Readers may wonder why I’ve posted this list of behaviours + traits to develop within our individual characters. There’s nothing new here …this simple method of personal self-discipline + relating to others as you would wish for yourself has been extolled by every philosopher + ‘pop’ psychologist since the days of Jesus + his Disciples (not that they were ‘pop’ psychologists!!).
I wrote this to remind myself of the values important to me … if it helps anyone else that can only be a good thing….and it may help stop your hair from falling out!!…
- BE POSITIVE… seek the GOOD, HUMOROUS or the LESSON from any adverse situation…..
- BE BRAVE + COURAGEOUS IN LIFE… the paradox in the ‘Classroom of Life Experience’ is we’re usually given the ‘test’ before the instructive lesson… problems often don’t matter or are as insurmountable as they 1st appear….
- BE KIND + GENTLE WITH YOURSELF… how I relate to myself; kindly or self-critically influences my well-being, contentment + ability to cope with adversity….
- BE TOLERANT OF OTHER PEOPLE… we all have different drives + points of view. It’s easy to like someone who is like me but there’s more to be gained by relating to someone who is not…
- PEOPLE ARE ONLY DIFFERENT ON THE OUTSIDE… we all bleed red blood; turn every human inside-out + we are identical… the same emotions bring joy or sadness….it is humiliating to ME + diminishing to ALL human beings to judge someone based on race, skin colour, religion or how they live…evil people arise from every race or religion – as do GOOD people….
- VALUE PEOPLE… for the unique individuals they are…the worth of a person is NOT measured in what they do for a living; what they drive or where they live… worth is measured in the goodness of heart + spirit…
- DECIDE TO BE HAPPY… practice 9 happiness-boosting character qualities until they become me:
- Gratitude: be thankful for the goodness, kindness + opportunities bestowed…
- Optimism: optimism + positive thinking go hand-in-hand + are incompatible with their opposites…
- DON’T be pre-occupied with what others are doing…
- Practice acts of kindness – spontaneously + as often as I can…
- Be honest, loyal + supportive of friends + those I love …in order to be trusted I must be trustworthy….
- Practice learning to Forgive…unresolved anger or ill-feeling towards another is destructive to ME + affects my health + happiness…
- Savour life’s Joys… a laugh with friends, the fragrance of a spring evening, watching sunsets or the flow of the sea…
- Stay physically + mentally active… immerse your mind + body in pleasurable, fulfilling activities that bring a sense of accomplishment…
- Develop an awareness of + practice Spirituality… I believe we can only respect other human beings when we see them as fellow spiritual beings on a journey similar to our own….