It is okay to approach courage slowly.
Not every obstacle is meant to be smashed through headfirst.
Sometimes we have to take small steps of bravery toward that which we fear but must overcome.
By Robert Van Valkenburgh
Category: The Way of Life
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Lost In Finding
If we spend our lives seeking and finally find what we have been looking for, the result may be that we feel more lost than ever.
For some of us, the seeking itself gives us purpose.
The constant movement toward something — or away from something — gives our lives meaning.
If we are fortunate enough to have exactly what we always wanted, we now face a new challenge altogether. We must now face ourselves.
By Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Values In Action
Our actions point to our values.
We may think or say that we value certain things, but what we do often proves otherwise.
Thoughts and words are deceptive and, through them, whether intentionally or unintentionally, we are capable of convincing ourselves and others of all manner of falsehood.
Our actions, on the other hand, demonstrate the truth of what and who we value most.
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Winning Through Failure
By focusing on activities wherein, even if we fail, we still benefit in some way, we cannot lose.
This means involving ourselves in tasks, projects, and relationships that benefit us simply by our having participated in them.
In other words, if the experience itself is rewarding in some way that is of greater value than the resources we expend, there is simply no downside for us.
This is not selfish. It is purely practical. We should look for ways to win even if we fail.
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Dignity Not Pride
Excessive pride leads to or directly causes many, if not most, of life‘s problems.
But going too far in the opposite direction is no better.
Negative pride turns us into perpetual pushovers, victims to the will of others, incapable of or unwilling to stand up for ourselves or anything that matters.
What we need is neither pride nor the total absence of pride, but dignity.
