Definitions: (1) more focus on the interest and needs of others than oneself; (2) finding a good balance between self-interest and the requirements of others

Compatible Quality: humility

Quotes:
• Self-forgetfulness in creativity can lead to self-transcendence. — Sylvia Constance Ashton-Warner (1908–1984) New Zealand novelist, poet, pianist, & teacher of children
• There is joy in self-forgetfulness. So, I try to make the light in others' eyes my sun, the music in others' ears my symphony, the smile on others' lips my happiness. — Helen Keller (1880-1968) American author & lecturer (blind and deaf from 19 months old)

Observation: If one can witness their thoughts objectively, one can look at them from a hands-width perspective.

Definitions: (1) a spontaneous or natural liking or sympathy for someone or something; familial, friends, or group ties; (2) like-minded in ideas, ideals, political or religious affiliations; (3) sympathetic of empathetic attraction

Quotes:
• Love is the affinity which links and draws together the elements of the world... Love, in fact, is the agent of universal synthesis. — Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) French Jesuit priest
• The power of affinity lies in its mystery: the way it stands outside everything logical; you step into a crowded room and see a stranger, and somehow you feel you know her better than you know the friends you came with. — Siddharth Pico Raghavan Iyer (1957-) British essayist & novelist

Comment: Physically elements on the periodic table have affinity or lack of affinity naturally. Certain personality types flock together. All values have positive mutual attraction, even those which seem distant have common ancestry.

Definition: (1) sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing; keen focus; (2) having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; shrewd; (3) a highly developed sense <physical or otherwise>

Derivation: Latin, “sharp, needle-like”

Quotes:
• One of the secrets of life is to keep our intellectual curiosity acute. — William Lyon Phelps (1865-1943) American author, critic, & scholar
• Creativity and insight almost always involve an experience of acute pattern recognition: the eureka moment in which we perceive the interconnection between disparate concepts or ideas to reveal something new. — Jason Luis Silva Mishkin (1982-) Venezuelan-American filmmaker, futurist, & pubic speaker

Comment: One can be remarkably acute in any physical sense – not only the five common physical ones – but also balance for a gymnast; morality for a politician; perspicacity for a teacher, etc.

Definitions: (1) have an intense feeling of longing for something or someone, <a lost time or a lost loved one>; <an ideal, as a heartfelt goal or a spiritual quest>

Derivation: Germanic, “eager”

Quotes:
• There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning, and yearning. — Christopher Darlington Morley (1890-1957) American writer & poet
• The soul, who is lifted by a very great and yearning desire for the honor of God and the salvation of souls, begins by exercising herself, for a certain space of time, in the ordinary virtues, remaining in the cell of self-knowledge, in order to know better the goodness of God towards her. — Saint Catherine of Siena [born Caterina Benincasa] (1347-1380) Italian Catholic theologian

Reflection: Halcyon <A period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.>

Definitions: (1) the action of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way; (2) The ability to find an answer to a problem by considering various possible solutions; quick-reasoning <able to produce almost instantaneous answers (as in genius autism); (3) make rational argument <the ability to explain to another how you arrived at your conclusions so that they understand it>

Quotes:
• All variety of created objects which represent order and life in the universe could happen only by the willful reasoning of its original Creator. — Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727) English polymath [eight disciplines]
• There are also two kinds of truths: truth of reasoning and truths of fact. Truths of reasoning are necessary and their opposite is impossible; those of fact are contingent and their opposite is possible. — Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646–1716) German polymath [eight disciplines]

Comment: Even if you cannot explain your reasoning to others, make sure you have internal cohesiveness, both logically and emotionally.

Definition: (1) closely connected to what is being done or considered; (2) germane to the circumstances

Derivations: Medieval Latin, “raising up;” Scottish, “legally pertinent”

Quotes:
• One must be frank to be relevant. — Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (1933-2009) 11th president of the Philippines
• It's always relevant - moving forward into the future and finding out who you are. — Joshua Anthony Charlton Henry (1984-) Canadian-American actor & singer

Definitions: (1) the ability to accurately describe or predict what will happen in the future; seer; fatidical <declaration of a fate>

Derivation: Greek, “to speak before”

Quotes:
• Love is the crowning grace of humanity, the holiest right of the soul, the golden link which binds us to duty and truth, the redeeming principle that chiefly reconciles the heart to life, and is prophetic of eternal good.  — Francesco Petrarca [aka: Petrarch] (1304–1374) Italian scholar & poet
• The perfect knowledge of events cannot be acquired without divine inspiration, since all prophetic inspiration receives its prime motivating force from God the creator, then from good fortune and nature. — Michel de Nostredame [aka: Nostradamus] (1503–1566) French physician & seer

Definitions: (1) friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests; (2) a group of people meeting to pursue a shared interest

Synonyms: amity, esprit de corps, companionable, confederation, fraternity

Quotes:
• There is a fellowship more quiet even than solitude, and which, rightly understood, is solitude made perfect. — Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish poet
• The fellowship of true friends who can hear you out, share your joys, help carry your burdens, and correctly counsel you is priceless. — Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) American farmer, government official, & religious leader

Definitions: (1) extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring great respect and admiration; (2) extremely good; excellent

Quotes:
• Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that dis-empowers them or one that can literally save their lives. — Anthony “Tony” Jay Robbins (1960-) American author & coach
• It's a mystery. That's the first thing that interests me about the idea of God. It's mysterious and powerful and awesome to even consider the concept, and you have to take it seriously. — Stephen Edwin King (1947-) American writer

Suggestions: How to enhance your awesomeness:
• Do a bang-up job.
• Have high aspirations.
• Keep you head above the fray.
• Partner up with your higher self.
• Get better and better all the time.

Definition: (1) to find, perceive, or recognize (something or someone) unexpectedly or in the course of a search; (2) to become aware of

Derivation: Latin, “to uncover"

Saying: Able to suss out the truth.

Quotes:
• Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. — André Paul Guillaume Gide (1869–1951) French author
• We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. — Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French novelist & critic
• The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed. — Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986) Indian inspirational speaker

Definition: (1) a person a measure or degree better than another in rank, status, or quality; (2) of high standard; able to measure up; super-normal <above average>

Idioms:
• A cut above.
• Able to take things to the nines.
• Able to stack up against the competition.
• Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Quotes:
• True nobility lies in being superior to your former self. — Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) American author
• The best way to inspire people to superior performance is to convince them by everything you do and by your everyday attitude that you are wholeheartedly supporting them. — Harold "Hal" Sydney Geneen (1910–1997) American businessman

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INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
God is love. (1 John 4:8; 4:16) — The Bible, New Testament {70 AD}

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Truly is God plenteous in goodness. — Islamic {610 AD}

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There is not a single place in all the corners of the universe where God is absent. — Ōmoto-kyō [An offshoot of Shinto who teach the achievement of personal virtue is a step toward universal harmony.]

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God is beautiful and loves beauty. (19a) — Muhammad (c. 570-632 AD) The Hadith
He (God) is the merciful and the compassionate. {His} mercy embraces all things. (7.156) He has created the heavens and the earth with truth. (16.3) — The Qur'an, Islamic {7th century AD}

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He (God) is the Sole Supreme Being; of eternal manifestation; Creator, Immanent Reality; Without Fear, Without Rancor; Timeless Form; Unincarnated; Self-existent; Realized by the grace of the Holy Preceptor. (page 1) — Guru Granth Sahib, The Mul Mantar, Sikhism {16th century AD}

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The heart is a sanctuary at the center of which there is a little space, wherein the Great Spirit dwells, and this is the Eye. This is the Eye of the Great Spirit by which He sees all things, and through which we see Him. If the heart is not pure, the Great Spirit cannot be seen. He hears whatever is in our minds and hearts, and it is not necessary to speak to Him in a loud voice. — Black Elk [born Heȟáka Sápa](1863–1950) Oglala Lakota holy man

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All things come from, and belong to, the One Supreme God – all-wise, good, righteous, holy, resplendent, and glorious. This, our Lord of Lights, is the source of all luminosity. He is the Creator, the God of all good purposes, and the protector of the justice of the universe. God is our most adorable and righteous friend; He is our wisdom, life, and vigor of soul and body. Through...

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NOTE: The words in the Glossary that are in all caps are specifically from The Nature and Attributes of God.

THE GOD CONCEPT
From the vague idea: “there must be something on the other side of the veil,” we began the human quest for God. Our ancestors began with ghost fear, and we have been refining the idea – for the better – ever since. We have gone through many superstitions, cults, and dead ends. But we are finally beginning to see a sublime ideal of a Loving Father (*) who holds all reality in his expansive and inclusive family.
     * Even though I will use the pronouns He, His, and Him throughout, simply because they are conventional, I do understand fully that God is not male or female, those are human biological designations.
     There has always been an innate knowing that there is (must be) something more than we can perceive with our physical senses. Read history and you will see the fascinating progress of civilizations. It obviously moves from those old and foolish ideas to more advanced (and, as always, in need of update) newer ideas. Nonetheless, there is a steady, and hopefully inevitable, transformation in our consciousness to a more sophisticated and appropriate human/Divine interaction.
     Our ideas about God have changed to reflect the progressing times. The God Concept held by differing religious institutions is the central value-proposition forming their group faith. And since organized religion is one of the pillars of civilization, each advancement will upgrade the whole world. But the God Concept is more important for the individual, whether held in consort with a formalized religion or simply held as a private belief. This is the real foundation of each person’s ideas about how they, and other people, should act and interact. This is the real basis of civility. Remember, civilization is built upon civility.
     Our first ideas about God come from others: family, clan, school, and church. But as we grow, we begin to...

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ORIGINAL PUBLICATION & COPYRIGHT of The Book of Positive Qualities - 1996
COMPLETE RE-EDIT & UPDATE - 2022-2024

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES
• Love is all-embracing of truth, beauty, and goodness. (5:4.6) — The Urantia Book {1955}

• Patriotism is not enough. But neither is anything else. Science is not enough; religion is not enough; art is not enough; politics and economics are not enough - nor is love, nor is duty, nor is action - however disinterested - nor, however sublime, is contemplation.
Nothing short of everything will really do.
— Aldous Leonard Huxley (1894–1963) English writer & philosopher

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DEDICATION & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My parents: Eileen Sheehan Downs, & John Preston Downs
My siblings: Eileen, Johnny, Joey, Jerry, Mary, Shawn, Peggy, Nancy, Dermod, & Vincent
Special loved ones: Fr. Shawn Sheehan, Jenny Tasker, Anita Flora, Judy Kain
Special thanks: Liz Wood, Marie Fox, Coleen Ostlund

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PREFACE
         What is more valuable: gold or goodness, platinum or prudence, silver or self‑esteem?

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I have always been interested in ultimates and cosmic meanings: Why do we exist? What are the most important things to do and be in life? What are the true values? This book is my answer to these questions. I decided to gather a complete list of positive qualities. After years of searching I have a list over 3,100. One thousand two hundred are featured here.
     These are not just words; they are inspirational ideals with high‑minded meanings and intrinsic value. Word symbols are powerful. They are catalysts for thoughts and feelings. Because of ideas formed with words people make choices and take action. This action either helps or hinders them or others.
     I have no doubt the answers in this book will harmonize with some of your own. I also hope some of your beliefs are challenged. There is no...

Definition: dignified, serious, and/or solemn of manner

Quote:
• There are six elements of gravitas critical to leadership: grace under fire, decisiveness, emotional intelligence and the ability to read a room, integrity and authenticity, a vision that inspires others, and a stellar reputation. — Sylvia Ann Hewlett (1946-) English economist
• It would be awesome to be so impressive that we could sway people to our way of thinking just by declaiming our thoughts, but probably most of us lack such gravitas. Luckily, there's something even better: evidence, logic, and argument. — Barry Mark Eisler (1964-) American novelist

Definitions: (1) showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for; (2) having an eager desire for <often intense>

Derivation: Latin, “to crave”

Too Far: obsessive

Quote: Thomas Young was born in 1731 in upstate New York. The child of impoverished Irish immigrants, he grew up in a log cabin without the benefit of a formal education. But he was an avid reader who began collecting books at a young age and eventually amassed one of the finest personal libraries in New England. — Matthew Stewart (1963-) American philosopher

Comment: If you have an avid interest in something, find other like-minded folks to share it with.

Definition: (1) a moment of sudden revelation or insight <often religious in nature>; (2) a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being

Derivation: Greek, “reveal”

Quotes:
• Without the quest, there can be no epiphany. — Constantine E. “Dino” Scaros Ph.D. (1945-) American professor, author, & historian
• An epiphany enables you to sense creation not as something completed, but as constantly becoming, evolving, ascending. This transports you from a place where there is nothing new to a place where there is nothing old, where everything renews itself, where heaven and earth rejoice as at the moment of creation. — Abraham Isaac “Rav” Kook (1865–1935) Latvian Rabbi

Definition: (1) a thorough or dramatic change in form, appearance, or character; (2) a metamorphosis during the life cycle <animal, human, or project>; (3) any alteration in a thought process; a conversion
    See also: Changeable

Quotes:
• Life is a moving, breathing thing. We have to be willing to constantly evolve. Perfection is constant transformation. — Virenia “Nia” Peeples (1961-) American singer & actress
• Changing is not just changing the things outside of us. First of all, we need the right view that transcends all notions including of being and non-being, creator and creature, mind and spirit. That kind of insight is crucial for transformation and healing. — Thich Nhat Hanh [born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo] (1926–2022) Vietnamese monk & author

Comment:
• There are sudden but mostly subtle transformations. Leavening takes time to modify the mindset it is added to.
• The oldest, most fundamental, needs have always been around: food, shelter, companionship, love, etc. How we manifest them have been transforming ever since. Add new elements, features, qualities and they have new appeal.

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Definitions: (1) possessing intense or eager interest; zealous; fervent; (2) having a strong, exciting feeling; ardor

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Derivation: Greek, entheos: en “in,” theos “God,” i.e.: “possessed by God,” “supernatural inspiration”
     Note: Means both ‘God within’ and ‘within God.’
The Kingdom of Heaven is within you. — Jesus of Nazareth (7 bc-30 AD) The Bible, Luke 17:21
In Him we live and move and have our being. — Paul of Tarsus (c. 5 BC-67 ad) The Bible, Acts 17:28

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Compatible Quality: stamina

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Quote: In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on perseverance. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German polymath [eight disciplines]

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Comment: Enthusiasm is a hard quality to keep juiced. You eventually run out of energy. Keeping up your health helps. Connecting yourself with what is motivating, personally and altruistically, helps. When you are working on something valuable, that value infuses you with the interest - a good enough reason to proceed.

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Consideration: Sometimes you don’t get the joy of enthusiasm from doing a task, all you get is the doing of it and the relief of finishing it.

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Observation: When you first start something big or important, you may have just broken through the fears of your own negative “what if’s,” those oppressive possibilities that, until now, have prevented you from positive action. When you overcome this swamp of negative potential pitfalls, you have risen your sight to the clear blue sky, to the bright sunshine of optimistic possibilities. Now you are given the gift of enthusiasm to start you on your way. You have taken the first decisive steps. You have faced what surely seems to be a difficult, yet reasonable reality, and...

