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“Our principles are the springs of our actions; our actions the springs of our happiness or misery. Too much care, therefore, cannot be taken in forming our principles.” – Skelton

What Is Character Ethics And How Can It Help?

Character Ethics are based on individual principles that a person believes to be true. A principle is nothing more than “A fundamental truth, law, doctrine, or motivating force, upon which others are based“.

To get a better understanding let me illustrate. When a traveler goes on a trip it is useful to have a road map handy to help guide and direct them on their journey. Principles, in like manner, are very much like a road map. Principles determine your Character Ethics. Understanding this concept gives a person the knowledge to guide, direct and ultimately determine every decision made in life. The purpose of this article is to share this concept in order to help show a way to make better decisions. This is done by getting a grasp of the foundation upon which principles originate.

Are You Traveling With The Right Road Map?

It is a tragedy that many people today do not have an understanding of what they believe. It seems hard to fathom but it is true. These people allow others to think for them. And because of this many people in today’s society are traveling with the wrong road map.

We live in a society that “thinks for us” But the amazing thing is we have the power to control our lives. We can make decisions that affect our destiny as well as the welfare of many others. To get where we want to go we need a solid understanding of what we are capable of doing. Let me explain:

Let’s say you want to arrive at a particular point in San Diego. To help you find your way around, you buy a street map. But suppose there was a printing error. The map you had bought was actually a map of Miami. If you used this map to reach your destination you would definitely get lost. Think how frustrating that would be!

One thing YOU could do is work on your behavior. You could try harder, be a little more diligent. You could double your speed to get where you are going. You could even work on your attitude. Think positively! Yet, without the right map the ultimate result is frustration. You’d still be lost.

I’d like to make one point, you must have the right map to get where you are going. Your behaviors play an important role and so does your attitude. These traits, though important, only play a secondary role. What is of primary importance is to have the right map. Our everyday reaction to events is rooted in deep seated principles that we believe. Those principles we hold in ourselves represent our inner “maps”. If you are not reaching your goals in life, the problem may be that your goals do not match your principles. By understanding what you believe and knowing your principles, will make all the difference in the world.

I Was Heading In the Wrong Direction

Here is a lesson I learned several years ago. In my search for personal development, I ran across an idea that impressed me. It was simple a systematic way to reach my goals in life. I began to study how to set goals for my life. I was excited at the possibility of “getting more out of life”. So in my zeal I started my goals program and I set some goals for myself. But there was one goal in particular that taught me a valuable lesson. You see I strove for this certain goal. I even got as far as the very moment in which I would receive the payoff. Yet, I found that I could not continue. It was as if I had hit a brick wall. You see, if I have receive the payoff I knew I would be miserable. Why? It is because the goal I had set was in direct violation of a principle I strongly held.

Principles Are the Foundation to Success

It is vitally important to understand what principles, values and beliefs have priority in our lives. This is the foundation upon which we can build our lives. After all, who would think of building a house without a solid foundation? Of course if would be foolish to do this, however many people today are doing that – Building on a weak foundation.

To understand your principles requires diligent effort and deep soul-searching. But it is one of the best investments you will ever make.

Resources

Ten Second Stress Fix

1. Squeeze your thumb and index finger together hard for two seconds when you’re feeling tense (or at any point when you feel the impulse to engage in a habit you want to change o simply when you need a peaceful break.)
2. Now, roll your eyes skyward as you inhale deeply for two more seconds still squeezing the fingers.
3. Hold your breath for two seconds while still looking upward beneath closed eyelids.
4. Then exhale slowly, completely, Let your eyes relax, keeping lids closed.  Let the tension in fingers and the rest of your body go.  This should take four seconds.

If you have more than ten seconds, you can after reaching stage four, give yourself suggestions about changing habits or feelings.  What ever suggestions you give yourself; it helps to end with something like this:  “When I open my eyes, I will feel relaxed, refreshed, alert and happy.”

The Invisible Quick Fix

Once you’re comfortable with the ten-second procedure, you will be able to get nearly as much tension relief with an abbreviated version that does not even involve closing your eyes and thus can be done in public.

1. Just squeeze your thumb and finger as in the linger version, keeping you hand in your pocket or under the conference table.  Take a deep breath and hold a fraction of a second.
2. Then release the fingers and exhale slowly but quietly.

