-
What keeps us from being truly happy?
- Looking for happiness in the wrong places
- A lack of gratitude
- Envy; It takes your eyes off what you have and focuses your attention on what you don’t have
- A sense of entitlement; as long as our heart is focused upon what we don’t have and on what we think we’re entitled to, we will not be happy
- Foolishness; our feelings are subjected to an emotional roller coaster. They are unreliable and can change in an instant
-
Overcoming barriers to happiness
- Develop a grateful heart
- Eliminate your sense of entitlement
- Root out the weeds of envy
- Start living wisely; wisdom involves action
-
4 qualities to make you invaluable
- Impeccable honesty; dishonesty destroys foundation of relationship and produces never-ending stress
- Kindness
- Generosity – the quality that receives more than it gives
- Graciousness
-
Winning conflicts and overcoming adversity
- Understand the potential consequences of the conflict
- Keep as your goal “achieving the best possible outcome for all parties involved”. Conflicts are to make things better
- Do not answer a fool in the manner he attacks
- Never prolong an argument
- Give an unexpected gift
- Be quick to forgive
-
Dealing with adversity
- Realize that adversity is a valuable part of life; it reveals the gold and silver of our character
- Accept responsibility for your contribution to the situation
-
Gary Smalley’s steps to removing anger
- Define the offense in writing
- Allow yourself to grieve the loss
- Try to gain a better understanding of the offender
- “Treasure-hunt” the offense; look for the good that have come out
- Write a letter, but don’t send it out
- Release the other person from the hurts they have inflicted and from future expectations; forgiveness isn’t a feeling or a word, it’s a choice.
- Reach out
-
Naivete and IQ
- Oversimplification. Important decisions are never simple. There are important factors hidden under the surface
- Presumption
- Misplaced trust
- Superficial appearances
- Laziness
- Haste
- Narrow vision
- Integrity
- Greed
- Arrogance
- Wrong priorities
- Look well enough into the matter before making any important decisions
-
The consequences of greed
- It can steal your life away
- It can destroy your financial security
- It can affect your loved ones
- It can bankrupt you spiritually
- It can steal your happiness and reason for a living
- It can steal your integrity
- It creates a false sense of security
-
Replacing pride with humility
- Be grateful
- Become more attentive to and focused upon the needs of others
-
Acquiring wisdom
- A checking account of knowledge
- Understanding why you act the way you do
- A fountain of life; understanding not only brings life to your deepest needs and desires, it also makes you a source of life to those around you
- The favour of those in authority
- Value and honor
- Riches; spiritual richness
- Protection and safety
- Long life
-
Consequences of not gaining wisdom
- Decisions that look good but end badly
- A life without purpose, fulfilment and happiness
- Self deception
- Foolish decisions
~ by antinomian on June 18, 2009.
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a Reply