Definitions: (1) supervising or taking care of an organization &/or property; (2) responsible for clientele needs

Quotes:
• Good stewardship of the environment and our natural resources is necessary. — Cindy Hyde-Smith (1959-) American politician
• Well done, good and faithful steward; you have been faithful over a few essentials, and I will now set you over many; enter you into the joy of your lord. — The Bible, Matthew 25:21

Definitions: (1) the study of the physical and natural world based on the methods and principles characterized by systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation; (2) the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses against the evidence obtained

Derivations: Latin, “to know;” Middle English, “knowledge”

Comment: Once the procedures of testing & verifications have been sufficiently processed, common knowledge grants its stamp of approval, and then the word proof can be applied to it. Nonetheless the scientific process always remains open for further advances. There will be better telescopes developed; new variables will be added for further testing; and new theories will be proposed.

Observation: Science needs more religion, not less. And religion needs more science. The two need each other. Science is a form of devotion, a kind of religion since it is based on the laws designed by God. — [Attributed to] Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (1564-1642) Italian astronomer, physicist, & engineer

Definitions: (1) in agreement; consistent; (2) in harmony

Derivation: Latin, "of the same mind"

Quote: Beautiful is a person whose outside and inside world are in great concord, camaraderie, and joint concert. — Anuj Lugun (1986-) Indian poet

Definitions: (1) devoting (one's time, effort, or energy) to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result; (2) provide or endow someone with (a particular quality or attribute)

Derivation: Latin, “to clothe”

Comment: A monetary investment does have a contractual two-way street. Some times it works out that both sides are rewarded equally.
     If you invest in someone emotionally (spouse, children, community) you are interested and supportive of their growth and welfare. But there is still an expectation that your gifts of time and love are reciprocated.
     God is invested in our well-being. It makes sense we would be willing to recognize and receive these gracious gifts (mater, mind, life, freewill, spirit, etc.) with some appreciation. God does not need a dividend. What we can contribute to the partnership is that we grow in grace.

Definitions: (1) constant in the performance of services; conscientious; (2) exhibiting true fidelity; loyal; true to allegiances; principled; (3) firmly adhering to responsibilities; honest; (4) can be counted on to keep promises; credible

Synonyms: consistent, incorruptible; trustworthy, bona fides <Latin: “good faith”>

Motto: Semper Fidelis (Latin): “Always faithful” — U.S. Marine Corps

Quote: Instead of ruling us by miracles, He has infused in us certain qualities that enable us to accomplish the divine purposes by ourselves – faith, loyalty, courage, tolerance. — Thomas Bertram Costain (1885-1965) The Silver Chalice {1952}

Symbol: the dog

Fictional Figure: Abdiel [Servant of God] was faithful during the Lucifer default – “faithfulness found among the faithless.” — John Milton (1608-1674) Paradise Lost {1667}

Definition: (1) existing at the same time; (2) occurring in real time over a time or space distance; (3) having the same period or phase
     See also: High-minded
     Note: The simultaneous occurrence of events which appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection. — The concept was introduced in 1952 by Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) Swiss psychiatrist

Derivation: Greek, “together in time”

Quotes:
• Synchronicity is really divine intelligence acting upon our thoughts. — James Van Praagh (1958-) American author
• The Queen to Alice: “It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.” Through the Looking-Glass (1871) — Charles Lutwidge Dodgson [aka: Lewis Carroll] (1832-1898) English author, poet, & photographer

Question: ‘Deep Thought’ in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979) was asked, “What is the true meaning of life, the universe, and everything?” It answered ’42.’ — Douglas Noël Adams (1952-2001) English author & humorist
     Note: Forty-two is the ASCII code for the asterisk (*). The meaning of the asterisk is “Whatever you want it to be.”

Definitions: (1) of heaven; divine; a blessed place <the place you go to after this earth life>; (2) of the heavens or sky; (3) very pleasing; wonderful

Quotes:
• Let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! — Henry Ward Beecher (1813–1887) American clergyman & social reformer
• Some people are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good. — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–1894) American physician, poet, & polymath [six disciplines]
     Note: Therefore mix and match heavenly values and earthly positive qualities.

Comment: The firmament (visible sky) just continues to get bigger as telescopes get more sophisticated. There is no reason our mental view cannot also absorb more information. And, of course, our spiritual nature (soul) is growing all the time.

Observation: There are may names for the afterlife, they include: Valhalla, The Elysian Fields, The Great Beyond, The Kingdom on High, The Pure Land, Shangri-La, Shambhala, The Place of Peace, The Hidden Land, The Summerland, or The Gardens of Bliss, Nirvana, Zion.

Symbols: 1) the night sky; 2) a pastoral setting

Definitions: (1) developing according to a plan <destined to become>; (2) certain to meet <a particular fate>; (3) focused on a goal

Derivation: Latin, “to stand”

Quotes:
• It can only be true love when you enable your other half to be better, to be the person they're destined to be. — Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng (1962-) Malaysian actress
• Never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place - that is, the unique you. Have an aim in life, continuously acquire knowledge, work hard, and have perseverance to realize the great life. — Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (1931–2015) Indian aerospace scientist and statesman; 11^th President of India

Reflection: If your goal is pure and heavenly enough it will be preordained.

Definitions: (1) absence of movement or sound; (2) still-mind or soul; reverence, serenity, tranquility, and/or peacefulness; (3) a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <dozing in the warm stillness of a summer afternoon>

Compatible Quality: humility

Quotes:
• The stillness in stillness is not the real stillness; only when there is stillness in movement does the universal rhythm manifest. — Bruce Lee [born Lee Jun-fan] (1940-1973) Hong Kong-American martial artist & actor
• Stillness is our most intense mode of action. It is in our moments of deep quiet that is born every idea, emotion, and drive, which we eventually honor with the name of action. We reach highest in meditation and farthest in prayer. In stillness, every human being is great. — Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) American orchestra conductor, composer, & humanitarian

Definitions: in common use; shared by all members of a community <work, property, debt, reward, etc.>

Compatible Qualities: individuality, integrity, inter-communal, teamwork

Quotes:
• Jazz is a very democratic musical form. It comes out of a communal experience. We take our respective instruments and collectively create a thing of beauty.  — Maxwell Lenuel Roach (1924–2007) American jazz drummer
• Science is imagination in the service of the verifiable truth, and that service is indeed communal. It cannot be rigidly planned. Rather, it requires freedom and courage and the plural contributions of many different kinds of people who must maintain their individuality while giving to the group. — Gerald Maurice Edelman (1929–2014) American Nobel Prize biologist

Definitions: (1) having the power of awareness by the senses; conscious; (2) able to perceive or feel things; (3) the conscious mind

Quotes:
• Mind cannot operate without facts. (111:6.6) — The Urantia Book {1955}
• Mind ever intervenes between spirit and matter; therefore is the universe illuminated by three kinds of light: material light, intellectual insight, and spirit luminosity. (0:6.8) — The Urantia Book {1955}

Definition: (1) denoting an underlying basis or principle; fundamental; (2) the underpinning for a (or the) reality; (3) load-bearing; baseline

Synonym: a priori: The most fundamental and foundational assumptions (presumed or held strongly) as the basis of all personal subjective reality.

Saying: Be your own foundation.

Quotes:
• The world works by mathematical rules. Consider it ˗˗ numbers are ideas, they are qualities in our minds that we abstract by looking at the world. — Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (1564-1642) Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer
• A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being. — James Esdras Faust (1920–2007) American LDS leader & lawyer

Comment: Energy is the basis of all physical reality, logic is the structure of the mind, moral self-consciousness constitutes the foundation of the soul, perfection-hunger is based on goodness, and all of Reality is constructed on Infinite Love.

Human Definitions: (1) disposed to forgive, be kind, or offer help; tender; (2) ready to show clemency; compassionate; (3) eager to relieve suffering; kindhearted; proffer sympathy

Synonyms: Mercy implies compassion that forbears immediate punishment; charity stresses benevolence with tolerant good will and broad understanding of others; clemency implies a mild disposition by one having the power or duty to punish; grace implies a benign attitude and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions; lenity implies lack of severity in punishing.

Quote: Mercy is a quality of growth. You should realize that there is a great reward of personal satisfaction in first being just, next fair, then patient, then kind. And then, on that foundation, if you choose and have it in your heart, you can take the next step and really show mercy. (28:6.2,4) — The Urantia Book {1955}

Reflection: A person who has done a disservice, dishonor, or wrong will need to make up for this fact. One of the first steps is to apologize. But apology may not be enough. It may be necessary to perform some kind of compensation either to the individual or to the community.
     When is the compensation complete? Has the person become one who would not do again what was done? Have they transformed themselves into a trustworthy person?
     The person wronged needs to set aside their grievance to judge if the apology is sincere, and if so, accept it; then, in due time, grant forgiveness.

Comment: One of our current human definitions of mercy is to let someone off easy, even though they deserve punishment. This is not God’s way. He would not remove our opportunity to learn from our mistakes. One of the most sacred qualities we can acquire is responsibility. He knows we can learn to be accountable for our actions. We reap exactly what we sow – good or ill.

Color: blue

Definitions: (1) that which cannot be confused; (2) a bedrock reality

Derivation: Latin, “not violently shaken”

Quote: Truth is inconcussible—forever exempt from all transient vicissitudes, albeit never dead and formal, always vibrant and adaptable—radiantly alive. But when truth becomes linked with fact, then both time and space condition its meanings and correlate its values. (118:3.3) — The Urantia Book {1955}

Definitions: (1) the quality or state of being grand; awe-inspiring magnificence; (2) pushing the limits of; sumptuous, extravagant

Quotes:
• If you’re ever thinking ‘Oh, but I’m a waste of space, I’m a burden’ remember, that also describes the Grand Canyon. — Maria Bamford (1970) American actress
• Grandeur and sublimity, not softness, are the features of Estes Park. The glades which begin so softly are soon lost in the dark primeval forests, with their peaks of rosy granite and their stretches of granite blocks piled and poised by nature in some mood of fury. — Isabella Lucy Bishop (née Bird) (1831–1904) English explorer

Definitions: (1) persuasive and moving expression; (2) vividly and artfully revealing

Quotes:
• Brevity is a great charm of eloquence. — Marcus Tullius Cicero (106– 43 BC) Roman statesman
• Eloquent speech is not from lip to ear, but rather from heart to heart. — William Jennings Bryan (1860–1925) American orator
• Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning. — Frederick William Faber (1814–1863) English hymn-writer & theologian

Mythological Figure: The Roman god Mercury was eloquent as a mediator and during commerce.

Symbol: jasmine flowers

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Definitions: (1) able to manage one’s own temperament; self-control; apatheia <mastery of the passions> (2) able to curtail one’s own appetites <especially restraint in order to keep within (social or moral) bounds>; (3) exercising authority over one’s self or others; in command <able to set things in order>

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Compatible Quality: self-forgetful

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Poetry:
Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.
— William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Hamlet {1603}

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Quote: Rare is the person who can weigh the faults of others without putting his thumb on the scales. — Byron Joseph Langenfeld (1909-1996) American humorist

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Reflections:
• You cannot control the facts of the past. But you can control your attitude toward the facts of the past. You can control your attitude and judgment about the present and what you will do in the future. You cannot control what other people do, or how they think, or who they are. You can influence them, but only if they are willing or susceptible to your example or power.
     Recognize what you actually have control over and what you do not have control of. It is useless to try to control what is not yours to control.
• There is also negative control: fear, torture, sleep deprivation, threats of harm to loved ones, threats of loss of job, or loss of life. If one is to encompass the positive aspects of control one needs to persuade with logic, emotion, spiritual flavor, experience, love, nurturing, and so on, to help others recognize their own values and move forward at their own pace.
     Christ suggested we love our enemies. If we do, we will help them get in touch with their divine selves, just as we would our friends. We find ourselves within an evolutionary process. Progress is truer if it is focused on the positive....

Definitions: (1) to make a situation better or even perfect; (2) having a set of qualities essential for the team to operate more efficiently; (3) the ability to enhance or emphasize the qualities of others

Quotes:
• Constancy is the complement of all other human virtues. — Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–1872) Italian politician & journalist
• After mutual respect and understanding are achieved, it is possible to establish real, sincere relationships, which is the foundation of a solid long-term collaboration. — Ronald John Garan Jr. (1961-) NASA astronaut

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We, the Member States of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), meeting in New York this 27th day of September 2012,

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Recalling the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming the principle of the sovereign equality of all nations;

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Reaffirming further the 1972 Stockholm Declaration, the 1992 Rio Declaration and the 2012 Rio+20 outcome document, “ The future we want”;

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Reaffirming that the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) and the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (MSI) remain the essential blueprints for addressing the sustainable development needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). In this regard, we remain fully committed to ensuring the full and effective implementation of the BPOA and the MSI and we urge our development partners to provide, in a timely and predictable manner, financial and technical support to ensure the successful implementation of the BPOA and MSI;

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Reaffirming that SIDS remain a special case for sustainable development in view of our unique and particular vulnerabilities, including our small size, remoteness, narrow resource and export base, and exposure to global environmental challenges and external economic shocks, including to a large range of impacts from climate change and more frequent and intense natural disasters;

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Welcoming the Third Global Conference for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States in 2014 to inter alia, seek a renewed political commitment by the international community, be action oriented and mobilize resources. We call on the international community to support this conference;

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Calling on the United Nations General Assembly to designate 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States to raise...

We, the Heads of African States and Governments assembled in the City of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
Convinced that it is the inalienable right of all people to control their own destiny,
Conscious of the fact that freedom, equality, justice and dignity are essential objectives for the achievement of the legitimate aspirations of the African peoples,
Conscious of our responsibility to harness the natural and human resources of our continent for the total advancement of our peoples in all spheres of human endeavour,
Inspired by a common determination to promote understanding among our peoples and cooperation among our states in response to the aspirations of our peoples for brother-hood and solidarity, in a larger unity transcending ethnic and national differences,
Convinced that, in order to translate this determination into a dynamic force in the cause of human progress, conditions for peace and security must be established and maintained,
Determined to safeguard and consolidate the hard-won independence as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our states, and to fight against neo- colonialism in all its forms,
Dedicated to the general progress of Africa,
Persuaded that the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to the Principles of which we reaffirm our adherence, provide a solid foundation for peaceful and positive cooperation among States,
Desirous that all African States should henceforth unite so that the welfare and well- being of their peoples can be assured,
Resolved to reinforce the links between our states by establishing and strengthening common institutions,

Have agreed to the present Charter.

The Parties to this Treaty reaffirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all governments.

They are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. They seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area.

They are resolved to unite their efforts for collective defence and for the preservation of peace and security. They therefore agree to this North Atlantic Treaty :

Stemming from the Arab Nation's faith in the dignity of man; from when God favoured it by making the Arab nation the cradle of monotheistic religions and the birthplace of civilisation; which has reaffirmed [man's] right to a life of dignity based on freedom, justice and peace.

Having achieved the everlasting principles established by the Islamic Shari'a and the other divine religions enshrined in brotherhood and equality amongst human beings.

Cherishing the humanitarian values and principles which [the Arab Nation] has established throughout its long history, having had a major role in spreading centres of knowledge between East and West, and made it the destination of people from all over the world and of those seeking knowledge, culture and wisdom.

For the Arab World, from one end to the other, has continued to call for preserving its belief, having faith in its unity, struggling for its freedom, defending the right of nations to self determination and to preserve their wealth, and believing in the Rule of Law, and that mankind's enjoyment of freedom, justice and equal opportunity is the hallmark of the profound essence of any society.

Rejecting racism and Zionism, both of which constitute a violation of human rights and a threat to world peace.

Recognising the close link between human rights and world peace.

Reaffirming the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the provisions of the two United Nations International Convenants, on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam.