End the I Hate to Wait Stress Blues

1. Take a deep breath, and use this time to practice the Stress Fix.
2. Expect to wait at some point every day.
3. Use the time to see the funny side of humanity
4. Exercise while you wait

Daydream, Visualize, Rehearse Events

Daydream to prepare yourself for a stress-provoking situation.  Visualize it in complete detail and rehearse what you would do.  When the situation presents itself, you’ll be prepared.  That is because you’ve already been through it and reacted the way you want to – with calm and control.

Resources

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1. Never be angry at the same time.
2. Never yell at one another unless the house is on fire.
3. Yield to the wishes of your spouse as an exercise fo self-disciple if you can’t think of a better reason.
4. If you have a choice between making yourself or your spouse look good, choose your spouse.
5. If you feel you must criticize, do so lovingly.
6. Never bring up a mistake from the past.  Your silence will be appreciated.
7. Neglect the whole world rather than one another
8. Never meet without an affectionate greeting.
9. Never let the day end without saying at least one complementary thing to your spouse.
10. When you have said or done something hurtful, acknowledge it and ask for forgiveness.
11. Remember, it takes two to get into an argument.  Invariably the one who is wrong is the one who will be doing most of the talking.
12. Never go to bed mad.

Proclamation of Thanksgiving
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America’s national day of Thanksgiving. During his administration, President Lincoln issued many orders like this. For example, on November 28, 1861, he ordered government departments closed for a local day of thanksgiving.

Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln on 28, 1863, urging him to have the “day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival.” She wrote, “You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritative fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution.” The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise.”

According to an April 1, 1864, letter from John Nicolay, one of President Lincoln’s secretaries, this document was written by Secretary of State William Seward, and the original was in his handwriting. On October 3, 1863, fellow Cabinet member Gideon Welles recorded in his diary that he complimented Seward on his work. A year later the manuscript was sold to benefit Union troops.

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled
with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.
To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that
we are prone to forget the source from which they come,
others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a
nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even
the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful
providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of
unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed
to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression,
peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been
maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and
harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre
of military conflict; while that theatre has been
greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies
of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength
from the fields of peaceful industry to the national
defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the
ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements,
and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious
metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.
Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the
waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the
battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness
of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect
continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No
human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked
out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the
Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our
sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to
me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently
and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice
by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow
citizens in every part of the United States, and also those
who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands,
to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next,
as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father
who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that
while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for
such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also,
with humble penitence for our national perverseness and
disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have
become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the
lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably
engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of
the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and
to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the
Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony,
tranquility and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused
 the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three,
and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

This article is for worship leaders. And as such, I believe it needs to focus on leadership skills. It is my intent to do this from a Biblical perspective. The only prerequisite for leadership is you must have somebody follow you. I can be just one person or thousands. The definition is still the same – A leader must have someone following them.

Understand That You are a Spiritual Leader

But there is more to leadership than having people follow you. In the Body of Christ you are a not just a leader. You are a Spiritual Leader. Your leadership skills must be in alignment with spiritual ideals. (more…)

by: Malkeet Singh

You have some great ideas. You toss them around in your mind. You tell friends about them. They go nowhere. Why? They go nowhere because of what your friends said or because you have the misconception that only a select few are able to unleash a steady flow of creative genius. And, you, of course, couldn’t be one of that select group. That is not true at all.

Anyone who has creative genius will tell you that creativity is very much like a muscle that needs to be developed in order to perform at top efficiency. If you don’t learn how to develop creative thinking, this skill, like a muscle will become withered and useless to you when you most need it. On the other hand, keep working at it and this skill will soon be ready for action whenever you need it.

So how do you develop your own personal style of creative thinking?

Well, the first thing is to realize your brain has a greater capacity and speed than the world’s biggest and fastest super computer. That’s right! Even the world’s biggest and fastest super computer cannot store as much information or handle it faster than your brain. You are not limited like a super computer because your brain is not limited and that’s where creativity comes from – your brain. It doesn’t come from thin air, it comes from within you and you already have the tools needed to exercise it.

