LIFE Acronym #7:
"Love Is For Everyone"
This is a vast and far-reaching subject, and I wish that I had the time to write a whole book on it, because love truly is the most powerful force in the Universe. But alas, I only have today to finish this blog post.
I want to start by talking about non-romantic love. Each of us has a deep, inner desire to feel loved, accepted and important. This kind of longing is one of the most elemental needs of human beings, and is fulfilled by the unconditional love and acceptation that we feel from family and our closest, most loyal friends.
This basic human need of course can also be fulfilled by the romantic love felt by a spouse, as that kind of love is of another level, and is one of the most powerful types of love on the planet.
The most powerful type of love however is Charity, the kind that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ feel for all mankind. Charity is not reserved for deity alone, but is something that we mortals are commanded to develop as well. Charity demands that we love even our enemies, with a godly type of love for them as human beings, and a desire for the welfare of their souls. This is why it is more powerful than romantic love. Developing this type of love for all of humanity will make us more like God.
Romantic love is somewhat conditional upon our lover staying our lover. Think about it. If your lover decides to become your enemy, you will most likely cease to love that person in a romantic way, yet will perhaps still love them with Charity.
Charity will only win out though if your own capacity for unconditional love has been properly developed.
But before we delve more into that, let me muse for a bit on this basic, foundational need for love that every single one of us has.
Think of the lonely people out there. Think of the people who for one reason or another, don't feel loved. This feeling within them may likely be a fallacious figment of their imagination, because they don't recognize the love that people do have for them. But whether it's true or not isn't the point. The point is whether or not they BELIEVE that it is true.
Wallowing in the desolate abyss of feeling unloved is devastatingly damaging to a person's mental and emotional stability.
And when someone is mentally and emotionally unstable, the workings of their powerful mind can deceptively lead them to do very deleterious things. Sometimes, when somebody reaches the rock bottom of their loneliness and desertion, they can attempt suicide, or attack others just to be noticed.
This should be a glaring clue to you of the importance of feeling loved, and making sure that others know that they are loved. It comes right after the basic need of having food and water. It comes even before the instinctual urge to seek shelter from the elements.
Are you in a role in your life that would classify you as one of the primary love-givers for someone? Determine that for yourself, and if you feel that you are indeed in that position, make sure to do your part not only to cultivate a love for that person, but to make sure that they feel it and know that they are loved.
I'm using the word "love" here in a general way, even though there are several different types of love. I have for the most part left it up to you to determine which type of love it is that you are supposed to be giving, and this is due in part to one of the many inherent flaws in the English Language.
Somehow, in the evolution of English as a language, the word "love" came to have many different meanings.
I don't know if you've ever thought about this, but when a word has several different meanings, it is actually a sign of the decay and decline of that language, or of the original inadequacy of that language.
The more meanings a word has, the less effective the word is, because when it is used it is ambiguous. When an ambiguous word is used, we are then left to decipher the intended meaning simply based upon the context.
The problem with this scenario is that there is not always adequate context. In fact, more often than not, there is inadequate context to determine the exact meaning that was intended to be conveyed when the word was used.
For instance, imagine that you are walking along the street and you hear a man say the words "I love Cinnamon" to someone he's talking to on the phone. You continue walking and don't hear anything else. Then, you start to wonder to yourself who or what exactly he was referring to. There's no way to know.
Was he talking about cinnamon the spice? Perhaps.
But, Cinnamon could also be a female name. I've actually personally known two people with that name.
Even assuming that it was a female person that he was referring to, do you have any way of knowing the relationship between that person and the man who referred to her as you walked by? Is Cinnamon a good friend of his, or perhaps his daughter, or maybe his wife?
Did you know that the original Greek Language, there were not one, not two, not three, but FOUR different words to signify love?! That is because there is more than one type of love! Why we grouped them all together in this complex, confusing language called English will forever be a mystery to me.
Ancient Greek's four words for love are: storgē, philía, éros, and agápe. I put them in this order myself. I'm not sure if they have any particular appropriate hierarchical sequence.
I'll start with storgē. This one for the most part signifies affection, specifically the type of affectionate love that is felt by parents for their children, although it was sometimes used to signify the kind of unconditional, charitable love that is encompassed by the biblical use of our word "charity". Unfortunately we have no verb for the word "charity" in English. As a side note, our word "charity" has actually declined from its original use, to now be confused with altruistic giving. Shame on whoever is responsible for this and the many other degradations of the English Language, the most widely-used and commonly taught language in the world today.