Affirming all the above, [these governments] agree to the following:

IN THE NAME OF THEIR PEOPLES, THE STATES REPRESENTED AT THE

NINTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN STATES,

Convinced that the historic mission of America is to offer to man a land of liberty and a favorable environment for the development of his personality and the realization of his just aspirations;

Conscious that that mission has already inspired numerous agreements, whose essential value lies in the desire of the American peoples to live together in peace and, through their mutual understanding and respect for the sovereignty of each one, to provide for the betterment of all, in independence, in equality and under law;

Convinced that representative democracy is an indispensable condition for the stability, peace and development of the region;

Confident that the true significance of American solidarity and good neighborliness can only mean the consolidation on this continent, within the framework of democratic institutions, of a system of individual liberty and social justice based on respect for the essential rights of man;

Persuaded that their welfare and their contribution to the progress and the civilization of the world will increasingly require intensive continental cooperation;

Resolved to persevere in the noble undertaking that humanity has conferred upon the United Nations, whose principles and purposes they solemnly reaffirm;

Convinced that juridical organization is a necessary condition for security and peace founded on moral order and on justice; and

In accordance with Resolution IX of the Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace, held in Mexico City,

HAVE AGREED upon the following

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The peoples of Europe, in creating an ever closer union among them, are resolved to share a peaceful future based on common values.

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Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice.

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The Union contributes to the preservation and to the development of these common values while respecting the diversity of the cultures and traditions of the peoples of Europe as well as the national identities of the Member States and the organisation of their public authorities at national, regional and local levels; it seeks to promote balanced and sustainable development and ensures free movement of persons, services, goods and capital, and the freedom of establishment.

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To this end, it is necessary to strengthen the protection of fundamental rights in the light of changes in society, social progress and scientific and technological developments by making those rights more visible in a Charter.

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This Charter reaffirms, with due regard for the powers and tasks of the Union and for the principle of subsidiarity, the rights as they result, in particular, from the constitutional traditions and international obligations common to the Member States, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Social Charters adopted by the Union and by the Council of Europe and the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Communities and of the European Court of Human Rights. In this context the Charter will be interpreted by the courts of the...

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED

• to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
• to regain faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
• to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
• to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

AND FOR THESE ENDS

• to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and
• to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
• to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
• to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS

Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." — The Committee on Style led by Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816) American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution
Note about Morris: While most Americans still thought of themselves as citizens of their respective states, Morris advanced the idea of being a citizen of a single union of states. He was also one of the most outspoken opponents of slavery among those who were present at the Constitutional Congress which took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution

Comment: The Preamble to the Constitution is an introductory, succinct statement of the principles at work in the full text. It is referred to in countless speeches, judicial opinions, and in a song from Schoolhouse Rock. Courts will not interpret the Preamble to confer any rights or powers not granted specifically in the Constitution. — Legal Information Institute of Cornell Law School

Definitions: (1) causing, feeling, or expressing thanks; appreciative; (2) affording pleasure; agreeable; acceptable

Synonym: refreshing

Quote: Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life. — Joel Scott Osteen (1965-) American pastor

Prayer:
Gratitude to Mother Earth – sailing through night and day and to her soul, rich, rare, and sweet.
Gratitude to plants – facing light, changing leaf, and fine root hairs, standing still through wind and rain.
Gratitude to air – bearing the soaring, the swift, and the silent owl at dawn.
Gratitude to wild beings – our brothers, teaching secret ways of freedom; who share with us their milk, their self – complete, brave, and aware.
Gratitude to water, clouds, lakes, and glaciers – holding or releasing, streaming through all our bodies salty seas.
Gratitude to the sun – blinding pulsing light through trunks of trees, through mists, warming caves where bears and snakes sleep.
Gratitude to the great sky – holding billions of stars – and yet goes beyond, beyond all powers and thoughts – and yet is within us. — Mohawk, The People of the Shards of Light

Comment: Gratitude is a key to abundance, fulfillment, and a happy life. Gratitude is a general antidote to any downward spiral of stress, depression, or conflict. Even when a painful or melancholy attitude is upon you, with gratitude you have a lifeline to the surface. You will still have to deal with the difficulties at hand, but you will be able to do so with a more chipper outlook.
     Cultivate the attitude of gratitude.

Observation: Normally stress is considered a bother, yet knowing how to deal with difficulty crates a necessary balance. The word eustress means “beneficial stress.”

Symbol: lisianthus flowers

Definitions: (1) characterized by or expressing kindly feelings; (2) desiring to help others; charitable

Derivation: Latin, “well wishing”

Synonyms: beneficent, benign, bounteous, congratulatory, generous, goodwilled, kindhearted, munificent, philanthropic

Quotes:
• Peace is not mere absence of war, but is a virtue that springs from a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, and justice. — Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677) Portuguese philosopher
• Think of the universe as a benevolent parent. A child may want a tub of ice-cream and marshmallows, but a wise parent will give it fruits and vegetables instead. That is not what the child wants, but it is what the child needs. — Srikumar S. Rao (1951-) Indian excellence author

Observation: Only an advanced civilization recognizes a consistently even-tempered and benevolent God.

Divine Definitions: (1) The ability of The Creator to be close to His creation; to be intimate with every creature; (2) Potential for both The Creator and the created to move toward each other; (3) Possible for the created to emulate The Creator in character or quality; (4) Having easy and open access; friendly; (5) Able to be appreciated; (6) Able to be contacted; findable; (7) Worthy of being prayed to

Comments:
• Several qualities attributed to God are His only in relation to others. God is accessible to His family of created beings. We exist. He exists. He wants the best for us; therefore, He has designed the universe so we can choose to approach His perfection.
• Considering the infinite distance, we have to go, the best we can do in this lifetime in our attempt to approach God is to face the right direction. He does everything he can to help us find Him. No matter how close to The Absolute we may get, there will always be an absolute distance to go.

ACCESSIBLE
Human Definitions: (1) approachable; (2) easy to get along with; (3) open

Synonyms: attainable, complaisant, courteous, friendly, sociable

Quotes:
• Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. — Charles William Eliot (1834–1926) American president of Harvard
• Empathy is the most mysterious transaction that the human soul can have, and it's accessible to all of us, but we have to give ourselves the opportunity to identify, to plunge ourselves in a story where we see the world from the bottom up or through another's eyes or heart. — Sue Monk Kidd (1948-) American writer

Definitions: (1) like an angel in beauty, goodness, innocence, purity, or kindness (2) having spiritual qualities; heavenly-minded

Derivation: “EL" is a Jewish name for God. ‘EL’ is added to many names. Examples: Angel = messenger of God; Ariel = Lion of God; Daniel = God is my judge; Gabriel = God is my strength; Haniel = God is my grace; Raziel = God is my mystery; Sariel = God is my ruler; Uriel = God is my flame.

Quotes:
• Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, “Grow, grow.” — The Midrash Rabba, Bereshis 10:6 {1545}
• Make friends with the angels who, though invisible, are always with you. — Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Italian preacher and writer

Comment: How angels serve humans may not be what you think – but what you need. 

Symbol: babies breath flowers

Definitions: (1) rising above or going beyond limits; extending ordinary experience; surpassing; (2) the potential actualization of physical, mental, and spiritual reality; (3) exceeding in excellence; supreme; superior; (4) not constrained by subjective understanding, conjecture, or experience; objective; (5) said of the Divine Being <i.e., prior to, beyond, and above material existence>; independent of the physical universe

Quotes:
• Spiritual transcendence is never satisfied; its potential is unlimited. — Abraham Harold Maslow (1908-1970) American psychologist
• To abandon the struggle for private happiness, to expel all eagerness of temporary desire, to burn with passion for eternal things--this is emancipation, and this is the free man's worship. — Bertrand Arthur William Russell (1872–1970) A Free Man's Worship {1903}

Comments:
• One can know truth, not only in an intellectual sense but also in an ontological sense. There are perceptions beyond scientific or philosophical keening.
• It has become common to think transcendence means to leave what is unwanted behind. It would be unwise, and therefore less valuable, to forget our hard-earned lessons – better to bring everything along as your true and full experience. In genetics “junk” DNA is an important part of our basic structure, even though entire species which created these unique traits are long extinct. We learn and grow from our mistakes as well as from our successes.

Definitions: (1) making intentional progress toward a desired goal; (2) taking step, small of large, in the right direction; (3) creative thinking to make real a dynamic vision; dreaming; (4) that which stirs the soul; impressive; (5) keeping up with a modern milieu; (6) taking the best of the past into the future; (7) arousing tenderness or compassion; (8) physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual growth; (9) zappy <inclined to move quickly>

Quotes:
• Do not the most moving moments of our lives find us without words? — Marcel Marceau (1923-2007) French actor & mime
• If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) German Lutheran theologian

Analogies:
• Driving down the golden road.
• Slipping, sliding, and slithering through the slush.

Affirmations:
• I am able to overcome inertia.
• I am able to overcome adversity.
• I am grateful for all the moments that I have, and I'm moving forward one step at a time to the future. — Park Bo-gum (1993-) South Korean actor

Comment: Some things need to be eased into, and others to be hit head on.

Question: Am I moving heavenward?

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Divine Definitions: (1) God fills all and knows all; comprehensive; (2) Extant through finite evolution up to Universe Destiny; (3) The instigator of the growth of personalities and the amplifier of reality; The One who makes the future possible; (4) Possessing the largest measure of benevolence; the most broad-minded; (5) Possessing the maximum of magnificence in generosity, open-heartedness, and sympathy; (6) Abundant; stupendous; (7) Spreading out; unfolding

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Comment: God has given people the ability to turn potentials into actuals, i.e., growth. The potentials in an infinite universe are limitless therefore growth is ever-expansive – forever. Our capacity is ever-increasing.
     We will eventually be able to revisit all of the possibilities we missed due to circumstances, negligence, or poor choices. We will be given a chance to accomplish all of the opportunities we left unfulfilled.

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EXPANDING
Human Definitions: (1) enlarging in range or scope; unfolding; becoming more comprehensive; opening; developing in detail; (2) spreading positive ideas or ideals; (3) possessing a large measure of benevolence; broad-minded, generous, open-hearted, and sympathetic

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Synonyms: amplifying, diffusing, dilating, extending, swelling

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Quotes:
• The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. — Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841-1935) American Poet
• The more you zoom in and focus on the details, the closer to the invisible and immeasurable qualities - like consciousness and energies - you get. And expanding outwards, into the cosmos, you learn more about the invisible or perceptible things. — Adrianne Elizabeth Lenker (1991-) American musician

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Comment: When you make someone your enemy, you shrink your consciousness;...

Definitions: (1) dignity of personality or character; august; noble; (2) splendid; elevated; stately; (3) admirably magnanimous

Derivation: Old French, “grandeur, greatness”

Synonyms: composed, esteemed, prestigious

Quote: The human face is the organic seat of beauty. It is the register of value in development, a record of Experience, whose legitimate office is to perfect the life, a legible language to those who will study it, of the majestic mistress, the soul. — Eliza Farnham (1815–1864) American novelist

Definitions: (1) the facility to move smoothly from one thing to another; (2) able to think and reason abstractly – and yet logically - to solve problems; fluid-minded; (3) the natural talent to navigate an appropriate path forward or through; coming up with problem-solving strategies

Derivation: Latin: “solid,” “thick”

Idiom: Go with the flow.

Quotes:
• The future is fluid. Each act, each decision, and each development creates new possibilities and eliminates others. The future is ours to direct. —  Jacque Fresco (1916–2017) American futurist
• Many of the successful people, historical and contemporary, shared certain common traits. They had a way of thinking that was exceptionally fluid; they could adapt to almost any circumstance; when confronted with problems, they could look at them from novel perspectives and solve them. — Robert Greene (1959-) American author

Definitions: (1) having similar ideas, tastes, thoughts, or opinions; (2) in sync on purpose, ideals, or habit; compatible

Quotes:
• A small group of determined and like-minded people can change the course of history. —  Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) Indian lawyer and peacemaker
• People will help each other because there is a sense of camaraderie that springs up, which is a survival tactic. And that is incredibly reassuring. — Amanda Ripley (1975-) American journalist & author.

Comment: The primary thought patterns of the human race as a whole are the reality we so often complain about.

Definition: a delight in being alive; carefree, buoyant enjoyment

Derivation: French, “joy of living”

Quotes:
• Do not lose joy in life as you grow old in years. Let not your joie de vivre be crushed under the weight of years. — Zoroaster (c. 600 bc) Iranian poet-prophet
• Photography can fix eternity in a moment. There is such intensity in an image, such spontaneity, such joie de vivre, such miraculousness, that even today it still bowls me over. — Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908–2004) French photographer & artist

Comment: Living is not often as joyous as the phrese implies. None-the-less it is worth trying to make the best of what comes. Every experience is valuable in some way. It involves one's whole being.

Symbol: a full head of hair

Definition: practical; realistic; straightforward

Quotes:
• The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul. — Alfred Austin (1835–1913) English poet
• While we live our bodies are moving particles of the earth, joined inextricably both to the soil and to the bodies of other living creatures. It is hardly surprising, then, that there should be some profound resemblances between our treatment of our bodies and our treatment of the earth. — Wendell Berry (1934-) American, sixth generation Kentucky farmer & poet

Symbols: 1) the cube; 2) the square; 3) the number four

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Definitions: (1) characterizes one who gives up resentment, stops anger, or pardons wrongs (or perceived wrongs); reconciliation; (2) giving up all claim to punish or exact a penalty; overlooking or abandoning vengeful feelings

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Synonyms: absolving, exculpating, excusing, exonerating, releasing

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Balancing Qualities: Communication, Imagination

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Familial Qualities: acceptance, tolerance

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Significant Date: International forgiveness week is the first week of February.

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Saying: Ira furor brevis est (Latin): “Anger is a brief madness.”

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Dictum: To err is human; to forgive, divine. — Alexander Pope (1688-1744) English poet

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Metaphor:  Forgiveness is the fragrance of the violet that clings fast to the heel that crushed it.

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Proverb: Anger is as a stone cast into a wasp’s nest. — Malabar

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Quotes:
• Forgiveness can purify memory. It can travel through time and history breathing life into the killing fields, into the collective soul of nations, into the lives of its brutalized citizens. — Pope John Paul II [born Karol Józef Wojtyła] (1920-2005) the 264^th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church
• If you’re harboring the slightest bitterness toward anyone, or any unkind thoughts of any sort whatsoever, you must get rid of them quickly. They aren’t hurting anyone but you. It is said that hate injures the hater not the hated. — Peace Pilgrim [born Mildred Lisette Norman] (1908-1981) Steps Toward Inner Peace {2021}
• Nature does abhor a vacuum, and when you begin moving out of your life what you do not want, you automatically are making way for what you do want. By letting go of the lesser, you...

Definitions: (1) possessing the power of seeing beforehand; prescience; (2) having thoughtful regard or provision for the future; prudent forethought; (3) exhibiting the ability to project to oneself and others the consequences of actions to be taken (and proceeding if possible and curtailing if unwise)

Quote: Lacking foresight, evolution is simply opportunistic, retaining those features that were available when opportunity knocked. … It even created the capacity for music and poetry and humor – somehow. — William H. Calvin (1939-) American theoretical neurophysiologist; The River That Flows Uphill {1986}

Comment: All of the confusion, frustration, and sorrow caused by war, greed, corruption, and ignorance have a hope of being mitigated if large numbers of people, individually, decide to focus on some general good. People may turn to the positive because they are tired of the misery they have wrought upon themselves and others. We can have the foresight to seek the light beyond our own desires.
     The most permanent of these disasters is the ongoing destruction of plants, animals, and habitats which may take another hundred generations to rebuild - if they can come back at all.
     We need to extend our vision into the future. But more importantly we need to extend our love and concern to those people who will be facing these sad consequences. After all, they are our children.

