In Live Present, Look Forward… I noted that Seneca said…
- “Putting things off is the biggest waste of life: it snatches away each day as it comes, and denies us the present by promising the future. The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what lies in Fortune’s control, and abandoning what lies in yours. What are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately.”
As August unfolds, and diving ever more into my own Conscious Change, I find myself pondering on Certainty Amidst Change. I find myself wondering on what would a greater practice of Charity with myself and others look like. What would Boldly Caring look like for me?
So much change is out of our control. Epictetus spoke to the chief task in Life being about determining that for which we have no control and that for which we do… and focusing our energies on the latter.
I suggest that we do have control over our practice of Character. We do have control over our choice on Purpose. We have control over who we intend to BE, and where we are intent on placing our energies.
That requires reflection. The balance of August for me will be about such reflection and the results from same. Ahead of September, I intend to borrow a page from Merlin Olsen with his Mission Statement…
- “The focus of my life begins at home with family, loved ones and friends. I want to use my resources to create a secure environment that fosters love, learning, laughter and mutual success. I will protect and value integrity. I will admit and quickly correct my mistakes. I will be a self-starter. I will be a caring person. I will be a good listener with an open mind. I will continue to grow and learn. I will facilitate and celebrate the success of others.”
… and get Boldly Caring about what ultimately matters most. As Shoghi Effendi said, “There is no time to lose. There is no room left for vacillation.” In living our best and most noble Life, it matters to matter. Our lives count. Call it a mission.
Barry Lewis Green, The Unity Guy with Epic Engage.
CONSIDER
Developing Leadership Character – Ivey Business Journal
“Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.” ― Anne Frank