So, the first thing is to begin absorbing as much information as you can every day. Grab as much knowledge and learning as you can find. Read, watch, and listen to everything available — good and bad. Don’t judge anything at this point of development because it’s not the content that is important, only the process of absorption. Keep your mind open to the infinite possibilities that each piece of information presents. The more you know, the more you’ll want to know, and the more your brain will be exercised. Prepare to be amazed at little facts that add a bit of color to your conversations with people. They will begin to see you in a new light.

Next, focus on a creative activity every day. This is as simple as doodling. Doodling is a creative activity. Don’t let anything hinder you. Just doodle away, mindlessly. You will unleash a little bit of creative thinking and it will be encouraging to see something you created. In addition to doodling, practice drawing something specific for a couple of minutes each day. You might unleash the artist in you.

Or, grab a camera and start snapping photos of anything and everything. Don’t try to be “artsy,” just snap away! You might find you have a knack for photography.

Keep a journal and make a point to write in it at the end of each day. Describe your experiences using words that capture your five senses. What did it smell like, taste like, feel like – you get the idea? You may discover a writer lurking in your brain.

In a short time you’ll have built yourself a tiny portfolio or doodles, art, photographs and writings and you’ll be amazed at the growth of your creativity. You might actually enjoy those exercises so much that they will become a part of you and you’ll be addicted to them.

You’ve heard it said – Think out of the box. Well, not just yet. Be aware of constraints or blocks to your creative process. Constraints are actually a good thing. It’s your brain telling you it needs more knowledge about that which you are struggling. Constraints are the brain’s mechanisms to force discipline upon you. Discipline forces you to be more resourceful. Creative freedom is great, but limitations are too. There must be balance.

Oscar winner, Anthony Hopkins, would just get in his car and drive across country alone with no destination in particular. It helped him experience different people in different parts of the country, away from the unreality of Hollywood. These little trips helped him to become a better actor.

Try something new every day and let your experiences broaden your view of the world and people around you. Explore a new neighborhood in your town. Spend an afternoon in a museum to which you’ve never been before. Chat up someone in the checkout line at the store. You need to open up to the people around you. You need to step out of your comfort zone more and more each day. This will heighten your sense of adventure and your zest for life.

Think about it. When was the last time you did something out of your comfort zone? When you stay in your comfort zone, you miss out on a whole lot of experiences that could add to your growth – emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually.

I would love to try bungee jumping and skydiving but I’m a coward when it comes to risking life and limb. If you have the courage, go for it! At the very least, you will have plenty of exciting stories to share, enabling you to develop your storytelling skills, making you the life of any gathering. People will love to hear you tell about doing the things they only dream of doing.

This next thing will seem nutty. It is. You need to embrace insanity. I’m not talking about the kind that will land you in a rubber room. As John Russell once said, “Sanity calms, but madness (insanity) is more interesting.”

History shows that nearly every creative thinker was once deemed insane by “normal” people. Lucky for us, the critics couldn’t stop the creative geniuses from changing the world. Being “normal” confines’ people to think – normally, that is, to think within limits society has deemed to be normal. Creativity is essentially ignoring those limits, within the Law, of course. Your creativity may seem bizarre and downright strange to the “normals.” Ignore them and seek out others who also ignore the “normals” of this world. They will know how to help you to cultivate your new sense of creativity.

Now, a word of caution as you step out in your search for creativity. Don’t strive to develop a creative “personality.” There is a difference between a creative personality and creative thinking. Examples of wacky creative personalities would be George Washington, who often rode into battle naked, or James Joyce, who wrote “Dubliners” with beetle juice because he had an intense fear of ink, or Albert Einstein, who thought his cat was a spy sent by his rival. They were all great men, for sure, but a little wacky at times because they lost touch with reality.

It’s important that your creativity doesn’t blind you to the real world. Keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds! (Look familiar?)

Starting today, begin thinking beyond your “limits.” Follow these steps and you’ll soon be living a life full of interesting and exciting adventures. Your new level creative thinking will bring about a new zest for living life.

Who knows, your idea might be the next great idea to change the world.

About The Author
My name is Malkeet Singh. I am 26 years old. I belong to Himachal Pradesh. I am living in Delhi. I working in BPO. I enjoy to listening to music and playing cricket & watching TV. I am a hardworker and honest person. The author invites you to visit: http://www.theglobalnetworld.com