Definition: self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation; patient; long-suffering

Familial Qualities: determined, stick-to-itive

Quotes:
• The two powers which constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing. — Epictetus (50-135) Greek Stoic philosopher
• Forbearance is the root of quietness and assurance forever. — Tokugawa Ieyasu [born Matsudaira Takechiyo] (1543–1616) Founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan

Comment: Forbearance is greater than tolerance, greater than patience, greater, even, than long-suffering. It includes a clarity of understanding, and a knowing faith, in the truth that all things work together for the greatest good.

Symbol: the ox

Definition: being of the very best quality; exceptionally good; first-class; tip-top; of great worth; superior; admirable; crackerjack

Derivation: Latin, “out, beyond, lofty”

Synonyms: choice, par excellence, prime, sterling, transcendent

Quotes:
• Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time. — Habeeb Akande (~1990's-) British-Nigerian writer
• When you write down your ideas you automatically focus your full attention on them. Few, if any of us, can write one thought and think another at the same time. Thus a pencil and paper make excellent concentration tools. — Michael LeBoeuf (1942-) American business author

Definition: irresistibly attractive; bewitching; fascinating

Synonyms: captivating, enrapturing, entrancing, ravishing

Compatible Quality: trusting

Poetry:
'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view,
and robes the mountain in its azure hue.
— Thomas Campbell (1763–1854) Irish minister, religious reformer on the American frontier

Quotes:
• The enchanting charms of this sublime science reveal only to those who have the courage to go deeply into it. — Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855) German mathematician & geodesist
• I have always tried to live by the 'awe principle.' That is: Can I find awe, wonder, and enchantment in the most mundane things conceivable? — Craig M. Hatkoff (1954-) American author & entrepreneur

Symbol: sweet william flowers

Definitions: (1) grace and dignified in fine design, manner, or style; luxurious in a restrained, tasteful way; first-rate; (2) characterized by a sense of propriety and refinement; fastidious; (3) excellent; savoir-vivre <ability to live elegantly>

Compatible Quality: Arbiter Elegantiarum (Latin): “judge of elegance”

Quotes:
• What is elegance? Soap and water! — Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton (1904–1980) British photographer & designer
• Genius ain't anything more than elegant common sense. — Josh Billings [[born Henry Wheeler Shaw] (1818-1885) American humorist

Definitions: (1) preparation of the mental, moral, and physical powers by instruction, self-management, and exercise; (2) the result of training; self-control; orderly conduct

Synonyms:  ascetic, self-correcting, self-educated, self-regulating

Compatible Qualities: commitment, striving

Quotes:
• Seek freedom and become captive to your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty. — Frank Patrick Herbert Jr. (1920-1986) Chapterhouse Dune {1985}
• Discipline is the bridge between thought and accomplishment ... the bridge between inspiration and value achievement ... the bridge between necessity and productivity. — Emanuel James “Jim” Rohn (1930-2009) American motivational speaker

Advice: What time of day are you the sharpest, most energetic, most clear-headed? Are you a morning person or a late-night person? Don’t fritter away this valuable time with mundane or routine tasks. Do the most difficult and important things at your optimum time.

Questions:
• What must I do?
• What will it take?
• Who must I become?

Symbol: the yoke

Definitions: (1) of high repute; worthy of honor; esteemed; noble; (2) loftiness of appearance or manner; stately; (3) calm self-possession and self-respect

Quotes:
• We are nothing if we walk alone; we are everything when we walk together in step with other dignified feet. — Rafael Sebastián Guillén Vicente (1957-) Mexican soldier
• Maturity is the ability to think, speak and act your feelings within the bounds of dignity. The measure of your maturity is how spiritual you become during the midst of your frustrations. — Samuel Ullman (1840–1924) American businessman, poet, & humanitarian

Color: violet

Symbol: sun-shade (Chinese)

Fictional Figure: Hermione is an example of “dignity without pride, love without passion, and tenderness without weakness.” — William Shakespeare (1564-1616) The Winter’s Tale {1623}

Definitions: (1) yielding to influence; tractable; (2) capable of responding or conforming to changing or new situations; (3) adaptable physically, emotionally, or mentally

Synonyms: pliable, pliant, supple

Too Far: wishy-washy

Quotes:
• Most moral codes say “either-or” . . . while the universe itself seems to be filled instead with a whole lot of “maybes.” — Glen David Brin (1950-) Earth {1990}
• Humor functions to lessen the shock of the unexpected impact of fact or of truth, rigid unyielding fact and flexible ever-living truth. The mortal personality, never sure as to which will next be encountered, through humor swiftly grasps—sees the point and achieves insight—the unexpected nature of the situation be it fact or be it truth. (48:4.18) — The Urantia Book {1955}

Reflection: Flexibility can be experienced on many levels. On the physical, a flexible set of muscles helps in your supple and graceful movement. On the intellectual/emotional levels, flexibility is essential for dealing with the variability of life’s situations and interactions with other people. And spiritually when one acquires a broad and balanced set of positive qualities, flexibility is an inevitable result.

Comments:
• Prisoners of war who survived first decided to survive and then were flexible enough to do and be whatever it took to survive.
• People have an incredible capacity to juxtapose seemingly impossible concepts in their psyche, such as killing for peace or cheating for success. Be aware of these incongruities and inconsistencies. If you find you are justifying a point of view, you could take that as a clue - you may be forcing a fit.

Definitions: (1) worthy of great respect; highly regarded; estimable; (2) motivated by principles of decency with a scrupulous regard to probity, rectitude, or reputation

Synonyms: dignity, nobility, renown, upright

Quotes:
• What is honored in a country is cultivated there. — Plato (428-348 bc) Greek philosopher
     Note also: What is honored in the self is also cultivated there.
• If children are expected to be honest, parents must be honest. If children are expected to be virtuous, parents must be virtuous. If you expect your children to be honorable, you must be honorable. —  James Esdras Faust (1920–2007) American president of the LDS church

Symbol: the turtle

Definitions: (1) using or showing vision, creativity, or productive talent; (2) able to conceptualize or feel a situation other than that within one’s personal experience

Synonyms: ideal, inventive, original, poetical, romantic

Too Far: Imagination taken to an animated level becomes fantasy. Fantasy taken too far makes for an unreal inner world. Balance your fantasy with hands-on experience and follow-through.

Quotes:
• What is now proved was once imagined. — William Blake (1757-1827) English poet
• Imagination is more important than knowledge. — Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-American physicist
• Most people look at what is and never see what can be. — Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-American physicist
• Don’t rely on words or equations until you can picture the idea they represent. — Lewis Carroll Epstein and Paul G. Hewitt (1930-) American physicists
• You can find in a text whatever you bring, if you will stand between it and the mirror of your imagination. You may not see your ears but they are there. — Mark Twain [born Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835-1910) American humorist
• Look about you this moment: Everything you see and touch was once [an] invisible idea until someone chose to bring it into being. Any powerful idea is absolutely fascinating and absolutely useless until we choose to use it. — Richard Bach (1936-) One {1988}

Comments:
• Reality responds to imaginings like lightning to a rod. There is a corresponding actual reality in direct proportion to the potential reality of your imagination.
• You can use your imagination against yourself too. We are very creative about how we should feel – good or bad. Most of our negative self-talk is pure imagination.

Color: yellow

Symbols: 1) wings; 2) flight; 3) the moon;4) Gemini (The Zodiac)

Definitions: (1) free from guilt or sin <especially through lack of knowledge of evil>; blameless; faultless; (2) without guile or cunning; lacking sophistication; ingenuous

Synonyms: clean-handed, immaculate, pure, simple, spotless, undefiled, virtuous

Quotes:
• Innocence is one of the most exciting things in the world. — Eartha Mae Kitt [born Eartha Mae Keith] (1927-2008) American singer & actress
• When men are innocent, life shall be longer, and shall pass into the immortal, as gently as we awake from dreams. — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American philosopher

Comment: The quality of innocence is normally attributed to the purity and beauty of a new baby. It is such a compelling quality we are instantly drawn to that bright bundle of pure potential. As time goes on, adding the qualities of sincerity, grace, charm, and wonder to innocence blossoms the personality dynamically into a splendid, mature soul.

Color: white

Symbols:1) sheep; 2) sweet pea & phlox flowers

Definition: (1) formed, coordinated, or blended into a functioning or unified whole; united; (2) complete, intact, or pure <the integrity of a pristine soul>; (3) able to see how things or people fit together in the most harmonious way

Quotes:
• When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it is tied to everything else in the universe. — John Muir (1838-1914) Scottish-born American naturalist
• At the end of the day, you are solely responsible for your success and your failure. And the sooner you realize that, you accept that, and integrate that into your work ethic, you will start being successful. — Edward Estlin [e. e.] Cummings (1894-1962) American poet

Symbols: 1) a necklace; 2) a sheaf; 3) interlocking fingers

Definitions: (1) the quality of being of sound moral principle; uprightness of character; incorruptible; (2) honest and sincere in a professional, intellectual, or artistic endeavor; reputable; (3) integration of self; maintenance of identity; (4) holding steadfastly true to one’s identity-conferring commitments; scrupulously principled; (5) standing up for ones best judgment with proper respect for the judgment of others

Compatible Qualities: complete, firm

Quotes:
• If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. — Alan Kooi Simpson (1931-) American politician [Wyoming Representative]
• Having a superpower has nothing to do with the ability to fly or jump, or superhuman strength. The truest superpowers are the ones we all possess: willpower, integrity, and most importantly, courage. —  Jason Reynolds (1983-) American author & poet

Observation: A person who has grit, meaning "plucky, spirited, courageous, and resolute" may also be considered to be held in the grip of integrity.

Suggestion: Trust the higher self to do what is right instead of manipulating the ego self to live up to your expectation.

Symbols: 1) a rock or stone; 2) the Lovers (Tarot)

Definitions: (1) responsive to the views of others; (2) tender or compassionate toward the feelings of others; (3) endowed with sensation; perceptive through the senses

Too Far: critical, temperamental, thin-skinned

Quotes:
• It is usually the imagination that is wounded first, rather than the heart; it being much more sensitive. — Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American author
• Some like to think that a keen appreciation of art can actually make us better people – more just, more moral, more sensitive, more understanding. Perhaps that is true. — Paul Benjamin Auster (1947-) American writer & film director
     Note: If the art one is appreciating was created by Ma Nature, it certainly is true.

Definitions: (1) being the same in actual character as in outward appearance; genuine; real; (2) simple and straightforward innocence; (3) truthful and honest; without deceit, pretense, or hypocrisy; (4) faithful

Saying: Ex animo (Latin): “from the heart”

Quotes:
• Sincerity is the single virtue that binds divinity and man in one. — Senge Takatomi (1845-1918) Japanese Shinto philosopher
• Mother Nature is always speaking. She speaks in a language understood within the peaceful mind of the sincere observer. Leopards, cobras, monkeys, rivers, and trees; they all serve as teachers. — Radhanath Swami [born Richard Slavin] (1950-) American Gaudiya Vaishnava guru

Comment: The primary quality saving a person from being an out and out fool is sincerity.

Consideration: There are some crucial qualities, a class of qualities one really cannot do without. First on the list would be sincerity. If you are sincere in your attempt to do the right thing – however you define it – you are succeeding in a very important aspect.

Advice: If you are motivated by, and have a genuine sincerity in what you do, you should never feel guilty. If you choose correctly, it will reinforce the positive. If you choose incorrectly, you will learn there is a better way. And if it is some of both, you will get to experience them both and learn what was right and what was wrong.

Color: blue

Definition: inclined to friendly communication; open to conversing; neighborly; agreeable to a free exchange of ideas

Balancing Quality: Attentive.
     Note: The best communicator is the person who is the best listener; one who is genuinely interested in the views and lives of others.

Compatible Quality: humorous, gracious

Familial Quality: companionable

Too Far: garrulous, nosy

Quote: We take our bearings, daily, from others. To be sane is, to a great extent, to be sociable. — John Hoyer Updike (1932-2009) American novelist

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Definitions: (1) happening, done, or said at a suitable moment, especially in order to achieve a desired effect; opportune; (2) arriving at the appointed time; well-timed; (3) appropriate or adapted to the times or the occasion; (4) a lifesaver

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Balancing Quality: Prepared

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Adage: Take the time to do it right, or you’ll find the time to do it over. — John Wooden (1910-2010) American basketball coach

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Idiom:  There is no time like the present.

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Quotes:
• For everything there is an appointed time, even a time for every affair under heaven. — The Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1
• Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. — Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American polymath [eight disciplines]
• Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small it takes time – and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time. — Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) American artist
• God … does not recognize earth-time. To the universe, four days is no different than four billion light years. — Robert James Waller (1939-2017) The Bridges of Madison County {1992}
• My hour has not yet come. — Jesus of Nazareth (7 BC-30 AD) Jewish theologian
     Note: Do not be forced into something you are not ready for. Be wise in your judgment of the best time to act.

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Affirmations:
• I have enough time to enjoy everything I do.
• I have enough time to do everything I need to do.

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Reflection: Your pace is not the same as that of another. Respect the pace of others. There is an ideal pace at which we each should proceed. You don’t want to be going too fast or too slow. Your pace may be restricted by your lack of courage, emotional blocks, comfort patterns, and belief systems. Even so, you can only proceed from where...

Definition: characterized by energetic activity; vital; vigorous

Balancing Qualities: Vibrancy is only as effective as the mastering of restraint. — Sara Genn (1972-) Canadian artist

Quote: We get to choose how we're going to live - what level of energy, what level of vibrancy, what level of excitement. — Brendon Burchard (1977-) Personal development author

Definitions: (1) zealous or ardent in loyalty or affection; faithful; (2) dedicated with great seriousness <as to a cause> (3) very faithful to a religious belief; worshipful; (4) sincere; earnest; fervent; heartfelt

Synonyms: holy; reverent

Too Far: fanatical

Quotes:
• Values can never be static; reality signifies change, growth. The greater the quality of cosmic adaptation, the more of meaning any experience possesses. Values are not conceptual illusions; they are real, but always they depend on the fact of relationships. Values are always both actual and potential—not what was, but what is and is to be. (100:3.5) — The Urantia Book {1955}
• We invest or devote ourselves because the other to which we commit has, for us, an intrinsic excellence or worth and because it promises to confer values on us. We value that which seems of transcendent worth and in relation to which our lives have worth. — James William Fowler (1940-2015) Stages of Faith, The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning {1981}

Comment: One is not devoted unless and until all one’s doubts are removed. We use our powers of logic, intuition, organizing, belief, commitment, and finally faith before we allow ourselves to be enveloped in the fires of pure devotion.

Color: blue

Symbol: lily of the valley

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Definitions: Definitions: (1) able to manage one’s own temperament; self-control; apatheia <mastery of the passions> (2) mental or emotional restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires especially in the face of self-described negative temptations; (3) able to curtail one’s own appetites <especially restraint in order to keep within (social or moral) bounds>; (4) exercising authority over one’s self or others; in command <able to set things in order>

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Compatible Quality: self-forgetful

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Poetry:
Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.
— William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Hamlet {1603}

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Quotes:
• Rare is the person who can weigh the faults of others without putting his thumb on the scales. — Byron Joseph Langenfeld (1909-1996) American humorist
• Human nature is complex. Even if we do have inclinations toward violence, we also have inclination to empathy, to cooperation, to self-control. — Steven Arthur Pinker (1954-) Canadian-American cognitive psychologist & psycholinguist

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Reflections:
• You cannot control the facts of the past. But you can control your attitude toward the facts of the past. You can control your attitude and judgment about the present and what you will do in the future. You cannot control what other people do, or how they think, or who they are. You can influence them, but only if they are willing or susceptible to your example or power.
     Recognize what you actually have control over and what you do not have control of. It is useless to try to control what is not yours to control.
• There is also negative control: fear, torture, sleep deprivation, threats of harm to loved ones, threats of loss of job, or loss of life. If one is to encompass the positive aspects of control one needs to persuade...

