How Much Demand Do You Command?

I believe that, instead of waiting for others to acknowledge just how special we are, it is far more profitable for us to acknowledge just how exceptional we are and to reflect this knowing, in all that we do, in every single moment, of every single day.

Have you considered just how powerfully your character determines the quality of your experiences?  Psychological surveys worldwide continue to notice that from the wealthiest to the poorest, a growing number of people consistently feel dissatisfaction, unrest, depression and aggression in their lives.  And this is linked to the kind of person each of these people has chosen to be.  This is echoed by the values that guide our actions. So, what kind of life are you heading for with your particular tendencies?  Do people relish your company, or do they cross the street when they see you coming?  Do you take delight in your own company or do you constantly seek validation from others?

Most difficulties that you normally encounter can be entirely avoided, when you are unwavering in cultivating outstanding qualities that endear you to people.  Being negligent about the indispensable need to first foster a deep and loving friendship with yourself before you connect with others ~ especially due to ignorance, ego or pride ~ is tantamount to condemning yourself to a ‘Yo-Yo’ existence where your  moments are defined by the people and circumstances in your life.  That is why ignorance (self-neglect) and arrogance (self-importance) are the most potent impediments to true prosperity, because a distinguished life and unwholesome ways of being cannot logically co-exist.

Exceptional character traits promote extraordinary rewards in life, when combined with equally outstanding actions.   So, don’t let the dazzling heights you aspire to scare you from getting started.  After all, few can achieve the brilliance of a world class athlete, though virtually all can improve their game with dedicated effort. 

It is an ancient truth that those who risk the least, live the least.  At times, risk is daunting and even dangerous, yet on many occasions it is necessary when the bigger risk is not to risk at all.  And although your efforts may not always yield the desired results, there can be no triumph without skilled and audacious action.  It is heartening to realize that although we may crave comfort and routine, we nourish and enhance our self-worth, primarily through challenges that unleash our ingenuity.  That is our setbacks can enrich us in ways that our successes alone never can, when rightly approached.

Understand that your actions are not fuelled by your willpower; they are driven by your imagination. Willpower always yields to the content and quality of your imagination.  This is an absolute rule that admits no exception.  So what kind of person do you imagine yourself to be in the deep recesses of your heart and mind?  What kind of world do you imagine is ‘out there?’  Do you live in a friendly universe or a hostile one?  To gain mastery over any situation, you must learn to guide your imagination superbly well. 

Unbidden challenges ~ what you instinctively try so hard to avoid ~ are life’s golden opportunities to live your values and influence better outcomes for yourself and others.  Defining moments such as these reveal who you are and spark what you may yet become.  To put it another way, people who make the most of their lives do not wait for the spirit to move them.  They move the spirit by training their imagination to rise above the ‘unconquerable’ challenges others veer away from. 

Are you traveling light?