LIFE Acronym #10:
"Lightning Is Flashing Everywhere"
We are in monsoon season, and I so enjoyed this past Sunday's storm. I was just earlier today lamenting the fact that the news said that we should have no more storms for a while.
But tonight, I was pleasantly surprised to see the lit-up sky proving that the radio was wrong. Or perhaps I had heard them wrong. I wasn't listening really closely anyway...
As I arrived home this evening, the main thing on my mind was that I still needed to write today's post. So I figured that I'd go outside on the back porch and enjoy the weather as I write. Since I've been out here, I've been the happy beholder of some pretty awesome displays.
As I was sifting through my list of LIFE acronyms to decide which one I was going to use for today's post, I saw the acronym "Lightning Is Flashing Everywhere". "Ah-hah!", I thought. "This is the PERFECT acronym for today's post!"
Now that I have today's acronym, it's time to figure out what I'm going to write about it. So I've been sitting here, just watching the beautiful designs that this storm is drawing across the sky, and waiting to be inspired.
In the meantime, I did a little research on lightning. Apparently, lightning reaches 50,000º Fahrenheit! That is more than 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun (which is 9,940º F)!!!
Lightning is one of nature's most beautiful sights, but it is also one of nature's most deadly forces.
Around 1,000 people per year get struck by lightning in the U.S., and roughly one tenth of those people are killed by the strike.
To us, lightning is something that we see only every once in a while. But the entity called Planet Earth knows no break from it.
The Earth as a whole is struck approximately 100 times per second! This isn't hard to believe, considering that there are about 2,000 active thunderstorms at any given moment worldwide.
It's incredible to think about the intense buildup of positively- and negatively-charged electrons within a cloud system.
A typical lightning strike contains about one trillion watts, which is all released in just a tenth of a second! And the channel that houses this immense transfer of energy is only as wide as a pencil! It appears much wider to us because of the immense light that is created by the transfer.
On average, each lightning bold transfers 10 to the twentieth power electrons! That's 100 QUINTILLION, or 100,000,000,000,000,000,000! In case you don't know how much 100 quintillion is, let me break it down for you.
One million is 1 thousand thousand, one billion is 1 thousand million, one trillion is 1 thousand billion, one quadrillion is 1 thousand trillion, and one quintillion is 1 thousand quadrillion. Then you multiply THAT by 100 to get 100 quintillion!
The air around this bolt of one hundred quintillion electrons is super-heated to the point of explosion, which causes a physical shockwave and therefore the loud boom that makes our pet dogs put their tails between their legs.
This sound wave of pushed air is so powerful that it can damage structures and people who are too close to it.
Oh man, there went a HUGE one!!! It was a cloud-to cloud strike, and it veered all across the sky above my head!
I'm on my outdoor recliner holding my iPhone up as I read and write, so I won't miss any of the lightning shows. It's only lightly sprinkling, so I must be just on the edge of the storm. This is the perfect way to observe lightning! I couldn't have asked for a better setup!
All of my readings about lightning, while sitting here and seeing these truly AWESOME displays as I read, have given me a solemn, sobering, and humble feeling.
I can only think of the majesty of God's power and all of His creations. We humans feel so powerful and domineering over the elements and animals of this world. We feel like we are in charge. We feel like we are the rulers of everything.
We build huge sky scrapers, dig deep pits, make massive and powerful machines, fly all around the planet in our super-fast planes, create floating cities (aircraft carriers and cruise ships) that hold thousands of people, and communicate instantaneously using our electronics that bounce invisible signals off of satellites that we have put in geosynchronous orbit.
But even with all of our masterful dominance over the elements of this world, our ability still pales prodigiously in comparison to God's power. I'd like to see us humans try to recreate and control a thunderstorm!
It's almost as if God gave the Earth thunderstorms to constantly remind us of our nothingness before Him.
He created ALL of this! He controls it! The elements are all at His command, and are perfectly obedient to Him. These elements that we so proudly manipulate, are in fact perfectly humble examples for us.