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Definitions: Definitions: (1) able to manage one’s own temperament; self-control; apatheia <mastery of the passions> (2) mental or emotional restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires especially in the face of self-described negative temptations; (3) able to curtail one’s own appetites <especially restraint in order to keep within (social or moral) bounds>; (4) exercising authority over one’s self or others; in command <able to set things in order>

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Compatible Quality: self-forgetful

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Poetry:
Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.
— William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Hamlet {1603}

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Quotes:
• Rare is the person who can weigh the faults of others without putting his thumb on the scales. — Byron Joseph Langenfeld (1909-1996) American humorist
• Human nature is complex. Even if we do have inclinations toward violence, we also have inclination to empathy, to cooperation, to self-control. — Steven Arthur Pinker (1954-) Canadian-American cognitive psychologist & psycholinguist

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Reflections:
• You cannot control the facts of the past. But you can control your attitude toward the facts of the past. You can control your attitude and judgment about the present and what you will do in the future. You cannot control what other people do, or how they think, or who they are. You can influence them, but only if they are willing or susceptible to your example or power.
     Recognize what you actually have control over and what you do not have control of. It is useless to try to control what is not yours to control.
• There is also negative control: fear, torture, sleep deprivation, threats of harm to loved ones, threats of loss of job, or loss of life. If one is to encompass the positive aspects of control one needs to persuade...

Definitions: (1) dedicated to worship; (1) devoted to one’s sacred duty; (3) recognition of that which is highly valuable and important
     See also: Holy

Derivation: Latin, “holy”
     Note: Sacred and sacrifice have the same root.

Quotes:
• Joy is finding the holy in the small and the sacred in every day. — Mary Davis Holt, American leadership coach
• There are four questions of value in life, Don Octavio. What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for? And what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love. — Lord George Gordon Byron (1788–1824) English romantic poet

Comment: Humans tend to get stuck in the historic understanding of what is sacred. We rightly reject the Golden Calf but hold on to the stories of reality from hundreds, even thousands of years ago. The scholars of those times had good moral, even farseeing ideals. But God is infinite and there will always be new revelations of Divine light unfolding in our minds and souls. Listen to the still small voice.

Definitions: (1) dedicated to worship; (1) devoted to one’s sacred duty; (3) recognition of that which is highly valuable and important

Derivation: Latin, “holy”
     Note: Sacred and sacrifice have the same root.

Quotes:
• Joy is finding the holy in the small and the sacred in every day. — Mary Davis Holt (~1960’s-) American leadership coach
• There are four questions of value in life. What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for? And what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love. — Lord George Gordon Byron (1788–1824) English romantic poet

Comment: Humans tend to get stuck in the historic understanding of what is sacred. We rightly reject the Golden Calf but hold on to the stories of reality from hundreds, even thousands of years ago. The scholars of those times had good moral, even farseeing, ideals. But God is infinite and there will always be new revelations of Divine light unfolding in our minds and souls. Listen to the still small voice.

Definitions: (1) one willing to expose themselves to danger, ranging from minor challenge to major peril; promethean <especially creative, courageous, and innovative>; (2) venturesome

Quote: The challenge is that the day before something is truly a breakthrough, it's a crazy idea. And crazy ideas are very risky to attempt. — Peter H. Diamandis (1961-) American engineer & entrepreneur

Comment: For a little kid wanting to ride a bike is worth the risk of scraped knees. But they don’t anticipate the pain, only the freedom. However, very few go on to conquer the unicycle.

Observation: The first circle is your comfort zone. Risk taking is lived in the second circle. And it is really risky if you get out to the third. Of course, these ‘circles of risk’ are relative to the individual.
     See also: Changeable

Definitions: (1) advancing or moving onward; (2) making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities; forward-looking; (3) marked by growth, reform, or continuing improvement

Quotes:
• I’ve seen this problem before; does that mean I am making progress or going in circles? — Michael Hanna (1950-) 100 Thought Adjusters {2007}
• If virtue promises happiness, prosperity and peace, then progress in virtue is progress in each of these for to whatever point the perfection of anything brings us, progress is always an approach toward it. — Epictetus (55-135) Greek stoic philosopher

Observation: To live in a complex society, progress is necessary.

Tip: If you concentrate on the openings instead of the obstacles, you will make progress.

Comment: The smallest of positive decisions, multiplied by a sincere intention to make it real, plus your other active positive qualities creates a proliferation of positive action. This leads to a more accurate assessment of what is the best action to take under any new circumstance.

Symbol: wings {Spiritual Evolution}

Definitions: (1) composed, dignified, and self-assured; (2) well-poised <being in balance or equilibrium>

Derivation: Latin, “equal weight”

Quotes:
• For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. — Audrey Kathleen Hepburn (1929–1993) British actress.
• It is to the mind of perfect poise, housed in a body of clean habits, stabilized neural energies, and balanced chemical function – when the physical, mental, and spiritual powers are in triune harmony of development – that a maximum of light and truth can be imparted with a minimum of temporal danger or risk to the real welfare of such a being. By such a balanced growth does man ascend… (110:6.4) — The Urantia Book {1955}

Definitions: (1) fond of fun; frisky; indulging in sportive fancy; frolicsome; (2) humorous; joking; (3) possessing a positive attitude which spills over into active cheerfulness; merry

Synonyms: gamboling, gay, jocund, lively, romping, sprightly, vivacious

Balancing Quality: Fair

Consequential Qualities: order, sharing
     Note: When a child, or anyone, plays they learn it is fun to be friendly with other individuals.

Proverb: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Quotes:
• Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child's soul. — Friedrich Frobel (1782-1852) German pedagogue, Founder of the first kindergarten {1837}
• The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves. — Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) Swiss psychiatrist
• In a sense, all science, all human thought, is a form of play. Abstract thought [is the way we are able] to continue to carry out activities which have no immediate goal (just as other animals play while young) in order to prepare... for long-term strategies and plans. — Jacob Bronowski (1908-1974) Polish-British mathematician

Symbols: 1) swings; 2) the seal; 3) viola flowers

Definitions: (1) acting as a helpful instrument or means; (2) giving care or aid; service-oriented; (3) providing information <often of a spiritual nature>; (4) fulfilling a duty prescribed by law, ethics, or morality; (5) an act in obedience to objective reality

Quotes:
• The true character of ministry is a servant’s heart. — Harold Ashton Warner (1917–2012) Australian journalist
• Love never ends or fails. Everything must be based on love - the relation between two friends, ministry, service; every field must be based on love. Why? Because God is Love. — Pope Theodoros II (840–897) 116^th Catholic Pope (Served only 20 days before dying)

Definition: devoted unreservedly <to an idea or a project>; engaged; pledged; bound

Synonyms: entrusted, confided, consigned

Saying: Have a can‑do attitude.

Quotes:
• Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. — Margaret Mead (1901-1978) American cultural anthropologist
• Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no one could have dreamed would have come their way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
     Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
     Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
     — William Hutchison Murray (1913-1996) Scottish mountaineer and writer

Comment: You cannot make a commitment for someone else even if you know, without a doubt, they are ready to take the first step. You might be able to provide inspiration, encouragement, or information. You can offer some help or preparation, but it is ultimately that person’s choice.

Mythological Figure: Juno, the supreme goddess of Roman mythology, wife of Jupiter, and goddess of marriage

Symbol: ranunculous flowers

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Definitions: (1) mentally clear and sound <especially the ability to anticipate and appraise the effect of one’s own actions>; rational; (2) having or showing good reason or judgment; sensible; (3) free from hurt or disease; healthy
     See also: Realistic

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Compatible Quality: prepared

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Quotes:
• In order to be sane and adjusted as a human being, an individual must realize that he cannot know all there is to know. It is not enough to understand this limitation intellectually; the understanding must be an orderly and conditioned process, “unconscious” as well as “conscious.” Such a conditioning is essential to the balanced pursuit of knowledge of the nature of matter and life. — Alfred Elton van Vogt (1912-2000) The Players of Null A
• In the case of permanent insanity the exits to the theater have been blocked, usually because of the knowledge that the show outside is so much worse. The insane person is running a private unapproved film which he happens to like better than the current cultural one. If you want him to run the film everyone else is seeing, the solution would be to find ways to prove to him that it would be valuable to do so … Otherwise why should he get “better”? He already is better. It’s the patterns that constitute “betterness” that are at issue. From an internal point of view insanity isn’t the problem. Insanity is the solution. — Robert Pirsig (1928-2017) Lila

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Reflection: Accepting reality is fine as long as everyone holds the same criteria for “reality.” The problem comes when you are presented with a false impression of reality. Slavery was explained as necessary and accepted as “good” by a certain segment of the population. War is accepted as the only solution by a large enough group of people that it takes place. A single person who sees a higher reality is in a difficult position. Truth requires...

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Definitions: (1) focused on the end or final purpose; (2) characterizes one who intends to accomplish everything he or she sets out to do

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Music: "Winter Wonderland" {1934}
Later on, we'll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we've made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
— Felix Bernard (1897-1944) American Composer
— Richard Bernhard Smith (1901-1935) American Lyricist

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Quotes:
• The limitations define how you are to proceed. — Gerard “Jerry” Vincent Hubert Downs (1949-) American photographer & writer
• One has half the deed done who has made a beginning. — Horace (65 BC-8 AD) Roman lyric poet
• The last step depends on the first. The first step depends on the last. — Rene Daumal (1908-1944) French poet
• Take care to get what you like or you will be forced to like what you get. — George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish playwright
• After 5,000 “failed” experiments on the light bulb: “I had 5,000 ways of proving that I was getting closer to where I wanted to go.” — Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) American inventor
• Purpose is a general direction toward which you wish your life to move. Resolutions, on the other hand, are goals that help contribute to your purpose. Once you have stated your purpose, set up a plan to achieve it. Look at the resources that are available, and think about which ones are needed. It’s important to have a taste of success. Also, make sure you reward yourself when you meet your short-term goals. — Dr. George Sheehan (1918-1993) “Peak Performance! Coaching Your Internal Team,” Taking Care Magazine
• Having a goal sometimes limits your flexibility. — Judy Kain (1948-) American empath
     Note: Don’t be so narrowly focused on your goal that you forget your higher purpose.

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Inspiration: You alone do not need to arrive at all of the determination you need to experience your goals. You need...

Definitions: (1) a friendly disposition; benevolence; (2) cheerful consent; willing

Proverb: Goodwill to all. — A Christmas wish

Quotes:
• Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. — Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) 30th president of the United States

• In a time of domestic crisis, men of goodwill and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics. — John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States

Definitions: (1) practical understanding or intelligence; (2) sound and prudent judgment

Derivation: Originally, commonsense was the faculty uniting and interpreting the impressions of the other five senses.

Sayings:
• Best to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
• You cannot buy time, happiness, or virtues.
• A person can look before committing and therefore learn from looking as well as from leaping. An animal ordinarily learns only by leaping.

Dictum: Today’s commonsense is yesterday’s science. — Neils Bohr (1885-1962) Danish physicist

Axiom: Correlation does not imply causation.

Quotes:
• Commonsense is instinct. Enough of it is genius. — George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish playwright
• A walking encyclopedia will walk over a cliff, for all its knowledge of cliffs and the effects of gravity, unless it is designed in such a fashion that it can find the right bits of knowledge at the right times, so it can plan its engagements with the real world. — Daniel Dennett (1942 -) American philosopher

Definitions: (1) having the power to choose; willful; (2) forming a purpose or an opinion; decisive; self-determinative

Derivation: Medieval Latin, “I wish” {17th century: a decision or choice made after deliberation}

Quotes:
• The true test of a leader is whether his followers will adhere to his cause from their own volition, enduring the most arduous hardships without being forced to do so, and remaining steadfast in the moments of greatest peril. — Xenophon (c. 430–354 BC) Athenian general, philosopher, & historian
• We see that every external motion, act, gesture, whether voluntary or mechanical, organic or mental, is produced and preceded by internal feeling or emotion, will or volition, and thought or mind. — Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831-1891) Russian & American mystic & author

Definitions: (1) competent to act in any situation; flexible; pliable; (2) turning with ease from one thing to another; deft; multifaceted; (3) self-adjusting in the face of complexity; resourceful; (4) having or capable of many uses or applications

Quotes:
• In the long run, fancier [in nature] lasts longer since versatility is a virtue. — William H. Calvin (1913-) The River That Runs Uphill {1986}
• Try as hard as we may for perfection, the net result of our labors is an amazing variety of imperfectness. We are surprised at our own versatility in being able to fail in so many different ways. — Samuel McChord Crothers (1857-1927) American Unitarian minister
      Note: Nonetheless, the quest for perfection will always open a new path.

Definitions: (1) worthy of honor or respect because of meritorious distinction; noteworthy; (2) deserving of deference; exalted; (3) worthy of admiration or reverence because of recognized goodness <often mingled with a degree of awe>; (4) worthy of praise; laudable

Quotes:
• Is the babe young? When I behold it, it seems more venerable than the oldest man. — Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American Author
• Religion is among the most beautiful and most natural of all things - that religion which 'sees God in clouds and hears Him in the wind,' which endows every object of sense with a living soul, which finds in the system of nature whatever is holy, mysterious, and venerable, and inspires the bosom with sentiments of awe and veneration. — William Godwin (1756–1836) English philosopher & novelist

Symbol: an older person

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Divine Definitions: (1) The essence of worth; intrinsic virtue; THE ideal; (2) The ultimate desire; priceless; (3) Adherence to the highest principles; probity; (4) Worthy of the greatest admiration; estimable; cherishable; (5) The most precious treasure; important; useful; (6) The personification of all quality; attractive; appealing; (7) Possessing the most fascinating abilities

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Comment: God is Value - Infinite Value. It is impossible for any (actual or potential) value of God to ever be lost. We embody value in our soul.

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VALUABLE
Human Definitions: (1) having qualities worthy of esteem; being highly thought of; considered a treasure; (2) having significant monetarily, emotionally, personally, or spiritually; (3) the embodiment of all virtue; attractive; appealing

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Synonyms: admirable, cherishable, estimable, precious, priceless, probity

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Quote: We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit. — Edward Estlin [e. e.] Cummings (1894-1962) American poet

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Consideration: Cloistered nuns and monks spend their whole lives in silence, praying. They pray for the pope, starving children, and the good of the planet. They believe they are having a positive effect. And yet, by all popular accounts, things are getting worse. So, are they wasting their time? No, because they are being positive. All positive energy has a dual effect. First, on a personal level, it is making them more real because they are becoming closer to the qualities that make up the universe. Those positive choices are of value in and of...

