Life | Self Leadership
Discovering the key to gaining wisdom in your life
If you pay attention to what most of the great philosophers of the past have written, you will notice they have one trait in common. It is a trait that led them to much of the wisdom they have shared with humanity. Each of them appeared to know themselves far better than most people of their day or ours. Deep insights into themselves led them to the wisdom so often expressed. This sentiment was captured by an English physician and writer more than a century ago:
“Men who know themselves are no longer fools. They stand on the threshold of…
Life | Self Leadership
What’s change got to do with it anyway?
One thing is guaranteed to affect every life, all of nature, and the entire universe. This one thing occurs all around us constantly. It is happening in us this very minute. Nothing is untouched by it. So long as time continues, it is perhaps the single most permanent thing in existence. It is known to be one of the few things in the universe that is unchangeable — change.
“There are no permanent changes because change itself is permanent.” Ralph L. Woods (1898–1950)
Whether we want change or not, we cannot stop it from happening. Sure, we can refuse to…
Life | Personal Leadership
Finding happiness in the Three Stages of Life
When is the happiest time in the life of most people? Is it when they are young or during adulthood? Is it later in life, perhaps after retirement? Of course, it will vary depending on who you are, where you live, and the kind of life you lead. A multitude of other factors can affect how happy we are in life as well.
Let’s explore the possibilities of each stage of life. It will be necessary to make some assumptions as we do so, as one article cannot cover every possible situation. We are not going to discuss those who…
Life
Why do people act the way they do?
Do you have to deal with people much? It can be a pain at times, can’t it? Few know what they want, and too many have no idea. Some are kind, and some are rude. Some will look you up and down while others will not look at you, at least not in the eyes. Some are nice, and some are downright snotty!
There are all kinds of people in the world. Some have heard me say I wish a few airheads would get thrown off the earth every revolution. …
Life | Personal Leadership
Discontent that wrings its hands, and discontent cured by success
Are you content or discontented in your life? Is being one way better than the other? As is true for so many things in life, it depends.
Most of us aim to be content in life, and who wouldn’t when it means achieving a state defined as peaceful happiness? But what do you do if you are not content? Can any good come from being discontented? Let’s examine some possibilities.
The two kinds of discontentment
There are, in essence, two kinds of discontentment in the world. One kind of discontent drives us to do more, to get more, to become more. The other kind causes…
Life | Personal Leadership
“Anything in life worth having is worth working for.” Andrew Carnegie
What do you consider worth having in life? Something of worth in the sense that it will last a lifetime and may outlive you.
You’ve heard it said many times that the material things we spend so much of our lives and earnings on are temporary. This is also true for anything the five senses can interact with, including our physical body.
You can buy all the homes, cars, boats, and planes you want if you have enough money, but the things we are discussing are not purchasable with any amount of money. They are far more valuable.
While a…
Life | Personal Leadership
More than twenty ways we tell ourselves lies
If there were anyone you could be honest with, you’d think it would be yourself. But how honest are you with yourself? Do you always tell yourself the truth, or do you skirt it at times?
What we say and do in life shapes who we are, including lying and being honest. Which would you rather have shaping your life?
Let’s take a closer look at how we lie and how we can benefit from being honest.
How we lie
I don’t know about you, but I have caught myself denying the truth and deceiving myself at times. When I was younger, it…
Life | Self Leadership
Playing the blame game in a helpful way
How often do you point the finger of blame at something or someone else? Most of us have played the blame game at some point in our lives. Is it ever right to do so? Let’s take a look at what blaming can add or detract from your life.
In years of studying human behavior, there appear to be virtually no good uses for blame. Yet, there is one situation in which it may be okay.
Blaming yourself
We are often told, “When you point a finger, there are three pointing back at you.” There is a lot of truth in this…
Life | Personal Leadership
What does freedom mean to how you live?
Most of us desire freedom in our lives. Freedom to do the things we love to do, to go where we want to go, and to be with whom we wish. There is nothing else quite like it.
Freedom remains ours unless we choose to forfeit it. The most important freedom we possess is the freedom to choose. This freedom exists in our minds and remains so long as we have functioning brains. Thus, while we can choose to give up our freedom, no one can take it from us.
“Freedom (n.): To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend…
Life | Personal Leadership
How to see an old word in a new and significant way
Imagine possessing a quality that endears you to other people. Because of it, they see you as friendly, helpful, kind, and benevolent. They believe you are a good and decent person. Because of this quality, you develop a reputation and are valued by others. You become someone they hold in high regard, admire, and appreciate. Does such a quality exist?
You know the word well as the name of an organization and may hear it often. But the sense of its real meaning has been largely lost today. The word has been commercialized to the point that this more than…
Bill Abbate
Leadership Writer and Editor in ILLUMINATION, Leadership/Executive Coach, Author www.BillAbbate.com
