Definitions: (1) sunny in attitude, demeanor, or spirit; (2) radiant with happiness or good fortune; (3) cheerful and lively; pleasant; (4) giving promise of prosperity; favorable; auspicious <a bright outlook>; (5) having a sparkling personality; resplendent with charms; animated; (6) displaying an active, clever, or intelligent mind; discerning; keen-witted; quick-witted

Derivation: Sanskrit, “to shine”

Synonyms: brainy, brilliant, cheery, clear, gleaming, glittering, luminous, lustrous, pearly, pellucid, resplendent, witty

Idiom: Keep your chin up.

Quote: Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world. ― George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish playwright

Color: yellow

Mythological Figure: Aglaia, the Grace of Brilliance, is one of the three Graces of Greek mythology.
     See also: Joyful and Comical

Definition: astonishingly beautiful; exhibiting a remarkable ability; an exciting or thrillingly achievement

Quotes:
• One had to realize that mankind’s omnipotence is not in his powerful forms of energy, nor his complex machines, and not even in his wisdom: It is to be found in his flexibility, breadth, and farsightedness of thought. — Dmitri Bilenkin (1987-1987) Where Two Paths Cross {2016}
• The religious challenge of this age is to those farseeing and forward-looking men and women of spiritual insight who will dare to construct a new and appealing philosophy of living out of the enlarged and exquisitely integrated modern concepts of cosmic truth, universe beauty, and divine goodness. (2:7.10) — The Urantia Book {1955}

Comment: The body and brain can only go so long before they need to take a breather. Sleep is imperative to balanced health. On the other hand, the mind and the soul can function and grow under all circumstances. They get their insights and luminosity from higher sources.

Definitions: (1) having or showing courage; intrepid; (2) to meet or endure with stamina and moral strength; dauntless; (3) to defy the odds; to challenge; to dare

Derivations: Latin, “barbarous;” Old Spanish, “courageous;” Danish, “worthy”

Synonyms: bold, gallant, great-hearted, hearty, heroic
Brave is a general term that suggests fortitude, daring, and resolve; courageous implies a higher or nobler kind of bravery, especially as resulting from an inborn quality of mind or spirit; fearless implies unflinching spirit and coolness in the face of danger; valiant implies an inner strength manifested by brave deeds.

Balancing Qualities: Practical, Safe
     Note: Caution needs to be modified with courage and adventure, but bravery needs to be modified with the discretion of safety, practicality, and reality.

Saying: Fortes fortuna juvat (Latin): “Fortune favors the brave.”

Idiom: Put on a brave face.

Quotes:
• To be brave, one must be cheerful. — Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) The Patchwork Girl of Oz {1913}
• There are many kinds of bravery and one cannot be expected to possess them all. I myself am brave as a lion in all ways until it comes to fighting, but then my nature revolts. — Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) Tik-Tok of Oz {1914}

Observation: Self-pity is just the reverse side of bravado. — Kim Stanley Robinson (1952-) Galileo’s Dream {2009}

Fiction: Henry Fleming, a soldier, is ashamed of his natural impulse to flee the horrors of war. Nonetheless, he distinguishes himself as brave. — Stephen Crane (1871-1900) Red Badge of Courage {1895}

Legendary Figure: Sir Lancelot, the bravest of King Arthur’s knights

Definitions: (1) generous in bestowing gifts or favors; munificent; (2) abundant; plentiful

Symbol: snapdragon flowers

Quotes:
• Spread the seeds of encouragement far and wide, and delight in the bountiful harvest that they will surely bring. — Ralph Fulsom “Red” Marston (1904-1967) American Inspirational writer
• Recognizing your talents doesn’t mean believing they’re limitless. Accepting your strengths doesn’t lead to pride, but instead to humility; you’re less likely to resent what others have if you understand your own bounty. — Regina “Gina” Barreca (1957-) American academic & humorist

Definition: having a pleasing and genial manner; showing a cheerful or good-natured disposition; easy friendliness

Derivation: French, “good man”

Saying: Teamwork makes the dream work.

Quote: Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. — Michael Jeffrey Jordan (1963-) American basketball player

Comment: Are you unwilling to share your ideals with those who do not hold to your philosophy, religious affiliation, political party, etc.? Do tolerance and kindness flow only to those within your circle? By enlarging your sphere of brother/sisterhood you will open yourself to those cross-over pollenizations and possibilities.