Definitions: (1) to act as one; in concert; (2) being in agreement; in harmony; (3) the totality of components; a person who has brought together their complex parts into a systematic whole

Quotes:
• He who experiences the unity of life, sees his own self in all beings, and all beings in his own self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye. — The Bhagavad-Gita, VI,29 (Written~400 BC-400 AD) {Published 1944}
• Even if there is only one possible unified theory, it is just a set of rules and equations. What is it that breathes fire into the equations and makes a universe for them to describe? — Stephen William Hawking (1942–2018) English theoretical physicist

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Definitions: (1) the power to think and learn; the ability to make sense; intelligent judgment; (2) comprehension of knowledge; discernment; (3) fully aware not only of the meaning or nature of something but also of its implications; (4) a friendly or harmonious relationship; an agreement of opinion or feeling; an adjustment of differences; (5) patient and tolerant of growth; sympathetic; (6) an exaltation of intellection

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Poetry:
Knowledge, so full of itself, flies
beyond the cosmos, while Wisdom,
only as ancient as the earth, tries
to follow, but staggers and stumbles,
held back by the short-legged pace
of Understanding, still merely a child.
— Katherine Solomon (1944-) American poet

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Sayings:
• First understand the basics.
• To understand all is to forgive all.

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Proverb: Walk a mile in another person’s moccasins. — Native American
     Note: This saying is encouraging us to see things from someone else’s perspective. Even though you will then be better able to see things how they see them, the common misunderstanding is that you will then agree with their point of view. As always, you will retain your own unique point of view. You cannot “become” the other person no matter how accurately you understand them. Knowing is not agreeing.

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Note: This saying is encouraging us to see things from someone else’s perspective. Even though you will then be better able to see things how they see them, the common misunderstanding is that you will then agree with their point of view. As always, you will retain your own unique point of view. You cannot “become” the other person no matter how accurately you understand them. Knowing is not agreeing.

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Dictum: They condemn what they do not understand. — Marcus Fabious Quintilian (35–100 AD) Roman educator

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Definitions: (1) having the power of perceiving or comprehending quickly; discriminating <a clear intellect>; not confused or dull; (2) easily seen or comprehended <of your statements by others>; easily understandable; perspicuous; distinct; lucid; (3) free from obscurity <of others communications to you>; evident; manifest; indisputable; undeniable; (4) free from emotional perturbations; undisturbed; unruffled; serene; (5) free from guilt or blame; morally unblemished; innocent

Synonyms: acute, apparent, bright, limpid, obvious, orderly, plain, pure, vivid

Quotes:
• Philosophy aims at the logical clarification of thoughts. Philosophy is not a body of doctrine but an activity. A philosophical work consists essentially of elucidations.— Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian philosopher
• In foggy weather you can see clearly the terrain that is near you and you often think that those who are further away from you are stuck in the fog. Although things might appear clear to you, those at a distance fancy that they are the ones in the clear and that you are stuck in the fog. — Benjamin Franklin (1705-1790) American author & statesman

Symbols: 1) crystal; 2) a calm blue sea; 3) a cloudless blue sky

Definition: feeling profound respect or expressing adoring veneration; worshipful

Quotes:
• Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. — John Milton (1608-1674) English poet civil servant
• Nature best teaches how to pray, and how to reverence all the gifts the Almighty has given us. She is like a vast outspread handkerchief, embroidered with God's eternal name, on which we may dry alike our tears of sorrow and of joy; she turns weeping into ecstasy, and fills our hearts with speechless, quiet reverence and resignation. — Robert Schumann (1810–1856) German composer

Definitions: (1) showing respect for others; considerate; courteous; (2) aware of other views and sensibilities; heedful; mindful; attentive; (3) characterized by or manifesting careful deliberation; contemplative; cognitive; (4) actions resulting from thought; decisiveness; creativity; (5) possessing the power of reasoning; reflective imagination; (6) able to fit different concepts together; elastic; supple; (7) competent in turning ideas into ideals and ideals into ideas; (8) occupied with or given to religious reflection; meditative
     See also: Thinking

Balancing Qualities: Creative, Curious, Flexible, Open, Persistent

Quotes:
• The soul is dyed with the color of its thoughts. — Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (121-180) Roman Emperor and Philosopher
• Govern your thoughts as if your future depends on them, because it does. — Debra Saint Claire (1952 -) Master Herbalist

Reflection: Others deserve your special attention because they are valuable. If you realize their worth, you will wish to be good to them – thoughtful, considerate, and courteous.

Comments:
• Positive thoughts expand. Negative thoughts contract.
• In order to be thoughtful, you have to know (or gamble on knowing) what the other person desires, needs, or wants. There are subtle signs, but one way that is pretty definite: Ask.

Definitions: (1) first in order; preceding all others; the beginning; (2) arising or arranged independently; inventive; novel; (3) thinking or acting in an individual or creative manner

Quote:
• A mind that’s afraid to toy with the ridiculous will never come up with the brilliantly original. — Glen David Brin (1950-) Brightness Reef {1995}
• The story of man’s ascent from seaweed to the lordship of earthly creation is indeed a romance of biologic struggle and mind survival. Man’s primordial ancestors were literally the slime and ooze of the ocean bed in the sluggish and warm-water bays and lagoons of the vast shore lines of the ancient inland seas. (65:2.1) — The Urantia Book {1955}

Definition: (1) taking advantage of conditions that are favorable to the attainment of a goal; open to success; (2) able to view difficulty as an opportunity

Metaphors:
• Today’s stumbling blocks are tomorrow’s stepping stones.
• Regrets are temptations fulfilled or opportunities unfulfilled. Learn from both.

Quote: When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. — Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) Scottish-Canadian Inventor

Observation: Problem solvers and risk takers are opportunistic.

Suggestion: If you are not experiencing any difficulties, then appreciate this peaceful time with thankfulness. If your life becomes too placid, you will be happier if you choose to extend yourself with a challenge. When your life is too hectic, take the opportunity to relax. Difficulties can be seen as blessings and hardships as opportunities; each can be an occasion to acquire some positive personal qualities.

Admonition: You rarely regret the positive things you try. You only regret the things you wish you had done.
     If you regret what you have done, then at least you’ve done it and had not been scared away from a difficult but desirable situation. Then again, the regret may be, as often is the case, not the fact of the action but the immature way or imperfect manner in which you attempted it. Forgiveness and reflective thought are the transforming mechanisms which can change regret into a positive learning process (even if all you’ve learned is that you don’t want to do it again).

Definitions: (1) making known the truth; (2) a clear, coherent, often creative, and imaginative presentation through any medium

Quotes:
• No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create, or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit. — Ansel Easton Adams (1902–1984) American nature photographer
• The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music, and it has the additional merit of being human and palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs. — Charles Pierre Baudelaire (1821–1867) French poet

Divine Definitions: (1) Impossible to move or to be thrown off balance; fixed; (2) Immutable in character; steadfast; (3) Changeless; (4) Unvarying in purpose; dauntless; (5) Unified in administration; permanent; (6) Full of composure; self-possessed; (7) Holding steady the equilibrium of the universe; firm; solid; (8) Trustworthy; stalwart; (9) Self-sufficient

Comment: Things are constantly changing for finite beings. The one sure thing we can count on is the consistency inherent in, and caused by, the stability of God.

STABLE
Human Definitions: (1) not easily moved or thrown off balance; not likely to break down, fall apart, or give way; steady; fixed; (2) firm in character, purpose, or resolution; steadfast; stalwart; (3) enduring or possibly permanent; long lasting; firm; solid; (4) capable of returning to equilibrium or original position after having been displaced; flexible; (5) full of composure; self-possessed; self-sufficient

Balancing Qualities: Adventuresome, Changeable, Lively

Too Far: stagnant

Quote: Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. — Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American author

Reflection: We hold on to our old selves while allowing our new selves to grow around the old. We are like coral, where the old is the structure upon which the new growth of life is active. The old self is a record of what we have chosen. The only you that is alive and vibrant is the new you. The past is the structure upon which we rely for stability. We know ourselves by who we have been, and yet we are not our past structure any more than we are our body.

Symbols: 1) the cube; 2) the number four

Definitions: (1) taking particular notice of the value of someone or something; (2) honoring or holding another in high regard because of their station, character, or behavior; (3) showing consideration or concern for another’s privacy and feelings; (4) ahimsa <respect for all living things>

Derivation: Latin, “to look back and see”

Quotes:
• The higher a creature’s education, the more respect he has for the knowledge, experience, and opinions of others. (25:3.12) — The Urantia Book {1955}
• The only hope of preserving what is best lies in the practice of an immense charity, a wide tolerance, a sincere respect for opinions that are not ours. — Philip Gilbert Hamerton (1834-1894) English artist

Definitions: (1) able or quick to receive knowledge, ideas, or persons; (2) willing or inclined to receive suggestions or offers; (3) capable of accepting fortune (good or ill) in stride; (4) disposed to accept praise with humility

Poem:
Sometimes up ... Other times down
Big smiles ... Waterfalls
Make the best of it ... As no one knows
It's up to you how it goes
— Larissa Qat (~1990's-) Italian art & cultural management professional

Quotes:
• Some things that are invisible and untouchable can nevertheless be seen and felt. — Michael Chabon (1963-) Summerland {2002}
• Children are extremely perceptive and absorb what goes on around them long before they can talk or even comprehend language. They are like finely tuned receivers that pick up much more than is merely said. They are receptive and attuned to every mood, feeling, and change that goes on in people around them. — Theodore Isaac Rubin (1923–2019) American psychiatrist

Symbol: the cauldron

Definitions: (1) granting or giving a part of yourself; altruistic; selfless; (2) dividing and distributing in fair portions; apportioning; (3) partaking, using, experiencing, occupying, or enjoying with others; (4) owning in common; (5) being a benefactor

Synonyms: big-hearted, contributing, generous, magnanimous, munificent

Quotes:
• The best partnerships aren't dependent on a mere common goal but on a shared path of equality, desire, and no small amount of passion. — Sarah MacLean (1978-) American author
• If you think a complimentary thought about someone, don’t just think it. Dare to compliment people and pass on compliments to them from others. — Catherine Ponder (1927-) The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity {1962}

Comment: God created the universe because his primary motive is love, and the primary attribute of love is to share.

Definitions: (1) wise or judicious in practical affairs; (2) discreet or circumspect; cautious but sensible; (3) careful in providing for the future; provident

Derivation: Latin, “to separate or set apart,” “to distinguish”

Synonyms: considerate, economical, frugal, sagacious, thoughtful

Too Far: Looking into the future with fearful caution may lead to cowardice and failure.

Dictum: Chance fights ever on the side of the prudent. — Euripides (480–406 bc) Greek playwright

Quote: Happiness exists on earth, and it is won through prudent exercise of reason, knowledge of the harmony of the universe, and constant practice of generosity. — José Julián Martí Pérez (853–1895) Cuban poet, philosopher

Comment: Prudence has been called the “queen of values.”

Symbols: 1) a dolphin entwined around an anchor [arrested speed]; 2) jade: When asked, “Why was jade valued by the sages?” Confucius replied, “It is because the ancient sages were comparing Jade with the virtues. Jade represents kindness because it is soft and smooth to the touch. It represents prudence because its structure is fine and compact and thus solid. It represents justice because it has edges but does not injure. It represents good faith because its beautiful interior qualities can be seen from the outside. It is the image of sincerity as its luster is not veiled by its defects nor its defects by its luster.”

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Divine Definitions: (1) Showing the way to salvation; heroic; (2) Rescuing from harm; deliverer; (3) The liberator from fear and death; (4) The retriever of souls; resurrector; (5) Restoring to good standing; saving grace; (6) The vindicator of faith; (7) The rehabilitator of wrong thinking; healer; (8) The compensator for imperfection; (9) The destroyer of sin

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Familial Quality: Theanthropic, Greek, “god-man <embodying deity in human form; both divine and human.>

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Quotes:
• You are all my children, and I am your Father. For age upon age, you have been scorched by multitudinous woes, and I have saved you all. — Buddhism, Lotus Sutra 3 {3^rd Century}
• We are each one on a road going toward home, but we're not trying to get there for Christmas. We're trying to get there for eternity. We want to arrive home safely to our loving Father in Heaven. He wants us to make it safely there, so He has sent a guiding light for us to follow: a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect example. — Margaret Dyreng Nadauld (1944-) 11^th President LDS Young Women organization

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Comment: There is no free ride, but we do get some help when we need it and ask for it.

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SAVED
Human Definitions: (1) rescued from danger or from possible harm or loss; (2) kept safe, intact, or unhurt; safeguarded; secured; (3) kept from being lost; (4) in religion, said of a person whose has seen the way to the truth thus being redeemed from spiritual death

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Synonyms: preserved, protected, save face, spared

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Quotes:
• When you lose even the flesh you wear, you will still have your self. — Morgan Llywelyn (1937-) DRUIDS {1992}
• It is only because He became like us that we can become like Him. ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) German Lutheran...

Definitions: (1) acting in a just, noble, or honorable manner; upright; virtuous; ethical rectitude; (2) morally right or justifiable, reasonable; scrupulous; (3) satisfying the precepts of a code of behavior; fair; good; excellent; (4) pleasant; (5) authentic

Derivation: Anglo-Saxon, “wise, right”

Proverbs:
• Walk the path of righteousness.
• Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world. — Chinese
     Note: This is one of several translations. The original author may have been Confucius.
     See Also: Investigative

Symbol: the tiger

Theological Figure: Varuna, the Hindu god of the cosmos is the guardian of righteousness and goodness. The Vedic god of natural and moral law.

Definition: demonstrating helpful, beneficial, or friendly conduct; giving assistance or advantage to an individual or the community; thoughtful

Balancing Qualities: To balance confidence and humility practice giving service.

People Who Exemplify This Quality: Martin Luther King (1929-1968) American preacher & peacemaker

Saying:
When I do not know who I am I serve you.
When I know who I am I am you. — Hinduism

Aphorism: Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words. — Unknown

Quotes:
• Do what needs to be done for yourself as if you were doing it for a dear friend. — Gerard “Jerry” Vincent Hubert Downs (1949-) American photographer & writer
• I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found out how to serve. — Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) Franco-German theologian

Inspiration: They who know the laws of God are liberal minded. If you know the Eternal, even though your body perish, your soul shall survive in spirit service. — Taoism

Comment:
Near versus Far
Service can be direct - person-to-person. Ot it can serve a wide variety of people, near and far. Entertainers for example distribute their talent for everyone’s enjoyment. Writers serve their readers. If someone makes a tool it is up to the one who uses it to do something with it.

Symbol: the buffalo

Definitions: (1) receptive; not closed to new ideas; a clean slate <an absence of preconceived ideas or goals> undisguised; (2) generous; liberal; unstinted; (3) frank; candid; direct; honest; unprejudiced; (4) ready to do, hear, see, or accept; fully prepared; attentive; (5) allowing approach, view, passage, or access; available; unquestionable; (6) not secret or hidden; forthcoming; unreserved; (7) expanded; unfolded

Compatible Quality: discerning

Too Far: gullible

Quote: Stay positive and happy. Work hard and don't give up hope. Be open to criticism and keep learning. Surround yourself with happy, warm, and genuine people. — Tena Desae (1987-) Indian actress & model

Reflection: There are those who say you are already all you need to be or will ever be; that all you need to do is allow it; just be open and don’t get in your own way. It may be, especially in hindsight, that the best way was open to you all along.

Comment: People are fond of saying, “I went into this philosophy or idea with a healthy skepticism – I even wanted to prove it wrong – but, in the end, I was convinced it was correct.” An honest skepticism prevents you from being naive, but a healthy openness helps you grow.
     Sincere openness may have you taken in by a plausible idea. Until you learn, you may even be too trusting. You may look the fool because you were willing to be open, but you also are respected for your honor and your willingness to gain from experience; unlike the hardened skeptic who, because of fear, kept closed.

Advice: Give other people’s belief systems a healthy respect. Be open to their sense of reality and order. Their experience and sincerity are putting together a personal subjective puzzle. Realize you and they are evolving and expanding. Tomorrow you may stand with them on more compatible ground because of the compassion you showed toward them today.