Next I'll talk about philía, which mostly denotes the kind of dispassionate, brotherly love that you feel for a close friend or sibling. This type of love symbolizes virtuous love, loyalty, familiarity, and equality, and is a concept developed originally by Aristotle.
Then there's éros, which actually is somewhat ambiguous itself, but still is far more specific in its scope than the English word "love". Éros is primarily the type of passionate love felt between lovers, with sensual desire and longing. The modern Greek word "erotas" means "intimate love". However, eros does not have to be sexual in nature. It can be interpreted as signifying that you love a person more than the philía type of love. Plato refined the meaning of éros to refer to an even deeper meaning beyond just the person themselves, but to the innate, transcendent, eternal beauty within that person. Plato holds that true love requires no physical attraction, hence the word "platonic". He says that eros helps the soul recall knowledge of beauty, and contributes to an understanding of spiritual truth. I would interpret this as a metaphysical, spiritual recognition that takes place between two people. It's so much more than physical as we know it. It's an unquantifiable communication from spirit to spirit, or soul to soul. It's not just your mind or your eyes, but your SPIRIT recognizing the pure and genuine nature of someone else's spirit. It's sometimes referred to as "the glow". When this type of feeling goes both ways, many people today describe that as a recognition between "soulmates". And just so you know, today's most widely-held definition of the word "soulmate" does not have to refer only to the recognition between a man and a woman that leads to a relationship. It can also apply when you find an exceptionally good friend, kindof an "insta-friend" or kindred spirit.
Last we have agápe, which is still a little ambiguous but is nonetheless far more specific than the general word "love" in the English language. This one connotes more of the unconditional type of love felt between husband and wife. In Greek, if you were going to say "I love you" to your spouse like we do in English to remind our mate of our devotion, you'd generally say "s'agapo". It is the step up from éros, and is a deeper sense of love, like "true love" in English. The problem is, once again, in English there is no verb for "true love". Agape is the word used in the "love chapter" of the Bible, 1st Corinthians 13. It is explained as "sacrificial love", which again there is no verb for in English. This brings us to the bit of ambiguity that the word agápe contains, and that is that it was also sometimes used to refer to the supreme enjoyment of a meal, or the accepting type of paternal or maternal love toward a child. In these uses, it can be more specifically described as a sense of contentment, or holding something or someone in very high regard.
I figured that this treatise on the ancient origins and meanings of the word "love" was appropriate for this post, and especially considering that today is the Sabbath.
Now I want to delve a little bit more into romantic love. We are built to love. We are meant to pair up. God made male and female to be together. He said in Genesis 2:18, "...It is not good that man should be alone...".
There have been countless studies proving that happily married couples have less stress, and even live longer. But that is only the surface of the benefits of the divinely-sanctioned institution of marriage.
However, I'm not talking about marriage in this post; I'm talking about love. And at the moment, I'm talking about romantic love. It's for the love of a woman that some of history's greatest men have been inspired. It's for love that great men sacrifice so much, and accomplish so much. Almost every great man of accomplishment has had a great woman by his side to back him up, support him, and keep him on track.
The purposeful union between a man and a woman adds so much more dynamic power and potential to each of them. It's one of the perfect examples of synergy. Synergy means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts; a.k.a. 1+1=3. Synergy takes place when the two combined things interact with one another in a way that makes them each more valuable, and more capable for good.
When a man and a woman join together, they compliment each other, support each other, and add to each other's confidence and contentment. They bring out the best in each other. Loneliness becomes a foreign feeling to them. They always have their best friend right there, in everything they do and through everything that they experience.
And most importantly, in a relationship that is done properly and worked on; in a happy relationship, they fulfill each other's most basic and natural needs for feeling loved and accepted.
Feeling loved has the capacity to empower people beyond the power of any other influence in the universe. And GIVING of your love freely to another person also serves to enlighten your soul, and purify your heart.
Having somebody to love is almost as important as being loved yourself.
And to finish this all off, I would be remiss if I did not mention that God's love is always available for every single one of us to feel. And not only is it there, but it is PERFECT love, and we are commanded by Him to seek Him and feel His love for us. His love can fill any voids that we have, even if we do not currently have a single human being on Earth to help fill that void.
Also, we ourselves should LOVE GOD. He deserves our love and devotion more than any human we will encounter on this Earth. Not only do we OWE Him our love, it is IN OUR BEST INTEREST to love Him. The peace and blessings that we will receive by loving God will outweigh the riches of this entire world.
May we all do our best to always not only remember, but to KEEP IN MIND the importance of love, and of unconditional acceptance, passionate love, affection, sacrifice, brotherly love, true love, Godly love, and charity.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Life Angles: LIFE Acronym #6 - Levels Impel Further Effort
LIFE Acronym #6:
"Levels Impel Further Effort"
Levels. Just what does this word mean in the context that I used it in with today's acronym? In consulting the dictionary as I often like to do, I saw a literal PLETHORA of definitions. But, it's definitions 15 and 16 under the noun section that apply to today's post. Have a gander at the literal meaning of the word "level":
lev·el
[lev-uh l]
- noun
15. a position in a graded scale of values; status; rank.
16. an extent, measure, or degree of intensity, achievement, etc.
I don't know what it is about levels, but by human nature, the minute we see any sort of "level" that is reachable, we are naturally impelled to strive to achieve it.
It works in Corporate America, it works in sales, it works in video games (think "leveling up"), and it works in Network Marketing.
Something inside of us relishes the opportunity to do something of accomplishment, and I think that a big part of it is recognition. People love to be recognized and acknowledged for the good things that they've done.
By nature people are more interested in their own lives than anyone else's, as was talked about in the book "How To Win Friends And Influence People".
Another reason that attainable levels motivates us is the inner satisfaction that we feel when we complete a difficult task.
In the Network Marketing business that I'm building right now, they recently talked about the growth between different teams and how it related to their goals. Two teams set 3-month goals. One team didn't set any goals. The two teams that set the goals grew 50% and 30% in those three months, and the one that didn't set any goals actually shrunk!
This relates not only to Network Marketing, but to life in general. We human beings are never static in our progression; we're dynamic. We're always doing one of two things: progressing, or digressing.
Typically, if you relax in your pursuits of self-betterment, you'll digress. Seeking progression needs to be a constant habit for you.
In many different types of organizations, the levels that are set serve as goals and landmarks; ways to impel further effort and track your progress.
But what about the places where there are no set "levels", "ranks", or "achievements"? What about life in general, or your own personal progression? There are no pre-set levels here.
And that is precisely the reason that goals are so important. Because there are generally no universal pre-set attainable levels in life, you have to set them up yourself.
Without a distant goal that you can see on the horizon, you have nothing specific to spur your positive action, nor anything to accurately track your progression.
It's the people who float along through life that never really accomplish very much, and never really have that much to show for themselves after their lives are spent.
I'm not technically saying that these people are bad people. If they chose that path, they still may well have been very good people.
But, here in this blog, we're not only talking about good vs. bad, we're talking about different types of people, and focusing on one certain type of person; the type of person who is not happy to simply relax and live life, but instead constantly hungers for progression and improvement.
Here in this blog, we're action and results-oriented people. But we don't focus on action and results blindly or without emotion. On the contrary, we feel a driving passion for the things that we do. We feel that our desire to better ourselves and make a difference in the world are some of our most powerful defining attributes.
So, please do not wait until New Year's day to set some meaningful goals for yourself. Do it now, and enjoy the results. But actually, before you begin to set some goals for yourself, I want to raise the odds that you will succeed.
Here are some simple steps that you can take in the goal-making process, to better ensure your success.
First of all, make sure that the goals you are setting inspire you rather than just motivate you. As you may remember from a recent post of mine, inspiration goes MUCH further than motivation, and is a much more powerful catalyst for action and change.
Secondly, make sure that your goal is realistic. Yes, set it high. But not so high that you have to completely ignore your family, friends, and responsibilities in order to reach it. Remember this rule: "stretch, don't stress". Your goal needs to stretch you, but not STRESS you. It needs to stretch you beyond your level of comfort, but not so far that you are freaking out and losing sleep over it.
Thirdly, have a time frame. If you do not have a time frame set, it's really not a goal at all, but instead is just a hope or a dream.
Fourth, set one big goal, but break it up into attainable and comprehensible steps. You need to see the stepping stones along the way to your destination. You need to clearly see HOW you will get there (think visualization). Also, make sure that there are time frames attached to these "sub goals" as well as the big goal.
And fifth, set up some form of accountability. You need a close friend or family member to report to. You need a mentor. Otherwise it's too easy for you to just forget about the goal. Publicize your intent as much as you can. It helps keep you accountable.
So there you have it. Now go and do it.
Always remember to fabricate "levels" in your life where they don't exist. Set up your own "levels", whatever that means to you, and however that applies to your situation.
To me, levels mean goals. Levels mean tracking progression and being responsible. And levels mean personal growth.
"Levels Impel Further Effort"
Levels. Just what does this word mean in the context that I used it in with today's acronym? In consulting the dictionary as I often like to do, I saw a literal PLETHORA of definitions. But, it's definitions 15 and 16 under the noun section that apply to today's post. Have a gander at the literal meaning of the word "level":
lev·el
[lev-uh l]
- noun
15. a position in a graded scale of values; status; rank.
16. an extent, measure, or degree of intensity, achievement, etc.
I don't know what it is about levels, but by human nature, the minute we see any sort of "level" that is reachable, we are naturally impelled to strive to achieve it.
It works in Corporate America, it works in sales, it works in video games (think "leveling up"), and it works in Network Marketing.
Something inside of us relishes the opportunity to do something of accomplishment, and I think that a big part of it is recognition. People love to be recognized and acknowledged for the good things that they've done.
By nature people are more interested in their own lives than anyone else's, as was talked about in the book "How To Win Friends And Influence People".
Another reason that attainable levels motivates us is the inner satisfaction that we feel when we complete a difficult task.
In the Network Marketing business that I'm building right now, they recently talked about the growth between different teams and how it related to their goals. Two teams set 3-month goals. One team didn't set any goals. The two teams that set the goals grew 50% and 30% in those three months, and the one that didn't set any goals actually shrunk!
This relates not only to Network Marketing, but to life in general. We human beings are never static in our progression; we're dynamic. We're always doing one of two things: progressing, or digressing.
Typically, if you relax in your pursuits of self-betterment, you'll digress. Seeking progression needs to be a constant habit for you.
In many different types of organizations, the levels that are set serve as goals and landmarks; ways to impel further effort and track your progress.
But what about the places where there are no set "levels", "ranks", or "achievements"? What about life in general, or your own personal progression? There are no pre-set levels here.
And that is precisely the reason that goals are so important. Because there are generally no universal pre-set attainable levels in life, you have to set them up yourself.
Without a distant goal that you can see on the horizon, you have nothing specific to spur your positive action, nor anything to accurately track your progression.
It's the people who float along through life that never really accomplish very much, and never really have that much to show for themselves after their lives are spent.
I'm not technically saying that these people are bad people. If they chose that path, they still may well have been very good people.
But, here in this blog, we're not only talking about good vs. bad, we're talking about different types of people, and focusing on one certain type of person; the type of person who is not happy to simply relax and live life, but instead constantly hungers for progression and improvement.
Here in this blog, we're action and results-oriented people. But we don't focus on action and results blindly or without emotion. On the contrary, we feel a driving passion for the things that we do. We feel that our desire to better ourselves and make a difference in the world are some of our most powerful defining attributes.
So, please do not wait until New Year's day to set some meaningful goals for yourself. Do it now, and enjoy the results. But actually, before you begin to set some goals for yourself, I want to raise the odds that you will succeed.
Here are some simple steps that you can take in the goal-making process, to better ensure your success.
First of all, make sure that the goals you are setting inspire you rather than just motivate you. As you may remember from a recent post of mine, inspiration goes MUCH further than motivation, and is a much more powerful catalyst for action and change.
Secondly, make sure that your goal is realistic. Yes, set it high. But not so high that you have to completely ignore your family, friends, and responsibilities in order to reach it. Remember this rule: "stretch, don't stress". Your goal needs to stretch you, but not STRESS you. It needs to stretch you beyond your level of comfort, but not so far that you are freaking out and losing sleep over it.
Thirdly, have a time frame. If you do not have a time frame set, it's really not a goal at all, but instead is just a hope or a dream.
Fourth, set one big goal, but break it up into attainable and comprehensible steps. You need to see the stepping stones along the way to your destination. You need to clearly see HOW you will get there (think visualization). Also, make sure that there are time frames attached to these "sub goals" as well as the big goal.
And fifth, set up some form of accountability. You need a close friend or family member to report to. You need a mentor. Otherwise it's too easy for you to just forget about the goal. Publicize your intent as much as you can. It helps keep you accountable.
So there you have it. Now go and do it.
Always remember to fabricate "levels" in your life where they don't exist. Set up your own "levels", whatever that means to you, and however that applies to your situation.
To me, levels mean goals. Levels mean tracking progression and being responsible. And levels mean personal growth.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Life Angles: LIFE Acronym #5 - Lame Infomercials Fill Evenings
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.
"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.
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?"
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