VIRTUE

Benjamin Franklin’s goal of moral perfection and how he set about attaining it through living his 13 virtues. Franklin, a printer, had a small book of charts made up that allowed him to keep track of his progress in living the virtues.

The word VIRTUE comes from the Latin virtus, which in turn is derived from vir, Latin for “manliness.”

I have read through his virtues and wish to explore each of them, their meaning and how it could affect not only my life, but yours as well, including the sorts of people we chose to surround ourselves with.

The first virtue is TEMPERANCE.
                   

By conquering your primal urges for food and drink, you’ll have the confidence to start making improvements in other areas of your life.
drink would make adherence to all of the other virtues easier.

Eat not to dullness...

Gluttony... overeating... hunger is a primal urge, however knowing limitations and avoiding overindulgence with this primal urge will allow you optimum control.

Drink not to elevation...

Excessive drinking leads to a "comfortably numb"feeling, until that one drink that pushes you over the limit. Alcohol distorts reality, and this counteracts the virtur of being present in every moment, experience all senses at all times.

This virtue's focus is personal responsibility, what you place in your mouth is your responsibility.

A true man is in control of himself in every situation.

"Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."

SUNSHINE

So the sun came out yesterday, after 7 days and nights of rain!

NEW DAY, NEW LIFE!

Live your BEST life NOW!

Rain

It has rained all weekend. Not a surprise as it is spring, and it is the weekend.

I like rain. I find it cleansing and refreshing.

 

"A rose must remain with the sun and the rain or its lovely promise won't come true." (Ray Evans)

For promises to come true they must endure the joy, glow and radiance of the sun, as well as the lonelier, sadness of the rain. The end result is the beauty of the promise.

 

Favour

Defined as a noun:
1. an approving attitude; good will

2. an act performed out of good will, generosity, or mercy

 

I have been reading alot about favour recently and wanted to document this here.

 

We are said to all be blessed with God's favour.

 

So I referred to the Bible for further definition...

 

Isaiah 49:8 - This is what the Lord says: "In the time of my favour I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances." (NIV)

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 - As God's fellow-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation. (NIV)

I was told God has our lives planned out and we are in his favour. He has a plan for us. Does this cause us to be at the right place at the right time? Does this mean we can meet the right people?

What does God’s exact plan for my life look like? Is it a large flowchart of uncertain events, that are required to be played out. It is written “He knows the people you're going to need to fulfill your destiny and has it all figured out.”

So he is in control and he places me in the right place at the right time. He will bring to me the tools, resources and people at the right time and this plan will unfold. I would think this also involves some things I may not want, for only He knows what is good for me.

I will walk into my moments of favor. Faith and Trust.

 

I think too much

"People mistakenly assume that their thinking is done by their head; it is actually done by the heart which first dictates the conclusion, then commands the head to provide the reasoning that will defend it.”

Anthony de Mello

Today my thoughts are on loneliness versus solitude. Being lonely makes one upset, sometimes panic sets in wanting to reach out to the social circle. Solitude is the exact opposite, it is the calm of being alone and enjoying it.

Today there is a sense of calm in me.

Faith and Trust.

Glass is Half Full

Begin to change your thinking. To be transformed, you need your mind renewed.

Have an attitude to be grateful and make the decision to enjoy the life given to you.

Choose to be positive, have a grateful attitude as this will determine how you’re going to live your life.
Get out there and live!

Rejection

Rejection can occur in all walks of life, you don't get the job you interviewed for, you don't make the basketball team, you suffer a break up of a relationship or friendship. Rejections can be devastating because we all want acceptance, and rejection reads as the complete opposite of the acceptance you crave.

Rejection should be viewed as a reason to move forward. We need to try to learn, and move on. Don't dwell on the would of, should ofs, because maybe there was nothing you did wrong. Maybe that job, that team, or that friend was wrong for you.

If the door feels closed on you, know that before a new door can open, that door does have to close. The new beginning will not come until that door is firmly closed, no past dwellings, regrets or shame. When we are able to do this it is amazing what does open up.

It truly does lie in FAITH and TRUST. It appears that things are rotten, but know that good things are in store for you. You are seated in the light of God's favour. When you know, when you acknowledge there are better things to come, let the light of favour shine on you, the new beginning is there, and it keeps getting better and better. Great things are planned for you, don't you want to know what they are?