Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s fine. It’s not their journey to make sense of. It’s yours.
Author | Photographer | CG Artist | Filmmaker
If you have to repeatedly remind people that you’re “fair & balanced”, you probably aren’t.
Telling people of your positive attributes is far less effective than having people do the talking for you.
If you’re great at something, people will see it by what you do and the reputation you establish as a result.
Showing is far more effective than telling.
Gathering data to make an informed opinion is one thing. Simply waiting to agree with the crowd is something else entirely.
Being yourself and maintaining your integrity means standing up for what you believe to be right and true whether it’s in the company of a crowd or not.
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Catching people’s attention, getting exposure, or having an audience is a wasted opportunity if what one has to offer is rarely engaging, meaningful, or thought-provoking.
Don’t just say or share something because you can, have something to say and express yourself with intention.
When you communicate with a purpose other than simply filling space, your message becomes much more effective and your life more meaningful.
Whether you have an audience of one or one million, remember that how you act and what you say is your message to the world.
Be a voice. Live with intention. Lead by example.
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Consistently being on time is the product of proper planning, personal discipline, and a respect for other people’s time.
Making a habit of being late demonstrates none of these things and is often a sign of patchy priorities and selfishness. Habitual lateness says, “My time is more valuable than yours.”
Learn to be reliable and a person of integrity by adopting the discipline necessary be on time.
“Your ability to listen to and take action based on your inner voice — regardless of how you feel, other influences, or temptations you face — is the key to self-mastery.
When you increase (or decrease) your discipline in one area, it increases (or decreases) your discipline in all areas that require self-control.”
The excuses that often accompany one’s tardiness often demonstrate priorities issues and not unavoidable problems leading to inevitable lateness.
Learning to be on time will not only reduce unnecessary stress in your life, it will earn you respect from those who know they can count on you to be reliable.
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Good people like to treat people well. Good people especially like to treat people they know are good people well.
If you want to be treated well by those you cross paths with in life, make it your mission to leave people feeling better, not worse, for having come in contact with you.
Be patient with people. Be tolerant. Be generous. Be honest. Be trustworthy. Be kind.
Be a good example of what it means to be a good example.
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There is a big difference between saying or doing something kind because you feel it is expected of you out of politeness and saying or doing something kind because you truly mean it.
When your true intention is kindness, don’t just go through the motions. Be kind like you mean it.
Even with simple social standards like saying “Please”, “Thank you”, and “You’re welcome”.
“Please”, “Thank you”, and “You’re welcome” are magic words, but they lose much of their power when expressed as a reflexive gesture as opposed to being communicated with sincerity.
Know that people can not only hear the difference when you speak with or without sincerity, they can feel it. So if you’re going to take the time to express things like “Thank you” and “You’re welcome — and you truly mean it — don’t just say the words without putting some thought & feeling behind them.
Take the time to express kindness like you mean it by speaking your words clearly and sincerely. Use your eyes, your voice, your body language, and your actions to reinforce those words.
For example, it’s not “Yup.” that follows “Thank you.” It’s “You’re welcome.”
It should be obvious, but “Yup” and “You’re welcome” do not even come close to meaning the same thing.
You might be surprised as how much of a difference it makes when it’s completely obvious to others that you mean what you say.
It feels better for everyone because it is better for everyone.
Sincerity is huge.
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Some people who claim to be leaders want you to feel like they are important. They’ll talk about their accolades and achievements. They’ll claim seniority. They’ll drop names and try to associate with important people. They’ll do just about anything but truly inspire you.
True leaders don’t waste time trying to convince you of their importance. True leaders will make you feel like you are important simply from their behavior and how they interact with those they encounter.
A true leader is someone that people believe in and want to help without being required to.
True power doesn’t demand action. It inspires it. And true leaders don’t demand respect. They earn it.
“A leader leads from in front, by the power of example. A ruler pushes from behind, by means of the club, the whip, the power of fear.” — Edward Abbey
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It should go without saying, but if it doesn’t feel like the right thing to do, don’t don’t it.
And if you’ve inadvertently found yourself having done something that doesn’t sit well with you, have the courage to do what you can to make it right.
The world needs more people who do what’s right instead of what’s easy. The world needs more people with integrity.
And it starts with each of us in those moments that matter.
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I don’t have all the answers — no one does — but I’m pretty sure the solution to the world’s problems is not to make enemies of your fellow earth inhabitants, cause them pain or hardship, or try to wipe them off the planet.
There are solutions that don’t involve harming innocents. There are solutions that don’t involve making more enemies in the process.
Find something constructive to love. Find something positive to be passionate about. Work towards a common good.
Educate people without putting a gun to their heads. Try to get along with the neighbors you share the planet with.
Try to set a good example. Show people a better way. Without threats, without violence, without overly aggressive behavior.
It should go without saying, if you wouldn’t like it done to you, don’t do it to others.
The answer to the world’s problems is not in hurting earth’s inhabitants, it’s in helping them.
The vast majority of people all over the planet, regardless of their race, beliefs, or skin color, would much rather make friends than enemies. Even if they don’t agree with you on everything.
Be kind to a stranger today because it’s good. And it sets a good example. Expect nothing. Because the reward for doing good is to have done it.
Don’t let the 24/7 coverage of bad news make you cold and hateful.
Be warm. Be tolerant. Be open minded.
And above all, be kind.
“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” — Kurt Vonnegut
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If the world would not be a better place if everyone on the planet followed your example, it might be a good idea to periodically stop and consider ways in which you could change that.
Lead by example.
From the comments:
Drew: This is essentially the Kant Philosophy. “Always act in such a way that you could will that the maxim of your act become a Universal Law.”
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