Definitions: (1) showing or requiring a fearless, daring spirit; planned with courage and zest; (2) brave; intrepid; confident; (3) displaying great liberty of style or expression; very free in behavior or manner; offbeat; unconventional

Synonyms: bravura, adventurous, audacious, dauntless, high-spirited, stouthearted, valiant

Too Far: brazen <without shame or the willingness to accept reason>

Saying: … to boldly go where no one has gone before! — (1991) Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country {1991}

Quotes:
• Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. — Helen Keller (1880-1968) American author & lecturer (blind and deaf from 19 months old)
• Boldness means you’re willing to go where you’ve never been, willing to try what you’ve never tried, and willing to trust what you’ve never trusted. Boldness is quiet, not noisy.  Mike Yaconelli (1942–2003) American pastor & theologian

Symbol: youth

Definitions: (1) a state or time of most beauty, freshness, or health <as in youth or a flower>; (2) outward evidence of vitality or healthy vigor <a rosy appearance>; (3) enriching one’s life; growing; (4) shining out; glowing

Synonyms: beautiful, blossoming, fair, flourishing, youthful

Quotes:
• Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder. — Rumi (1207–1273) Persian Sufi poet
• The smallest flower is a thought, a life answering to some feature of the Great Whole, of whom they have a persistent intuition. — Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French literary artist
• If beautiful lilies bloom in ugly waters, you too can blossom in ugly situations. — Matshona Dhliwayo (1982-) Zimbabwean-Canadian philosopher

Definitions: (1) experiencing complete happiness or joy; (2) the cause of delight or elation

Synonyms: blessed, ecstatic, rapturous

Quotes:
     Note: The following two quotes are from Joseph John Campbell (1904-1987) Interview with Bill Moyers {1999}
• I feel if one follows his bliss, the thing which really gets you deep in the gut, and that you feel is your life, doors will open up – they do! If you are on your way, even if no one has done it before, it will open up.
• If you follow your bliss, you will have your bliss, whether you have money or not. If you follow money, you may lose that money, and then you won’t even have that. The secure way is really the insecure way.

Comment: Part of being in your bliss is being in balance. When you enhance a quality, it floods into the space where negative qualities had lurked. Bliss and fear cannot live in the same place.

Definitions: (1) held in reverence; (2) bringing comfort, joy, pleasure, or contentment; (3) enjoying great happiness; blissful

Synonyms: cheerful, endowed, enriched, felicitated, gladdened, thankful

Balancing Qualities: Humble, Responsible
     Note: If you are blessed with the opportunity to serve because of your talents or the situation, seize the moment and choose to take up the responsibility. As you look back on it, or forward to it, you may be humbled by the fact you were chosen to do what was (or is) needed to be done.

Quotes:
• You are blessed as long as you view what happens as a blessing. — Gerard “Jerry” Vincent Hubert Downs (1949 -) and Joe Burull (1947-2021) American photographers
• Beatitude dips from on high down on us and we see. It is not in us so much as we are in it. If the air comes into our lungs, we breathe and live; if not, we die. If the light comes into our eyes, we see; else not. And if truth come to our mind we suddenly expand to its dimensions. — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American philosopher

Affirmation: I am blessed on every level with happiness, success, and true achievement. I will accept what abundance comes my way with gracious thankfulness.

Mythological Figure: In Greek mythology, Pandora is the first woman (Mother Eve). Although some say Pandora’s box contained all manner of ill, were not these “ills” also offering the blessings of acquiring the virtues needed to overcome the vicissitudes of living with grace? Traditionally the quality at the bottom was HOPE.

Definitions: (1) having a gentle or mild disposition; possessing a gracious and agreeable spirit; (2) having a favorable or beneficial effect; (3) generous; liberal; kind

Derivation: Latin, “good nature”

Quote: Whatever your religious persuasion, if you believe that the universe is governed by benign forces, at some point you have to explain why there is so much suffering, misfortune and misery in the world. — Julian Baggini (1968-) English philosopher
     Note: Because the Benign Force decided freewill was a good idea.

Comment: Since every human is imperfect, the only truly benign dictators are God and his Son.

Suggestion: Once in a while dedicate the whole day to being benign.