A Simple Practice for High Character Living
It’s funny how the brush of death can become the kiss of life when it comes to perspective on the things that have true worth and value. In our culture, we are encouraged to avoid aging at all costs; heaven forbid someone asks us how old we are when we are mid-life and beyond.
As an advanced cancer conqueror being that the doctors said they wanted to get me 5 years in 2006, every day of every year is worth celebrating. As we enter a new year of life, pruning for positive growth is worth our attention. What is working for you? Do that more. What’s not working for you? Stop doing that.
Prune the following 6 things out of your life to make room for high character living based on love; humility; integrity and temperance and then explore implementing the simple practice mentioned below for high character living.
Procrastination
Procrastination can keep you from implementing a high-powered project. The next time you feel like resisting taking a step forward towards completing your project stop and consider organizing one corner of your office space or 3 files that are associated with the project you are working on. Fragmentation due to disorganization leads to procrastination. When you take a step in the direction of organization around a project, even if it is a small corner of organization, you will find that you create simplicity. Simplicity leads to clarity of focus, and clarity of focus leads to action based living.
Here is some popular head trash that is often associated with procrastination:In order to accept myself I need to be perfect, I am resisting taking a step towards completing this project for fear of possible rejection, by myself or those around me. Perfectionism and procrastination often walk hand in hand. Reflect on this statement:I am willing to accept myself and honor my unique creativity with or without accomplishing this project.You will find you often release new energy to move forward when you remember you are OK just as you are, “What would you dare to do if you knew you could not fail.” This unknown author understood a key element that needs to be in place for advancement to take place. The ability to create can only take place in the presence of freedom.
Universal Quantifiers
Always, Never, No one, Nothing, Nobody, Everybody, Everything…these words create All or Nothing thinking and will prevent the brain from tuning into a variety of available options needing for solution based thinking.
Modal Operators of Necessity
Have to, I Need to, I Should, I Must, I Can’t…it’s Necessary: This type of thinking and speaking indicates a Lack of Choice and keep you stuck in mental muck.
As you expand your ability to Explore and Tune into several different options you will ignite solution based thinking.
Words to Use that will benefit you: Expand, Explore, Consider, Trust, Look into, Ignite, Curious, Fascinating…
Blaming
Any time you blame yourself or another person, take a step back from the situation and ask yourself what are you refusing to take responsibility for…it may come down to taking responsibility for your own sense of inner peace, joy and happiness.
Complaining
Complaining of any kind creates an exchange of negative energy between you and yourself OR between you and another person which actually has the ability to shrink your brain size.
Raise your awareness in 2015 of your inner self-talk and the intonation you use as your thoughts flow through your mind. Choose to lighten your mental load by creating a positive choice of response to each situation.
Remember that you have the ability to create what you desire to receive simply by your choice of response to life.
Be curious and fascinated about events and reactions that you experience throughout each day and look at them as an opportunity to grow in your ability to love and create goodness in this world.
Entitlement
Be aware of the different faces of entitlement. Any time you have an expectation or assumption of a specific outcome or response from life you are stuck in the muck of entitlement, which will limit your ability to explore and tune into creative options.
I was in the middle of a coaching session when someone knocked on my door. I ignored it and continued on as we were in the middle of uncovering some essential pieces for some big breakthroughs. The person continued to knock. Frustrated, I abruptly opened the door and firmly said, “Can I help you? I am in the middle of a therapy session with a client” Instantly this person coiled back as a result of my abrupt response. She sheepishly replied, “Your husband scheduled me to come and give an estimate on his car, he asked me to come.”
Later on that evening my husband mentioned that this person felt badly for interrupting the therapy session. At this point God had already called me out on my behavior and this was just the final nudge I needed to pass the test that day for high character living. I got her number and called her that evening: “I just wanted to let you know that I am sorry for my abrupt behavior. God has kept this moment in my heart today and I apologize for the way I handled the interruption. Clearly that behavior is not aligned with the person I am committed to being in life.” The next day she told my husband she had never received a call like that and encounters a lot of ugly behavior, my call had lifted the heaviness of rejection.
I invite you to implement this simple practice for high character living week:
Watch YOU in life. Observe why you do what you do and say what you say along with the delivery of it all. When your behavior does not align with the person you are committed to being make it your goal to return quicker every time, to the presentation of YOU in this world which show cases the BEST version of YOU.
Authentic living (including leadership) walks through the archway of love; humility; temperance and integrity. Go for the responses in life, which will champion those around you with encouragement and respect. Whatever you give out, will come back to you 10 fold. Want more peace and calm? Be peaceful and calm.
Organic: Food without chemicals or pesticides. Organic High Character Living: Mental or moral qualities which are fueled by pure, uncontaminated motives; thoughts and behavior.
A person who is authentically occupying the space of high character living: Knows it’s not a matter if but when they will stumble; they recognize the stumble and quickly return to Godly character, which honors the person they are committed to being.
Support Resource for High Character Living:
You biology will often sabotage your greatest efforts to implement high character living in life. When you are stressed, inflamed and can’t sleep, you become like a fish trying to swim through jello. Explore this 24-hour body support I offer to my clients. To date we have a 95% efficacy rate. Take a 30-Day Challenge:CLICK HERE