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Definitions: (1) free from prejudicial personal feelings or opinions; eminently fair; unbiased; right-minded; (2) external to the mind and distinct from inner or imaginary feelings and thoughts; actual phenomena; real; (3) The actual, correct, and exact truth; (4) a purposeful goal one’s efforts are intended to attain or accomplish; target
     See also: Realistic

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Quotes:
• Objectivity does not mean detachment, it means respect; that is, the ability not to distort and to falsify things, persons, and oneself. — Erich Seligmann Fromm (1900-1980) German-American Jewish social psychologist
• The scientist’s job is to explore everything, no matter the difficulties! We need to stay open, to accept ambiguity, attempt to fuse with the object of knowledge, admit that there are values shot through the whole enterprise – to love it and to work toward discovering the values by which we live, work to enact those values in the world, explore – and more than that – to create! — Kim Stanley Robinson (1952-) Green Mars {1993}

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Reflection: It is a most difficult thing to be truly objective. We look at the world through our own subjective experiential view. To those who do not experience the wisdom of a larger view, statements like “Love your enemy” are truly baffling. The only reason to even consider that statement as reasonable is if you believe Christ was genuinely objective.

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Observations:
• An astute observer must have a keen sense of insight into motivation if he or she is to explain their actions of others.
• Curiosity and wonder are two of the positive qualities we use when we take the time and effort to seek the objective truth.
• Objectivity works best on the factual level. The physical sciences thrive on objective experimentation. Observation can be reproduced. If another person performs the same experiment with the same results, we...

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Definitions: (1) free from prejudicial personal feelings or opinions; eminently fair; unbiased; right-minded; (2) external to the mind and distinct from inner or imaginary feelings and thoughts; actual phenomena; real; (3) The actual, correct, and exact truth; (4) a purposeful goal one’s efforts are intended to attain or accomplish; target
     See also: Realistic

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Quotes:
• Objectivity does not mean detachment, it means respect; that is, the ability not to distort and to falsify things, persons, and oneself. — Erich Seligmann Fromm (1900-1980) German-American Jewish social psychologist
• The scientist’s job is to explore everything, no matter the difficulties! We need to stay open, to accept ambiguity, attempt to fuse with the object of knowledge, admit that there are values shot through the whole enterprise – to love it and to work toward discovering the values by which we live, work to enact those values in the world, explore – and more than that – to create! — Kim Stanley Robinson (1952-) Green Mars

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Reflection: It is a most difficult thing to be truly objective. We look at the world through our own subjective experiential view. To those who do not experience the wisdom of a larger view, statements like “Love your enemy” are truly baffling. The only reason to even consider that statement as reasonable is if you believe Christ was genuinely objective.

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Observations:
• An astute observer must have a keen sense of insight into motivation if he or she is to explain their actions of others.
• Curiosity and wonder are two of the positive qualities we use when we take the time and effort to seek the objective truth.
• Objectivity works best on the factual level. The physical sciences thrive on objective experimentation. Observation can be reproduced. If another person performs the same experiment with the same results, we call it...

Definitions: (1) reacting readily and sympathetically; receptive; (2) sensitive and compassionate; serving with graciousness; (3) attentive and open-minded; a listener; (4) a satisfaction of curiosity; sensitive to answers and insights

Synonym: amenable

Quotes:
• The brain has evolved over millions of years to be responsive to different kinds of content in the world. Language content, musical content, spatial content, numerical content, etc. — Howard Earl Gardner (1943-) American developmental psychologist
• Great design is so many things all at the same time. It is emotional, functional, and responsive. It creates an unwritten dialogue, a connection, between itself and those who experience it. It is open to interpretation yet created for a specific purpose. It creates meaning and value. — Marcel Wanders (1963-) Dutch designer

Comment: We human beings appreciate, and respond to, the encouragement of other people.

Definitions: (1) utter; sheer; <pure joy>; (2) free from defects; perfect; faultless; unblemished; (3) untainted with evil or guilt; innocent; blameless; spotless; (4) physically chaste; virginal; (5) ceremonially or ritually clean; undefiled; (6) genuine; objectively real

Synonyms: clean, clear, guileless, impeccable, pristine, pure-hearted, ultrapure, uncorrupted, unsullied

Quotes:
• Purity of speech, of the mind, of the senses, and of a compassionate heart are needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform. — Chanakya (375–283 BC) Indian polymath [seven disciplines]
• Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice. It demands greater heroism than war. It demands greater fidelity to the truth and a much more perfect purity of conscience. — Thomas Merton (1915–1968) American Trappist monk

Color: white

Symbols: 1) fire; 2) rain; 3) the lily; 4) sea foam; 5) the desert; 6) Temperance (Tarot) {Purification}; 7) angelica flowers [pure intentions]; 8) the three stars in the belt of Orion {Purity, Righteousness, and Choice}

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Definitions: (1) indicating acceptance, approval, or affirmation <She received a positive response.>; (2) the best of a kind; good; ideal; favorable <He was a positive role model to the class.>; (3) marked by optimism <We enjoyed their refreshing positive point of view.>; (4) existing in fact or by the presence of something and not by its absence; real; (5) beyond all doubt or qualification; undeniable; sure; uncontestable <He offered positive proof.>; (6) confident; fully assured; firmly convinced; decided; <The witness gave a positive identification.>; (7) resolute; in agreement; affirmative; certain <Her answer was a positive “yes.”>; (8) building progressive growth <We made positive, practical improvement.>; (9) making a definite contribution; constructive <He took the positive approach and the results were evident.>; (10) explicitly laid down; direct; precise; specific <The engineer knew he had to take a positive line.>; (11) independent of changes, circumstances, opinion, or taste; inherent <as is objective reality>

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Music: “Master Blaster” {1980}
When you’re moving in the positive
your destination is the brightest star.
— Stevland Hardaway Morris [aka Stevie Wonder] (1950-)

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Quotes:
• Positive thoughts can be a powerful influence for good. — Peace Pilgrim [born Mildred Lisette Norman] (1908-1981) Steps Toward Inner Peace {2021}
• One positive statement of good is more powerful than 1,000 negative thoughts; and two positive statements of good are more powerful than 10,000 negative thoughts — Catherine Ponder (1927-) The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity {1962}
• Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens; not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. — Valen E. Keefer [nee Cover] (1983-) Polycystic kidney disease...

Definitions: (1) the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance; (2) the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed; (3) a broader overview or larger prospect <to gain a broader perspective on>

Quotes:
When you look at the stars and the galaxy, you feel that you are not just from any particular piece of land, but from the solar system. — Kalpana Chawla (1962–2003) Indian-born American astronaut
• Therapy is not really concerned with truth, which is almost always merely a matter of perspective. Therapists are concerned with adjustment – adjustment to an unchanging situation or a changing truth. — Karen Joy Fowler (~1965-) The Lake was Full of Artificial Things {1988}
     Note: One’s idea of Objective Truth is always going through a subjective metamorphosis.

Comment: An unprejudiced study and correlation of origin, history, and destiny can begin to give one a true perspective of any reality problem.

Definitions: (1) resolute endurance <especially with what is known to be correct>; (2) abiding; persevering; (3) continuing to exist; lasting; (4) daughty <brave and persistent>

Balancing Qualities: Daring, Diversity, Fearless

Quotes:
• Keep on pluggin'. — John Preston Downs (1913-2005) American businessman & father
• It just goes to show, if you are persistent, something gets done. — Any parent to a child who has just accomplished a project
• Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with great talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. — Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) 30th President of the United States

Affirmation: I refuse to give up. I shall continue, firmly, steadily, and insistently until the good appears. — Catherine Ponder (1927–) The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity {1962}

Comment: The person who asks for something 30 or 40 or even 150 times, and finally gets it, has figured out how to ask for something.

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Definitions: (1) the will or ability to wait calmly; (2) to endure pain or trouble without complaint, losing control, or making a disturbance; (3) quietly tolerating delay, confusion, or inefficiency; (4) refusing to be provoked or angered by insult; forbearing; (5) ministering to the development of the uneducated or inexperienced; accommodating the needs of growing children; (6) steadiness, endurance, or perseverance in performing a task; diligent; (7) resolute and consistent action; abiding; (8) able to relieve grief or anguish
     Note on Definition #3: One of the definitions of tolerance is “to put up with.”
     Note on Definition #6: Having the focus to pay attention to something, and being persistent enough to continue to pay attention to it, will develop patience while you are getting it done.

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Derivation: Latin, “to suffer”

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Synonyms: composed, constant, even-tempered, equanimity, fortitude, imperturbable, long-suffering, poise, self-controlled, stoic
     Patience refers to the quietness or self-possession of one’s own spirit; resignation refers to the submission of one’s own will to the will of another, uncomplaining; tolerance indicates to put up with pain or hardship.

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Balancing Qualities: Adaptable, Foresight, Humor, Initiative, Prepared

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Compatible Qualities: assertive, open, perspicacious

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Parental Qualities: faith, hope

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Familial Qualities: kindness, serenity

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Consequential Qualities: confidence, creativity, decisive, freedom, insight, peace, progress, self-discipline, self-esteem, stress hardy, wisdom

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Quotes:
• The greatest gift of stone is patience. — Barry Hughart (1934 -) The Story of the Stone...

Divine Definitions: (1) The Originator and Executor of the overall plan of creation <with the ability to effectively and efficiently move reality forward according to this plan>; (2) The preparer of structure <physical and administrative>; (3) The Designer of an interdependent system of organic cosmic order <integrating nature, astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, etc.>; (4) The Architect of the orderly and methodical mind; (5) Presiding over organization; coordinator; director; (6) The expert correlator of all things, meanings, values, and beings

Comment: God’s plan is accommodating enough to encompass every possible set of decisions a person could ever make. Every potential interaction is accounted for. His organization is so flexible as to offer just the right kind of help to each individual toward a more perfect state of mind (and soul) no matter where they are scattered along the road.

ORGANIZED
Human Definitions: (1) an orderly and methodical mind; (2) bringing a new whole into being by rearranging essential elements and interdependent parts; multi-leveled; (3) brought together for a common objective; cooperative; establish or institute <an organization> for a common purpose; amalgamated; (4) a system of organic cosmic order <nature, astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics>

Quotes:
• For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned. — Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American polymath [eight disciplines]
• Sometimes we let life guide us, and other times we take life by the horns. But one thing is for sure: no matter how organized we are, or how well we plan, we can always expect the unexpected.  — Brandon Jenner (1981-) American actor

Tip: The key to order is putting like objects together.

Suggestion: A simple and effective way of getting organized is by beginning your day making a list, then prioritizing the items, and ending the day making notes. You may even dream of the answers to your knotty issues.

Definitions: (1) an orderly and methodical mind; (2) bringing a new whole into being by rearranging essential elements and interdependent parts; (3) brought together for a common objective; cooperative; establish or institute <an organization> for a common purpose; amalgamated; (4) a system of organic cosmic order <nature, astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics>

Quotes:
• For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned. — Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American Statesman
• Sometimes we let life guide us, and other times we take life by the horns. But one thing is for sure: no matter how organized we are, or how well we plan, we can always expect the unexpected.  — Brandon Jenner (1981-) American actor

Tip: The key to order is putting like objects together.

Suggestion: A simple and effective way of getting organized is by beginning your day making a list and ending it making notes. And then prioritize the listed items.

Definitions: (1) exhibiting proper conduct, speech, or dress; respectable; (2) modest deportment; chaste; (3) generous; kind; fair

Synonyms: becoming, befitting, decorous, seemly, suitable

Quotes:
• Not everyone is able to show courage, but human decency must be demanded of every person. — Andrzej Sebastian Duda (1972-) President of Poland
• We may not all be equally guilty. But we are all equally responsible for building a decent and just society. — Ruby Nell Bridges Hall (1954-) American civil rights activist

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Definitions: (1) able to adjust to a new situation or environment <by changing one’s behavior or attitudes>; (2) made to fit <a new use>; (3) suitable for a specific situation; (4) to bring one thing into correspondence with another

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Synonyms:
     Adaptable implies a personal modification according to changing circumstances; accommodate suggests yielding to effect a correspondence of view; adjust suggests bringing parts or ideas into close harmonious accord; conform applies to bringing patterns, examples, or principles into agreement with some standard; reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible; versatile is the ability to adapt to many different functions or activities.

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Familial Qualities: flexible, obedient

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Quote: Life is adaptable, ubiquitous, and tenacious. Evolution passes on the traits that are valuable, useful, and increasingly serviceable. — Judith Mary Kain (1948-) American empath

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Reflection: As we experience our lives, actively and passively, we also become more adaptable. Expansion comes when we look beyond the confines of the circumscribed environment: from the self, to the family, to the community, to the state, to the nation, to the planet, to the universe.

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Observation: In evolution, when change occurs in the environment, the species that adapt to the change have become more flexible and more complex; they have expanded their survival boundaries to more than a single environment.
     The more successful mechanisms (or qualities) are those built on a sturdy foundation. They eventually become stable enough to live on their own.
     Just as physical evolution follows how well a species functions in increasingly complex environments, so too do we evolve on levels...

Definitions: (1) done skillfully; aesthetically satisfying; (2) appreciative of art and beauty; sensitive to the arts

People Who Exemplify This Quality: Henri Matisse (1869-1954) French artist

Proverb: Ars longa, vita brevis (Latin): “Art is long, life is short.”

Quotes:
• Art is the demonstration that the ordinary is extraordinary. — Amedee Ozenfant (1866-1966) French Cubist painter
• Art reveals the artist’s inner self. Art reveals a man’s ideals, what he values. — Terry Goodkind (1948 -) American author
• Be responsive to your audience. Art is making an interpretation of an experience. — Gerard “Jerry” Vincent Hubert Downs (1949-) American photographer & writer
• The artist is not a different kind of person, but every person is a different kind of artist. — Arthur Eric Gill (1882-1940) British sculptor
• The high mission of any art is, by its illusions, to foreshadow a higher universe reality, to crystallize the emotions of time into the thought of eternity. — The Urantia Book (48:7.23)

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

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

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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.

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Quotes:
• You are blessed as long as you view what happens as a blessing. —

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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

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(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

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

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Mythological...

Definitions: (1) full of good spirits; animated; full of life; joyful; (2) having a bright attitude; lightness of mind; (3) creating contagious merriment; (4) willing; hearty; (5) likely to dispel gloom or worry; (6) something that gladdens <words of cheer>

Synonyms: bonny, buoyant, glad, happy, lively, pleasant, sprightly, sunny, riant <laughing, smiling, mirthful>

Music: “Whistle While You Work” {1937}
Whistle while you work
Put on that grin and start right in,
To whistle loud and long
Just hum a merry tune
Just do your best,
Then take a rest and sing yourself a song
— Frank Churchill (1901-1942) American composer
— Leigh Harline (1907-1969) American composer

Proverb: A cheerful heart causes good healing. — The Bible, Proverbs 17:22

Quotes:
• The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer somebody else up. — Mark Twain [born Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835-1910) Mark Twain’s Notebook {1935}
• Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come. — James Russell Lowell (1819-1891) American romantic poet

Comment: When you are doing what you “know” you are supposed to be doing, you can be in a sublime state of cheerfulness, even if the outside circumstances point to some other emotion. I believe Christ on the cross was in a state of divine cheerfulness, even in the face of apparent failure and excruciating pain, because he was intensely aware he was doing the Father’s will.

