PURPOSE
Producing
Ultimate
Rewards
Produces
Our
Self-respect
Effectively
PLEASURE
Pain
Leaves
Eventually
And
Serenity
Unfolds
Refreshing
Everyone
PEACE
Practicing
Effective
Attitudes
Calms
Everyone
ADAPT
Always
Developing
Attitudes
Providing
Trust
HABITS
Harmful
Actions
Blindly
Injuring
Thoughts’n
Success
DESIRE
Does
Everyone
Strive
In
Reaching
Excellence
GOALS
Goodness
Only
Awaits
Labor—
Start
FACT
Finding
Actual
Circumstances
True
SOUL
Source
Of
Unconditional
Love |
Do you think it might be time to have a checkup
from the neck up with the person who is currently
wearing your clothes? Would you agree that we
spend most of our lives trying to determine what to
change in our everyday existence? Is there anything
you would like to change in your life that would
help you balance your purpose, pleasure, and
peace of mind?
One absolute in our lives is that change is constant
whether we like it or not. Our self-satisfaction
is usually in direct correlation to our ability to
adapt to change. We need to remember that the
only way to achieve permanent change is to be
willing to change permanently.
Consider that a fifty year old has spent half a
million hours developing habits. If some of these
habits aren’t precisely what they should be, altering
them can be a daunting task. It can be difficult to accept
that our first goal must be a desire to change.
Let’s examine the correlation between desire and goals. If you were asked a simple question
such as, “Can you run a marathon, all 26.2 miles,
six months from now?” you would probably say
something like, “Not me . . . I could never do that!
As a matter of fact, I think driving that far is tough
enough!”
What if I mentioned to you, “I’d like to tell
you about a project an extremely wealthy friend of
mine is developing? This fellow is very interested in studying the health benefits people receive from
long-distance running. He will be hiring people to
train and run a marathon in under five hours. Are
you interested?”
Oh, you say, you are not interested. Well, maybe
I should mention that this rich friend lives near
Seattle, Washington, and helped start a software
company that has placed him at the very top of a
list of the wealthiest people in the world. Still not
interested?
Apparently I neglected to mention the benefits
package. He will provide you with all the necessities
for the workouts—trainers, massage therapists,
shoes, clothing, lodging, meals, transportation,
etc., plus give you a wage commensurate with
your current salary. Not interested?
Oh, I neglected to mention that he will pay all
expenses for your friends and family to visit you at
your training site as often as they like during your
workout time. Not interested?
I forgot to mention that your work week will average
about two hours per day on the island of
Maui, Hawaii, or any place else in the world you select.
Still not interested?
What if I mentioned that my rich friend will
hand you a check for ten million dollars as you cross
the finish line of the marathon? Now are you interested?
Are you beginning to have a more thorough
understanding of the correlation between your desires
and your goals?
The first requirement to effect change is to develop
a desire to change. That’s up to you. The first
step is your acceptance of your need for change.
This is much easier if you can establish your vision to realize the value in your pursuits. Bingo! Life becomes
much more challenging and rewarding;
boredom is over.
I am very proud to say that I have completed
four marathons. The training began when I was
forty-five years old. A hereditary back disease has
put my running on hold for a while. I’m not training
again . . . yet.
By far the toughest part of training for
marathons is that first step. I’m talking about that
first step to get out of bed to prepare to go out the
door to run. Let’s hope that you now want to take
that first step in your life to change the habits that
negatively ground you and impede your progress
toward reaching your desired level of success.
Analyzing and recognizing the habits we hope
to change is the first huge step toward actual
change. Remember, if you are going to train for the
marathon of a fulfilling and happy life, you have to
accept the fact that your feet need to leave that
nice cozy, comfy bed.
William James (1842–1910), an American psychologist,
said, “The greatest discovery of my generation
is that a human being can alter his life by
altering his attitudes of mind.”
Let’s take a look at some aspects of our lives to
see what we might change to help us attain our
purpose, pleasure, and peace of mind. One complicated,
threatening thread that entwines most of our
societies is summed up in one word: negativism.
Have you considered that you might be allergic
to negativism? I am! After serving as a high-school
choir director and a district administrator for four
decades, I’m certain of that fact. I have concluded that habits of negative thought patterns and
speech patterns are the basis for most of our personal
unhappiness and the conflicts we create. |