The elements bend to our will if we follow their rules. They submit to our control and our desires. But they wield the power to destroy us!
It's true, the elements are an important part of God's creations. But we are a step above them in importance. We are His children, created in His image; the rightful heirs of all of the glory that He possesses! But we would do well to remember the example of the elements.
The next time that I feel a tinge of human pride coming on, I will do my best to remember the powerful, obedient elements that form lightning, and to remember God's power, the very power through which He allows me to accomplish anything of value that I ever accomplish.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Life Angles: LIFE Acronym #9 - Let Individuality Flourish Evermore
LIFE Acronym #9:
"Let Individuality Flourish Evermore"
Individuality is the antithesis of conformity. I am a non-conformist to the nth degree, and therefore believe in individuality passionately. I don't like following the crowd. I like to be assertive and think for myself, and determine my own paradigms based less on social pressure and more on the logic and emotions of my mind. I am not afraid to vivaciously and aggressively fly in the face of social pressure. I will do what I feel is best, or what the heterogeneous processes of my individual mind lead me to DECIDE to do.
Everyone sees the world differently. Everyone's reality is only the paradigms that they BELIEVE at that moment, and these structural codes of the mind are what cause people to act the way that they do. Please keep in mind that when someone believes something, their mind actually latches onto it with more force than the powerful adductor muscles that hold a clam's shell together! Like the determined strength of a Gila Monster's jaw, the human mind does not easily let go when it bites down onto what it believes.
People see only what their mind interprets. Think of the mind and senses as an algorithm. The algorithm is the bridge between the senses and the mind. This algorithm takes raw data that was compiled by our senses, and turns it into something that the mind can understand. In mathematics, if you change one of the variables in the algorithm, the algorithm will spit out a completely different answer. The same holds true with the algorithm of the mind. These variables in the mind's algorithm correspond to the different ways that our minds interpret things.
Our minds typically interpret the world around us based upon our past experiences. And since everyone has had different experiences shape their current perspectives and realities, that means that our minds have different variables set in the algorithms that interpret what our senses bring to our minds. If there are different interpreting algorithms going on in different people's minds, the end results will look vastly different. Those end results are people's realities and beliefs.
When two people see two different realities, one or both people often simply cannot understand the other person. This is because, as I mentioned earlier, their mind is vigorously latched onto their own perspective; their reality.
Now let me talk a bit about the symbols and sounds that we attach to the many things in this world that our minds can comprehend. These symbols are words, and sometimes graphics, diagrams, or signs. And the sounds are spoken words, sound effects, grumbles and grunts, sighs, yelps, and various other auditory signals that can be interpreted by the mind.
When we learn a language, all that we are really doing is learning the symbols and sounds that have been attached to things. Words bring to our minds and spirits a recognition of the object or idea that the word has been linked to in our language. Words are the links between our intangible spirits and the natural world.
Everything has a definition and an identity that our spirits are either already familiar with, or will learn upon our first interaction or encounter with that thing. Most of the obviously recognizable things, ideas, and aspects of the known universe have already had words (and by extension, sounds) attached to them by the architects of the English Language.
But it is YOUR OWN SPIRIT that adds a deeper, more specific-to-you meaning to the aforementioned symbols and sounds. Many spoken or written words actually have a slightly different meaning for different people. To illustrate this concept, let me remind you of the varying attitudes that different people have toward things.
Imagine two people. One person has had a terrible experience with a certain food. Perhaps it made them sick or they were allergic. But, in stark contrast, another person delights in even the thought of that food.
Upon hearing the word that corresponds to that item of food, it may conjure up within the first person a plethora of negative feelings and perhaps even detestation toward the food that is being referred to. Yet, if the second person hears or reads the word that corresponds to that food, they may smile, close their eyes, and relish the delectable memories of having enjoyed it before.