Color: yellow

Definitions: (1) exciting, and then holding, attention or curiosity; attractive; mesmerizing; (2) able to stimulate great desire to learn; thrilling; captivating; (3) able to arouse insight into new aspects; multifaceted; (4) showing acute enthusiasm; avid; (5) very eager or curious; agog

Quotes:
• Happiness goes like the wind, but what is interesting stays. — Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) American Artist
• The secret of happiness is this: let your interests be as wide as possible, and let your reactions to the things and persons that interest you be as far as possible friendly rather than hostile. — Bertrand Arthur William Russell (1872–1970) British polymath [four disciplines]

Suggestion: Being genuinely interested in what is wonderful in others will excite them to exhibit the best of themselves; thus, inspiring you to find novel ways to help them feel free to grow and show their endearing qualities.

Definitions: (1) clearly articulated and intelligible; (2) logically connected; (3) in natural agreement; harmonious

Synonyms: consistent, related, united

Quotes:
• Meditation makes the entire nervous system go into a field of coherence. — Deepak Chopra (1946-) Indian-American author
• When you build a thing, you cannot merely build that thing in isolation, but must repair the world around it, and within it, so that the larger world at that one place becomes more coherent, and more whole; and the thing which you make takes its place in the web of nature, as you make it. — Christopher Wolfgang John Alexander (1936–2022) Austrian-born British-American architect

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Divine Definitions: (1) Available for service; (2) Rendering assistance; mediating; (3) Making the way clearer; guiding; (4) Aiding in the growth of an individual; fostering; (5) Supportive toward the Divinely Objective; sustaining; cooperative; (6) Improving all conditions; ministering; (7) Provident; (8) Elevating the mind to beneficial ideas and ideals

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Comment: We can moderate our attitudes and behavior by asking for help, as in prayer. God will help in every way possible but He will not interfere in our personal choice process. The type of help received may be surprising, but in retrospect it will always be completely confirmed as wise and lovingly helpful. Prayer opens up the mind to sublime thinking often resulting in practical insight.

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Question: Why is nature so ingeniously, one might even say suspiciously, friendly to life? What do the laws of physics care about life and consciousness that they should conspire to make a hospitable universe? It's almost as if a Grand Designer had it all figured out. — Paul Charles William Davies (1946-) English physicist

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HELPFUL
Human Definitions: (1) willing to, or actually rendering aid or assistance; giving useful service; ministering (2) aiding in the growth of each individual; fostering; (3) supportive toward an objective; sustaining; cooperative; (4) elevating the mind toward beneficial ideas and ideals

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Compatible Quality: friendly

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Saying: If someone comes to you asking for help, do not say in refusal, “Trust in God. God will help you.” Rather, act as if there is no God, and no one to help except you. — Hasidic

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Quotes:
• One has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help. — Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) 16^th President of the United States
• Like the...

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Divine Definitions: (1) God is the source of authenticity; genuine; (2) In accord with reality; (3) The ideal of fundamental veracity; (4) Imparting true meaning; forthright; (5) Reliably certain; accurate; (6) Dependably exact; precise; (7) Sincere; upright; (8) Reflecting the essential character of the teacher; (9) Definitively logical; honest

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Saying: The truth shall set you free.
     Note: Facts are uniform and static. Truth is flexible and living. Seek the truth and you will be rewarded with continual progress.

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TRUTH
Human Definitions: (1) the quality of being in accordance with or conforming to actual experience, facts, and reality; (2) the ideal of fundamental objective reality apart from and transcending perceived experience; (3) subjective existence portrayed to oneself or to others with honesty, integrity, and veracity; (4) expressing sincerity in action, character, and utterance; forthright; (5) in agreement with a common standard or a collective idea; (6) reliably certain; accurate; (7) dependably exact; precise
     Note: Higher nature in Sanskrit is called satchitananda: sat = truth, chit = conscious, and ananda = bliss.

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Synonyms: genuine, logical, upright

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Compatible Quality: tact

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Sayings:
• Truth is mighty and will prevail.
• Truth conquers all things.

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Poetry:
He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
He who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in Eternity’s sun rise. — William Blake (1757-1827) English poet

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Quotes:
• In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. — George Orwell [born Eric Arthur Blair] (1903-1950) English author
• Nonviolence and truth are inseparable and presuppose one another. There is no...

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Divine definitions: (1) The breath of life; alive; (2) Super-consciousness; high-minded; (3) The animating principle; inspiration; (4) The source of ideals and values; qualitative reality; (5) The invisible higher vibrational reality; supernatural; (6) The supreme moral and ethical standard; (7) The spiritualizing influence; (8) The Father of the soul; (9) The Holy Spirit; the Universe Mother Spirit; (10) The third Person of The Trinity; the Infinite Spirit

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Comment: Nothing material can transcend itself. We are physical and our bodies live and die. Our personal will is capable of choosing superfinite values and incorporating them into our being. Our soul lives on because it is made of the forever-living spiritual substance of the universe: spirit.

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SPIRITED
Human Definitions: (1) having or showing mettle, courage, vigor, animation, or energy; (2) the spiritualizing influence; the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person; (3) the supreme moral and ethical standard; the motivating, activating, or essential principle influencing a person’s actions <the spirit of helpfulness>; (4) a positive inclination, impulse, or tendency (5) the source of ideals and values; the extraordinary feelings and qualities characterizing one’s inner attitude; qualitative reality; (6) the disposition of firmness or assertiveness
    See also: High-Spirited, Public-Spirited, Spiritual

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Too Far: tempestuous

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Quote: A spirited mind never stops within itself; it is always aspiring and going beyond its strength. —  Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (1533–1592) French philosopher

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SPIRITUAL
Human Definitions: (1) pertaining to the spirit or soul as distinguished from the body; (2) from or concerned with the higher part of the mind; (3) consisting of pure essence;...

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Definitions: (1) tending to face facts; concerned with or based on what is actual or practical rather than visionary; (2) existential

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Idioms:
• The real deal.
• The real McCoy.

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Quotes:
• Just because something is a metaphor doesn’t mean it can’t be real. — Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) Reaper Man {1991}
• Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away. — Philip Kindred Dick (1928-1982) I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon {1980}

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Reflection: There is an objective reality. The more we identify with objective reality, the more real we are. Objective reality is described in terms of positive qualities. If we include all of the positive qualities, then we are describing the current human understanding of objective reality: that which is! The more “is” you are, the more whole and real you are.

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Consideration: The theory of relativity says physical things are all moving in relation to each other. If any one thing is to be measured, a fixed point is needed. Once that one point is fixed, all other points can be measured in relation to it.
     This is also true of things mental and spiritual. When someone’s theories can be measured and calculated (and at least temporarily) proven, then that person’s ideas become a relative beacon. The fixed point, then, is the established theory. As other observers study the ideas of this fixed point, its accuracy and objectivity are brought into relative focus. This is done by speculation, experimentation, interpretation, experience, and logical agreement, or (logical or otherwise) belief.
     We feel a satisfaction in establishing our “fixed” position. There is even greater satisfaction in confirming the accuracy of our position. If our experience verifies our belief, then we stay with the belief, which in turn dictates our experience. If the...

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Divine Definitions: (1) In existence; (2) Existential; (3) The objective fact; (4) Indisputably actual

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Comment: Are there any confirming means of identifying the evidence of God’s reality? All such proofs are from personal experience. The first is the experience of the intellectual capacity for knowing God. The discovery, and self-verification of this intellectual idea, can be further substantiated by the personal and spiritual experience of loving and being loved in return by & with other humans, humanity as a whole, and even nature. The observation that love, truth, beauty, goodness (and all other qualities of value) are knowable in personal experience confirms one’s confidence in reality beyond the physical. This insight is indicative of spiritual facts.
     Once the possibility of knowing God is verified, the second stage of proof becomes evident. This is the personal urge to find God. To the exact extent a person seeks God, the Father pours in as much revelation of Himself as can be received. And thus, capacity is enlarged for even more grace.
     By this point, initial skeptical curiosity has been transformed through intellectual discovery and personal verification into reasonable faith. One is then tempted to experiment with the third stage of confirmation – the desire to be like God. Finding this possible is truly convincing.

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REALISTIC
Human Definitions: (1) tending to face facts; concerned with or based on what is actual or practical rather than visionary; (2) existential

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Idioms:
• The real deal.
• The real McCoy.

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Quotes:
• Just because something is a metaphor doesn’t mean it can’t be real. — Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) Reaper Man {1991}
• Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away. — Philip Kindred Dick (1928–1982) I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon...

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Divine Definitions: (1) Divine solicitude and direction; (2) The guiding force; fostering; (3) Having and showing foresight; understanding; (4) The preparer of nurturance; (5) The provider of fundamental needs <a planet to stand on, a body to inhabit, a spirit to guide us, a mind to understand with, choices to learn from, and a personality to unite it all>; (6) Conscientious and prudent management; (7) Considerate regard of the individual within the total circumstances; (8) The one who gets things moving; expediter; (9) The devoted guardian; the diligent caretaker; the assiduous defender; (10) The protector, preserver, and promoter of value; (11) Willing to walk hand in hand; participative; (12) The bridge maker

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Comment: Intervention is a character sometimes attributed to Divine Providence. From our point of view, it may seem like the hand of God is changing the natural course of events but when seen from a larger perspective it is the efficient motion of the Total Plan unfolding as it should. God will not interfere with our free will, yet we are held in His tender watch-care.

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PROVIDENT
Human Definitions: (1) anticipating wants or needs and making provision to supply them; having and showing foresight; understanding; (2) economical; frugal; thrifty; prudent; (3) conscientious management; nurturing; participative; (4) protector, preserver, and promoter; (5) a manifestation of divine care and direction

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Derivation: Latin, “to foresee”

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Synonyms: expediting, fostering, guiding, tutelary <serving as a protector, guardian, or patron

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Quotes:
• I believe in the birds, and their implicit trust in the loving Providence that feeds them. … And whatever else I believe is enshrined in those abiding feelings that lie too deep for words. — Waldemar Argow,...

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Definitions: (1) complete in all respects; without defect or omission; faultless; (2) thorough excellence in skill or quality; expert; proficient; (3) completely correct or accurate; exact; precise; (4) without reserve or qualification; pure; impeccable; (5) totally effective; meticulous; (6) a fine physical specimen; sound; flawless; (7) appreciative of the character or nature of someone or some ‘thing’; the most admirable quality

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Derivation: The word “perfect” as the Bible uses it of men, does not refer to sinless perfection. Old Testament characters described as “blameless” or “wholly devoted” were obviously not sinless. Although a number of Hebrew and Greek words are translated as “perfect,” the thought is usually either “completeness in all details” (Hebrew: tamam; and Greek: katartizo) or “to reach a goal or achieve a purpose” (Greek: teleioo). Scripture recognizes that Christians do not attain sinless perfection in this life.

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Balancing Qualities: Common sense, Down-to-earth

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Compatible Qualities: compromising, realistic

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Quotes:
• Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. — The Bible, Matthew 5:48
• The most important question to ask at any one moment is, “How is this perfect?” — Joe Burull (1947-2021) American Photographer
• When we realize a total of something as we are experiencing it, we are for that moment, perfect. — Jacquelyn Small, Transformers, the Therapists of the Future {1982}
• From the Universal Father who inhabits eternity there has gone forth the supreme mandate, “Be you perfect, even as I am perfect.” — The Urantia Book (1:0.3) {1955}

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Three Stages of Perfection
1. Positional perfection, already possessed by every believer of Christ (Hebrews: 10:14)
2. Relative perfection, i.e., spiritual maturity,...

Definitions: (1) showing keenness of insight, sympathetic understanding or intuition; discerning; (2) a quick capacity for comprehending; observant; sharp-sighted

Too Far: nosy

Quotes:
• To be is either to be perceived or to perceive. — Bishop George Berkeley (1685-1753) Anglo-Irish philosopher
• If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear as it is: infinite. — William Blake (1757-1827) English poet
• Eskimos see sixteen different forms of ice which are as different to them as trees and shrubs are different to us. Hindus, on the other hand, use the same term for both ice and snow. Creek and Natchez Indians do not distinguish yellow from green. Similarly, Choctaw, Tunica, the Keresian Pueblo Indians and many other people make no terminological distinction between blue and green. The Hopis have no word for time. — Robert Pirsig (1928-2017) Lila {1991}

Observation: In our attempt to simplify complex activities or processes, we tend to isolate individual aspects of the system. This is like turning off a movie projector and studying the film one frame at a time. One will get a detailed look at the individual frames, but will never be able to perceive the dynamic spirit or emotional content of the process. Perceiving the micro and the macro separately and then putting them together gives one a larger perspective.

Definitions: (1) characterizes one who promotes development by providing nourishment, support, and encouragement during the stages of growth; (2) raising; training; educating; (3) furthering the development of a person, project, idea, or ideal; fostering

Quotes:
• Our souls cannot be forced to grow, but like flowers, our spiritual selves can be nurtured until they blossom and flourish. — James Van Praagh (1956-) American author & spiritual medium
• When you help someone else, not only do they benefit, but you reaffirm to yourself that you have something of value to give them, and you help to strengthen and nurture a bond with an individual that you're helping. — Vivek Hallegere Murthy (1977-) American physician

Color: green

Symbols: 1) Mommy; 2) Mother Earth

Definitions: (1) keeping within reasonable bounds; temperate; sober; steady; avoiding excesses and extremes; (2) mild; calm; gentle; nonviolent; (3) to lessen the intensity or severity

Too Far: Being austere for too long.

Sayings:
• Meden agan (Greek); Ne quid nimis (Latin): “Nothing in excess”
• Be moderate in prosperity, prudent in adversity. — Periander (~635-585 BC) Ruler of Corinth

Quote:
• Be moderate in everything, including moderation. — Horace Porter (1837–1921) American soldier and diplomat
• A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation. — Jean-Baptiste Poquelin [aka Moliere] (1622-1673) French playwright

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Divine Definitions: (1) The personification of all true, beautiful, and good qualities; God; (2) The greatest of all excellent qualities; the source of all positive qualities; (3) Charitable; (4) Endowed with admirably balanced qualities; (5) God’s benevolent concern for His creation; (5) The absolute capacity to give and draw intense interest or affection

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Comments:
• God is Love. Love is God’s way. Love is the desire to do good for others. Love is genuine and unselfish. Love is best when shared. Love is the greatest thing in the universe and it can be attached to any person. Love is dynamic. Love is alive. Love is best understood in relationships.
• From our point of view, there are many qualities. To God there is only one: Absolute Love. If we parse absolute love, we will discover all of the positive qualities we recognize, and project the probability of many more. Yet in Him they fit together perfectly. He self-limits and balances every quality with every other quality. He is the ideal harmony of love.

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LOVE
Human Definitions: (1) a deep affection for another person, idea, or ideal; to hold dear; cherish; (2) to feel a lover’s passion, devotion, or tenderness; (3) one who is well-beloved; (4) the heart of all true, beautiful, and good qualities; (5) ability to give and draw intense interest or affection; charitable; (6) the ability to elicit great pleasure

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Compatible Qualities: caring, friendship, honesty, respect, trust

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Consequential Quality: self-forgetfulness
Love is blind. When you are doing something you love, or are with someone you love, you are in a state of bliss that is oblivious to all ills. When you are in love, you think not of yourself; your joy lies in thinking of ways to delight, comfort, and interest your loved one.
     At play one is enveloped in the excitement,...

Definitions: (1) mental illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; (2) free from care; cheerful; happy; (3) extremely beautiful; ravishing; animate; bright; (4) nimble, buoyant, lively; (5) having a shining nature, character, or personality; (6) willing to show the way; (7) Emitting health; glowing; (8) Diffusion of mental knowledge; elucidating; (9) