I believe …
- that we should measure our worth in lives changed rather than in dollars made.
- we each have something to contribute to the world and it’s our life’s work to find the best ways to do it.
- there’s more than enough for everyone if we use our imagination to share rather than to hoard.
- in the power of small groups of creative, compassionate people committed to a common purpose.
- our virtue is found not in remaining standing but in getting up with grace when we fall.
- that many things are worth fighting for, but very few worth killing for.
- leaders should serve those they lead instead of mainly being served by those they lead.
- it can be harder to live a life of principle and integrity, but it’s still worth doing.
- the only people we should be trying to master is ourselves.
- that the future we can create is more powerful and real than the past we think will repeat.
- women make this world bearable.
- the Golden Rule is probably the only one that matters.
- it’s better to live as if each day counted and be wrong than to live as if it doesn’t and be right.
- a genuine smile and acknowledgment can change someone’s life.
- it’s not that we’ve acquired wealth that matters – it’s how we did it.
- we reap what we sow, even if it takes a while sometimes.
- getting lost in the business of helping others is often the best way to find temporary and long-term happiness.
- it’s a blessing that life can be so mysterious. We’d be even more restless and violent if it weren’t.
- it doesn’t make sense for us to expect ourselves to be happy but be ashamed to cry.
- most of what matters can’t be seen or counted.
- it’s best to help someone else before you expect them to help you.
- tearing people down is more a sign of inhumanity than of intelligence or cleverness.
- nice guys might finish last, but at least people enjoy racing with them.
- too many people are content to open their mouths and sit on their hands rather than shut their mouths and use their hands.
- always doing the best we can do usually means we’ll be more than good enough.
- a sincere hug can solve more than a day of words.
- we should cherish those who point out the lettuce in our teeth instead of leaving us a leafy, grinning fool.
- it’s best to use what we have to get what we need, rather than keeping what we don’t have from limiting how we use what we have.
- you misunderstanding me is more of a sign of my deficiency as a communicator than your deficiency as a listener.
- letting go is harder than holding on.
- if you take care of people, the rest will get taken care of. Try to take care of everything else first and nothing gets done.
The true value of beliefs is not in how they make us feel – it’s how they guide us to act. And we become by acting.
How are your beliefs helping you become the person you want to be?
Wonderful stuff! I loved so many of these, especially “Too many people are content to open their mouths and sit on their hands than shut their mouths and use their hands.”
Keep up the good work!
Very thought provoking. This world would be an incredible place if more people followed just half of these!
Nice post and pretty personal 🙂
I really liked the “leaders should serve those they lead instead of mainly being served by those they lead” quote.
I love this –
“the Golden Rule is probably the only one that matters.”
This is so true. Imagine the revolutionary changes that would take place if everybody, or even a lot of people, adopted this one simple principle. Well it all starts with me, right?
Great post.
I believe that the amount we earn shouldn’t be the measure of our success, but at the same time, we should strive for wealth because it gives an opportunity to have a bigger impact on the world, and pursue what we really want to do in life. Someone who’s poor is stuck with a job while someone who is wealthy has more options.
I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again.
I’m glad to know you, Charlie.
I loved the whole thing.
The two that really struck a chord are:
“the Golden Rule is probably the only one that matters.”
“a sincere hug can solve more than a day of words.”
Right on, man.
Hey, Charlie.
Beautiful post. You have me inspired…
This resonated with me in particularly: “it can be harder to live a life of principle and integrity, but it’s still worth doing.”
Harder – yes, perhaps – depending on what perspective you’re coming from. I know that’s certainly a common point that many people make for not interrogating their values, “It’s easier this way. The way I’ve always done it.”
I would question whether in fact, at the end of the day, it isn’t much, much harder (by far) to live without the wonder & humility that principle & integrity bestow upon a life. I know I’m deeply grateful every day for the chance to live more fully into mine.
Thank you so much for this.
Charlie,
Thanks for your words of wisdom. Your ideas are like gems: like discovering a pearl from an oyster from the bottomless pit of an ocean. You cut to the chase, get straight to the point. You do not mince any words and tell it like it is. Me thinks your readers appreciate it.
Daily actions are important to develop your character. Take actions until those action sbecome a habit. It should be a reflex action, like a second skin, something you now do impulsively. That’s what character-building means and it evolves over a life-time. Walking your talk is difficult, but people will judge you if they find you lacking in this area. Especially if you are in a leadership position it is crucial. Role-models have a hard time when the public suddenly discover that their hero is deeply flawed human being. The news is full of public scandals, of people who went astray; were no angels to begin with.
That’s why I find your character-building exercise here quite useful. You have pointed us all to the True North. The North Star shimmers in the distance but it seems out of our grasp. You give us hope, however, that this is not limited only to the Mahatma Gandhis of our world. Any common person can grasp it and demonstrate these lessons if he/she is prepared to go the distance. We appreciate this timely reminder. Have a good one. Cheers.
That is a great and true list.
I like that you added the point about abundance mentality. If you believe that there is enough for all to go around and chose to share (just like you are on your blog) you will quickly see that prosperity travels and spreads the more we all let it.
Great insights you have here, Charlie. I especially like “that the future we can create is more powerful and real than the past we think will repeat” as it reminds me that what we do today is what matters most. The past has served its purpose — a guide to which how we decide to face tomorrow. Thank you for sharing. Keep it up!
I believe in this post.. Every point you mentioned makes sense and it blew a whole lot of me. The one that made an impact on me is this:
“you misunderstanding me is more of a sign of my deficiency as a communicator than your deficiency as a listener.”
Communication is indeed very important and doing our best in communicating what we want to express is a good factor towards preventing misunderstanding.
I luv it wen people are determined to spur others into action, and this is what the writer has done.. May ur river of inspiration never run dry.
I just cannot stop reading it again and again. Feels so close to heart. Wonder wonderful piece of writing.