the "majority" teaches to me, but instead I use the power in my own mind and heart, as well as my spiritual discernment, to determine what I believe and hold to be true.
It means that I am not content to just go with the flow, if I do not believe that the flow is the most productive and purposeful way for ME to be.
It means that I PURPOSELY, INTENTIONALLY spend almost daily efforts on learning how to grow myself into a more competent, confident, prudent, powerful, purposeful, loving, serving, sacrificing, accepting, encouraging, leading, influential, world-changing person!
It means that I constantly develop faith in Jesus Christ, hope, charity and love, virtue, knowledge, patience, humility, diligence, obedience, and many other similar character traits.
It means that I am not content to be complacent with my current state of goodness, nor will I ever be until I reach the pinnacle of perfection, which will not occur in this life.
It means that I choose to CAST OFF my garment of mediocrity in favor of a much brighter, resplendently gleaming, ornately decorated, finely crafted, more powerful, mightily radiating set of raiment called "EXCELLENCE"!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
