LIFE'S RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

Life is full of opportunities, challenges, suggestions, and alternating directions – all working with (or against) us as we accomplish our daily activities. To help us along the way, previous generations have adopted “gems of wisdom” that are handed down through families, work relationships and friends to temper, validate or guide our actions. Devine Intervention from a “higher power” is also a driver leveraged by many when intentional actions must be taken in order to significantly change anticipated results. Unfortunately, the choices people make and the risks they take (or choose to avoid) often insulate them from reality rather than allowing them to face life head on.

In order to thrive (rather than merely survive) in life, we often identify and travel the road of least resistance to minimize our potential of loss over the years rather than seeking the “road less travelled” which might lead to greater rewards (with the potential risk of failure being proportionately greater as well). While it is unfortunate, nothing great has ever come from mediocre efforts or “take the easy way out” attitudes…life tends to reward well considered effort and those taking reasonable risks with outcomes that far exceed those achieved by individuals preferring not to “ruffle feathers,” “rock the boat,” or alter the status quo. All thoughts, actions or impacts on life, however, typically “happen” because of our experience, our abilities, or our values. Some of the guiding principles that seem to influence those thriving rather than to simply surviving in life would include: 

If given the option of doing something right or doing it quickly, choose doing it right. While there may never be enough time to do something as thoroughly or completely as you might wish, those who rush often find themselves taking more time to do things over.

Do not implement a decision until (and unless) you are willing to accept the consequences of your actions. While we typically expect positive “returns” from an investment of time and energy, SOMETIMES things go horribly wrong. If we are to succeed in life, we should celebrate the positive and learn from the negative as we move towards our final destination.

Newton had it right – every action results in an equal and opposite reaction. Do not act without considering what will change, who will be impacted, and whether more positive than negative will come from your actions. A pebble dropped in the ocean may cause a ripple effect that can help to “clean the slate” as waves wash gently upon the shore OR destroy the thoughts and good intentions of others if uncontrolled actions create unwanted consequences.

Life is not an isolated event having one beginning and one end. It is a series of starts and stops – of new beginnings arising from short-term plateaus rather than of abrupt endings without thoughts of continuation. If you do nothing else in life, enjoy what you do. If you seek nothing else from life, seek what you wish to accomplish. If you contribute little to those around you, contribute to those that mean much to you. Should you ever feel that “all has been said” and “all has been done,” run quickly from where you are – get back onto the circle of life where every end is but the beginning of something new and different.

Spending time to improve ourselves often provides an immediate return. We typically invest time and energy into the initiation of an identified action that will produce an anticipated result. Spending the same time to improve another (rather than focusing upon yourself) pays dividends in the future that are incalculable to us today.

It is better to live life without fearing death than to fear death so much that you fail to live life. Individuals can often be so risk-averse that they choose what is easy, tested, tried and true rather than risking much to gain more. Should one live in constant fear of being wrong, of failing, of making a mistake or of losing the race, far too much time is spent looking back (at the past) with too little spent looking ahead (to what might yet be accomplished). The reason someone should stay where they are in life should be that they are happy, successful, and content rather than that they fear moving forward because of the challenges the future might present.

 Life is full of activity and of rest – of visions and of voids. Refresh during times of rest so you can accomplish much during times of activity. More importantly, make sure no void (within yourself OR those you care for) ever goes unfilled.

When you say things without worrying about how they will affect others you build a ceiling that limits how far you may rise. Words spoken or actions exhibited without caring how they affect others can minimize them so that you might easily rise to the top without having to elevate yourself. Only when you rise with the help and assistance of others will the sky be your limit...only then will you be able to lift another up so that you can accomplish great things together.

Turning out the lights indicates closure on things we have accomplished. Reaching for the stars exposes new opportunities we have not yet seen. Those who have become comfortable with and accustomed to engaging in all that life has to offer would prefer spending time looking into the light than staring into the darkness.

When reaching out to help others, make sure you provide the tools they need to accomplish what is expected from them rather than only the things they might want. All your help and efforts become but a disservice if an individual receives “the world” without learning how to achieve (and maintain) greatness through their own efforts and abilities.

When we feel we “have arrived” and know it all – when we can stop learning and coast through life relying upon only the knowledge we have accumulated (without stretching or applying it beyond where it has been previously used), we stop living and begin to simply exist. There is a greater power in our lives – that provides us with the abilities to contribute and the opportunity to enjoy the world in which we live. It is not because of anything we do or have done that we exist – it is so that we can make a difference by being the individuals we were meant and created to be. Recognize that life is more than what we make it to be…it is truly what we contribute to others and how we use the gifts we have been given in this world. Live life so that others might be lifted up…you will rise to the top with them as you constantly strengthen and grow.