I grew up having a garden, and having plentiful greens available and used often. Just the thought of stewed beet greens or stewed spinach makes my mouth water. I always add primarily lemon and salt, and sometimes butter and/or a little vinegar. I can eat that stuff by the plateful. Oh man, I'm craving it right now just thinking about it! But, does the thought of stewed beet greens or stewed spinach bring the same thoughts to your mind? Probably not. The texture is not exactly romantic. You may even dislike the taste. But I love it.
These differing opinions, preferences, and tastes between separate people are what we call INDIVIDUALITY. It is those differences that we should be honoring, not mocking or trying to change. Each person's experiences are sacred to them, and as such demand respect. There are so many different directions that I can go with this idea!
For one, think about the many people that have vastly differing opinions than you do. Don't you know people who are just wired completely differently than you are? We all do. It's important to recognize that just because a word, thought, concept, or idea means something to you, does not mean that there is something inherently wrong with someone who views things completely differently. When there is someone in your life like that, you have to both be mature enough to respect each other's viewpoints, and accept the fact that you are simply wired differently.
The hard part comes when someone is so vehemently fixated to an idea that they see it as unadulterated truth, and therefore by default see people with differing viewpoints as misled, mistaken, and misguided. There truly is absolute truth out there, and finding it should be the highest quest of every intelligent being.
But, absolute truth is not available in every situation. Some situations are simply a matter of preference. This is true even if one party sees their side as absolute truth, and blindly assumes that it must therefore apply to every single other human being or person in a similar circumstance.
This abrasive intersection between the ideals of two people can be a source of much frustration. Close your eyes and determine whether or not you have been on the blind side of this scenario in one of the relationships in your life. If you currently are, for the sake of the other person, please stop. Do you really know beyond any fleck of doubt that your idea is pure truth? If you are not sure, then just relax a bit! Let the other person live their life, experience things for themselves, and take the path that they feel is best for them. Let them exercise their God-given, inalienable right to be DIFFERENT! Let them be an individual.
I'm not asking you to simply refrain from hounding them about things that you see are wrong with them. I'm asking you to do some internal work, and TRULY ACCEPT THEM for who they are, and accept that their decisions and viewpoints are their own right. I'm asking you to get rid of any overtones that suggest that you feel that they are mistaken and need to change. This ESPECIALLY applies if they look up to you, respect you, or deep down yearn for your approval.
Some people follow the obvious path, which is perfectly fine to do in most cases. But, some people BLAZE THEIR OWN PATHS, and go against the grain of the "acceptable norm". That is okay for them to do also. In fact, it may even be a divinely-inspired path for them that will help to effectuate some small or large part of God's plans for us, His children here upon the Earth.
I'd like to delve a little bit more into the idea of ACCEPTING someone who you are close to, even if you feel that they are mistaken. The fundamental longing to feel accepted by those we love is among one of human-kind's most basic needs. Would you deny someone that? Would you starve someone you love of a basic human need?
Love them; love them and appreciate them. Accept them for the person that they are. This directive applies even if they are indeed wrong, and even if they are in fact misled to choose the wrong choice in a given situation.
There are three types of choices in this world:
1. There are arbitrary, discretionary choices that are inconsequential.
2. There are right choices.
3. And there are wrong choices.
Right choices correlate to truth, and wrong choices are correlated to error. Discretionary choices correlate to neither truth nor error. It is our job to do our best to discern which category a given choice fits into FOR US. And it is our job to love and accept everyone, NO MATTER WHICH OF THE THREE CHOICES THEY CHOOSE. This does not mean that we are required to condone. I only said ACCEPT. That means that you value them as a person, and you respect their choices. It means that you do not force your ideals and perceptions upon them.
Now, I want to talk a little about tact. It's interesting to note the 4 different conditions that can exist when someone makes a choice:
1. Someone can pick a right choice knowingly.
2. Someone can pick a right choice unknowingly.
3. Someone can pick a wrong choice knowingly.
4. Someone can pick a wrong choice unknowingly.
Sometimes, deep down inside, someone may know the right choice, and still pick the other choice because they are in DENIAL. But their awareness of a choice's classification is not a prerequisite for our acceptance of them as a person. And once again, I'm not just talking about "lip service" here. I'm talking about TRULY accepting them and their choices and chosen paths, and not trying to change them.
Imagine how important this is among familiar relationships. A "familiar relationship" is a close relationship, and this especially applies to family. In fact, the word "familiar" originated from the word "family", because within families you have some of the closest relationships. You are intimately "familiar" with your own family. A family is a close-knit group of INDIVIDUALS. They all generally work for a common goal, and have the same basic needs, but may go about things in completely different ways.
It is so important to be accepting of your family and closest friends. Do your best not to argue with them. If you are talking about a subject that you know you both have vastly differing opinions about, please remember tact, and keep in mind the difference between "fact" and "opinion".
Many a high-spirited argument could have been avoided by simply correctly classifying the subjects under examination as "opinion". But this only works if BOTH parties agree that it is opinion, and consciously feel that it is important to accept other people, even when they have differing points of view.
One other point about tact that I want to make is the power of your choice of words. Think of the words "In my opinion". These are some pacifying words, wouldn't you say?
Use them, and they just may smooth over any abrasive relationships that you have in your life right now. When you use those words, you are highlighting the fact that you are an INDIVIDUAL, and are not simply a drone or a lemming that is required to fit a mold or follow a certain path.
When you say the words "In my opinion", "I believe", or "I feel", you are referring only to yourself, and are not projecting any of your ideas onto the other person. These words disarm. It is when you present things as absolute truth that the person you're presenting to may feel guarded, attacked, or vulnerable. If they don't agree with your point of view, they will feel that you are correcting them and not accepting them. And when that happens, you are depleting a vital need from their emotional tank.
As a summary, I want to remind you that just because I am aware of these principles does not mean that I follow them perfectly. I need to remind myself of these things just as you do, and I hope that today's post has taught you something useful, or reminded you of something that you already knew.
"Let Individuality Flourish Evermore"
Individuality is the antithesis of conformity. I am a non-conformist to the nth degree, and therefore believe in individuality passionately. I don't like following the crowd. I like to be assertive and think for myself, and determine my own paradigms based less on social pressure and more on the logic and emotions of my mind. I am not afraid to vivaciously and aggressively fly in the face of social pressure. I will do what I feel is best, or what the heterogeneous processes of my individual mind lead me to DECIDE to do.
Everyone sees the world differently. Everyone's reality is only the paradigms that they BELIEVE at that moment, and these structural codes of the mind are what cause people to act the way that they do. Please keep in mind that when someone believes something, their mind actually latches onto it with more force than the powerful adductor muscles that hold a clam's shell together! Like the determined strength of a Gila Monster's jaw, the human mind does not easily let go when it bites down onto what it believes.
People see only what their mind interprets. Think of the mind and senses as an algorithm. The algorithm is the bridge between the senses and the mind. This algorithm takes raw data that was compiled by our senses, and turns it into something that the mind can understand. In mathematics, if you change one of the variables in the algorithm, the algorithm will spit out a completely different answer. The same holds true with the algorithm of the mind. These variables in the mind's algorithm correspond to the different ways that our minds interpret things.
Our minds typically interpret the world around us based upon our past experiences. And since everyone has had different experiences shape their current perspectives and realities, that means that our minds have different variables set in the algorithms that interpret what our senses bring to our minds. If there are different interpreting algorithms going on in different people's minds, the end results will look vastly different. Those end results are people's realities and beliefs.
When two people see two different realities, one or both people often simply cannot understand the other person. This is because, as I mentioned earlier, their mind is vigorously latched onto their own perspective; their reality.
Now let me talk a bit about the symbols and sounds that we attach to the many things in this world that our minds can comprehend. These symbols are words, and sometimes graphics, diagrams, or signs. And the sounds are spoken words, sound effects, grumbles and grunts, sighs, yelps, and various other auditory signals that can be interpreted by the mind.
When we learn a language, all that we are really doing is learning the symbols and sounds that have been attached to things. Words bring to our minds and spirits a recognition of the object or idea that the word has been linked to in our language. Words are the links between our intangible spirits and the natural world.
Everything has a definition and an identity that our spirits are either already familiar with, or will learn upon our first interaction or encounter with that thing. Most of the obviously recognizable things, ideas, and aspects of the known universe have already had words (and by extension, sounds) attached to them by the architects of the English Language.
But it is YOUR OWN SPIRIT that adds a deeper, more specific-to-you meaning to the aforementioned symbols and sounds. Many spoken or written words actually have a slightly different meaning for different people. To illustrate this concept, let me remind you of the varying attitudes that different people have toward things.
Imagine two people. One person has had a terrible experience with a certain food. Perhaps it made them sick or they were allergic. But, in stark contrast, another person delights in even the thought of that food.
Upon hearing the word that corresponds to that item of food, it may conjure up within the first person a plethora of negative feelings and perhaps even detestation toward the food that is being referred to. Yet, if the second person hears or reads the word that corresponds to that food, they may smile, close their eyes, and relish the delectable memories of having enjoyed it before.
I grew up having a garden, and having plentiful greens available and used often. Just the thought of stewed beet greens or stewed spinach makes my mouth water. I always add primarily lemon and salt, and sometimes butter and/or a little vinegar. I can eat that stuff by the plateful. Oh man, I'm craving it right now just thinking about it! But, does the thought of stewed beet greens or stewed spinach bring the same thoughts to your mind? Probably not. The texture is not exactly romantic. You may even dislike the taste. But I love it.
These differing opinions, preferences, and tastes between separate people are what we call INDIVIDUALITY. It is those differences that we should be honoring, not mocking or trying to change. Each person's experiences are sacred to them, and as such demand respect. There are so many different directions that I can go with this idea!
For one, think about the many people that have vastly differing opinions than you do. Don't you know people who are just wired completely differently than you are? We all do. It's important to recognize that just because a word, thought, concept, or idea means something to you, does not mean that there is something inherently wrong with someone who views things completely differently. When there is someone in your life like that, you have to both be mature enough to respect each other's viewpoints, and accept the fact that you are simply wired differently.
The hard part comes when someone is so vehemently fixated to an idea that they see it as unadulterated truth, and therefore by default see people with differing viewpoints as misled, mistaken, and misguided. There truly is absolute truth out there, and finding it should be the highest quest of every intelligent being.
But, absolute truth is not available in every situation. Some situations are simply a matter of preference. This is true even if one party sees their side as absolute truth, and blindly assumes that it must therefore apply to every single other human being or person in a similar circumstance.
This abrasive intersection between the ideals of two people can be a source of much frustration. Close your eyes and determine whether or not you have been on the blind side of this scenario in one of the relationships in your life. If you currently are, for the sake of the other person, please stop. Do you really know beyond any fleck of doubt that your idea is pure truth? If you are not sure, then just relax a bit! Let the other person live their life, experience things for themselves, and take the path that they feel is best for them. Let them exercise their God-given, inalienable right to be DIFFERENT! Let them be an individual.
I'm not asking you to simply refrain from hounding them about things that you see are wrong with them. I'm asking you to do some internal work, and TRULY ACCEPT THEM for who they are, and accept that their decisions and viewpoints are their own right. I'm asking you to get rid of any overtones that suggest that you feel that they are mistaken and need to change. This ESPECIALLY applies if they look up to you, respect you, or deep down yearn for your approval.
Some people follow the obvious path, which is perfectly fine to do in most cases. But, some people BLAZE THEIR OWN PATHS, and go against the grain of the "acceptable norm". That is okay for them to do also. In fact, it may even be a divinely-inspired path for them that will help to effectuate some small or large part of God's plans for us, His children here upon the Earth.
I'd like to delve a little bit more into the idea of ACCEPTING someone who you are close to, even if you feel that they are mistaken. The fundamental longing to feel accepted by those we love is among one of human-kind's most basic needs. Would you deny someone that? Would you starve someone you love of a basic human need?
Love them; love them and appreciate them. Accept them for the person that they are. This directive applies even if they are indeed wrong, and even if they are in fact misled to choose the wrong choice in a given situation.
There are three types of choices in this world:
1. There are arbitrary, discretionary choices that are inconsequential.
2. There are right choices.
3. And there are wrong choices.
Right choices correlate to truth, and wrong choices are correlated to error. Discretionary choices correlate to neither truth nor error. It is our job to do our best to discern which category a given choice fits into FOR US. And it is our job to love and accept everyone, NO MATTER WHICH OF THE THREE CHOICES THEY CHOOSE. This does not mean that we are required to condone. I only said ACCEPT. That means that you value them as a person, and you respect their choices. It means that you do not force your ideals and perceptions upon them.
Now, I want to talk a little about tact. It's interesting to note the 4 different conditions that can exist when someone makes a choice:
1. Someone can pick a right choice knowingly.
2. Someone can pick a right choice unknowingly.
3. Someone can pick a wrong choice knowingly.
4. Someone can pick a wrong choice unknowingly.
Sometimes, deep down inside, someone may know the right choice, and still pick the other choice because they are in DENIAL. But their awareness of a choice's classification is not a prerequisite for our acceptance of them as a person. And once again, I'm not just talking about "lip service" here. I'm talking about TRULY accepting them and their choices and chosen paths, and not trying to change them.
Imagine how important this is among familiar relationships. A "familiar relationship" is a close relationship, and this especially applies to family. In fact, the word "familiar" originated from the word "family", because within families you have some of the closest relationships. You are intimately "familiar" with your own family. A family is a close-knit group of INDIVIDUALS. They all generally work for a common goal, and have the same basic needs, but may go about things in completely different ways.
It is so important to be accepting of your family and closest friends. Do your best not to argue with them. If you are talking about a subject that you know you both have vastly differing opinions about, please remember tact, and keep in mind the difference between "fact" and "opinion".
Many a high-spirited argument could have been avoided by simply correctly classifying the subjects under examination as "opinion". But this only works if BOTH parties agree that it is opinion, and consciously feel that it is important to accept other people, even when they have differing points of view.
One other point about tact that I want to make is the power of your choice of words. Think of the words "In my opinion". These are some pacifying words, wouldn't you say?
Use them, and they just may smooth over any abrasive relationships that you have in your life right now. When you use those words, you are highlighting the fact that you are an INDIVIDUAL, and are not simply a drone or a lemming that is required to fit a mold or follow a certain path.
When you say the words "In my opinion", "I believe", or "I feel", you are referring only to yourself, and are not projecting any of your ideas onto the other person. These words disarm. It is when you present things as absolute truth that the person you're presenting to may feel guarded, attacked, or vulnerable. If they don't agree with your point of view, they will feel that you are correcting them and not accepting them. And when that happens, you are depleting a vital need from their emotional tank.
As a summary, I want to remind you that just because I am aware of these principles does not mean that I follow them perfectly. I need to remind myself of these things just as you do, and I hope that today's post has taught you something useful, or reminded you of something that you already knew.
Life Angles: LIFE Acronym #8 - Let's Increasingly Follow Examples
LIFE Acronym #8:
"Let's Increasingly Follow Examples"
I wrote this post on August 1st, but had internet problems when trying to post it, so that is why it is showing up on August 2nd rather than August 1st. On with the post...
In this life, for the most part we are all just doing our best to try to "figure things out". It's all about making the right decisions as much as possible, and learning from the wrong decisions that we make.
When we make decisions for ourselves, we typically draw on our own CURRENT reservoir of knowledge and experience in order to direct our actions, and ascertain what we feel is the best decision in a given circumstance.
But, we are not alone in our quest to "figure things out", and we would do well to remind ourselves of that. If our decisions were based solely upon our own experiences, it would be nothing but trial and error, the school of hard knocks, and learning from our own examples. But, luckily we do have another source of information to draw upon.
Look at the many people who have come before us and written about their experiences. Look at all of the books, articles, seminars and classes that have been written and prepared so that WE could benefit from the experience of others.
What is it about the obstinate nature of the mind that makes so many of us (and ESPECIALLY the young) want to just jump into things and learn for ourselves?
Is it our strong desire to do the thing even though something inside of us says that it's probably not the best idea? Is it our blind assumption that we are right, and that the voice of warning that we keep hearing from others is wrong?
Do we think that those people are just misled, and that their ideas don't apply to "our specific situation"? There is indeed a possibility that our own ideas of a situation are the more accurate of the two. But what if that is not the case?
If we will look at the situation objectively and with a researcher's eye, we will see more clearly through the dust of our own minds and to the truth that lies hidden at the core of the situation. Another way to do this is through the help of divine guidance. But that is a subject that demands an entire post of its own.
Right now we are talking about following the lessons learned by others, in order to help us make better and more informed decisions for ourselves.
In order to decide between our own ideas and the ideas of others, we have to BE AWARE of what others' ideas are. How can we expect to be guided by the wisdom of those who have gone before, if we are not even respectful enough to take the time to hear what they have to say?!
Imagine that you decided to go on an exploratory expedition to the heart of a dangerous, faraway jungle. This jungle would be full of bugs, plants, creatures, beasts, and other dangers that you are NOT familiar with. Would you just charge in headlong and determine to "figure it out for yourself"? Or would you feel that it would be a better idea to hire a native guide who grew up there?
A guide would be familiar with how to navigate the vast, treacherous expanses of unpredictable wilderness, how to find food and potable water, how to find places to safely sleep, how to avoid poisonous plants, bugs, reptiles and other creatures, and how to steer clear of the powerful beasts that would lay waste to the structure of your bones and pierce the skin that holds your life-giving blood in.
Life can sometimes be similar to that perilous jungle. But there are guides available for hire, if we seek them. We can find divine prophetic admonitions in God's word that will help to steer us right and protect us, if we will heed their wisdom.
We can also supplement God's word with the many books that can be found at our local bookstores, and online. I'm not only talking about religious books here, although in my opionion the hierarchy of importance goes thus:
First scriptures, then religious books, then personal development/self-help books, then classic literature, then entertainment books.
There is so much to be learned in the many books that are available for us to read. The experts who have braved the paths before us are ready and eager to be our teachers, and to accept us as their newest pupils. And the way to enroll in their metaphorical classes is to READ THEIR BOOKS!
The more truth that we know, the better will be the decisions that we make. So please, take a guide into that jungle with you. Do not assume that you "have it all figured out".
Now I want to talk briefly about another angle on the word "example"; perhaps the more obvious one. What does the term "good example" mean to you? Here's what it means to me:
Good Example: A good example is what we should strive to be, and what we should have the strength to follow.
We should strive to be the best examples that we can for others, and we should be strong and mature enough to follow the good examples that other people set.
When we set a good example, we start a chain that may never end. One person may see our example and be inspired to follow it. That person then becomes another good example, and someone else may see their good example and decide to follow it as well. This chain of good examples can continue on to affect countless lives. And it was all because we had the foresight to realize that what we do matters!
What others see us do REALLY DOES MATTER. Please do not think that you are the only person who is affected by your decisions.
Your decisions echo on into eternity, to be recorded in the eternal book. Your decisions ripple through the world to touch the lives of others. And your decisions may even one day powerfully reverberate through the annals of history, to be seen by countless souls to come.
"Let's Increasingly Follow Examples"
I wrote this post on August 1st, but had internet problems when trying to post it, so that is why it is showing up on August 2nd rather than August 1st. On with the post...
In this life, for the most part we are all just doing our best to try to "figure things out". It's all about making the right decisions as much as possible, and learning from the wrong decisions that we make.
When we make decisions for ourselves, we typically draw on our own CURRENT reservoir of knowledge and experience in order to direct our actions, and ascertain what we feel is the best decision in a given circumstance.
But, we are not alone in our quest to "figure things out", and we would do well to remind ourselves of that. If our decisions were based solely upon our own experiences, it would be nothing but trial and error, the school of hard knocks, and learning from our own examples. But, luckily we do have another source of information to draw upon.
Look at the many people who have come before us and written about their experiences. Look at all of the books, articles, seminars and classes that have been written and prepared so that WE could benefit from the experience of others.
What is it about the obstinate nature of the mind that makes so many of us (and ESPECIALLY the young) want to just jump into things and learn for ourselves?
Is it our strong desire to do the thing even though something inside of us says that it's probably not the best idea? Is it our blind assumption that we are right, and that the voice of warning that we keep hearing from others is wrong?
Do we think that those people are just misled, and that their ideas don't apply to "our specific situation"? There is indeed a possibility that our own ideas of a situation are the more accurate of the two. But what if that is not the case?
If we will look at the situation objectively and with a researcher's eye, we will see more clearly through the dust of our own minds and to the truth that lies hidden at the core of the situation. Another way to do this is through the help of divine guidance. But that is a subject that demands an entire post of its own.
Right now we are talking about following the lessons learned by others, in order to help us make better and more informed decisions for ourselves.
In order to decide between our own ideas and the ideas of others, we have to BE AWARE of what others' ideas are. How can we expect to be guided by the wisdom of those who have gone before, if we are not even respectful enough to take the time to hear what they have to say?!
Imagine that you decided to go on an exploratory expedition to the heart of a dangerous, faraway jungle. This jungle would be full of bugs, plants, creatures, beasts, and other dangers that you are NOT familiar with. Would you just charge in headlong and determine to "figure it out for yourself"? Or would you feel that it would be a better idea to hire a native guide who grew up there?
A guide would be familiar with how to navigate the vast, treacherous expanses of unpredictable wilderness, how to find food and potable water, how to find places to safely sleep, how to avoid poisonous plants, bugs, reptiles and other creatures, and how to steer clear of the powerful beasts that would lay waste to the structure of your bones and pierce the skin that holds your life-giving blood in.
Life can sometimes be similar to that perilous jungle. But there are guides available for hire, if we seek them. We can find divine prophetic admonitions in God's word that will help to steer us right and protect us, if we will heed their wisdom.
We can also supplement God's word with the many books that can be found at our local bookstores, and online. I'm not only talking about religious books here, although in my opionion the hierarchy of importance goes thus:
First scriptures, then religious books, then personal development/self-help books, then classic literature, then entertainment books.
There is so much to be learned in the many books that are available for us to read. The experts who have braved the paths before us are ready and eager to be our teachers, and to accept us as their newest pupils. And the way to enroll in their metaphorical classes is to READ THEIR BOOKS!
The more truth that we know, the better will be the decisions that we make. So please, take a guide into that jungle with you. Do not assume that you "have it all figured out".
Now I want to talk briefly about another angle on the word "example"; perhaps the more obvious one. What does the term "good example" mean to you? Here's what it means to me:
Good Example: A good example is what we should strive to be, and what we should have the strength to follow.
We should strive to be the best examples that we can for others, and we should be strong and mature enough to follow the good examples that other people set.
When we set a good example, we start a chain that may never end. One person may see our example and be inspired to follow it. That person then becomes another good example, and someone else may see their good example and decide to follow it as well. This chain of good examples can continue on to affect countless lives. And it was all because we had the foresight to realize that what we do matters!
What others see us do REALLY DOES MATTER. Please do not think that you are the only person who is affected by your decisions.
Your decisions echo on into eternity, to be recorded in the eternal book. Your decisions ripple through the world to touch the lives of others. And your decisions may even one day powerfully reverberate through the annals of history, to be seen by countless souls to come.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Life Angles: LIFE Acronym #7 - Love Is For Everyone
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.
"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.
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.
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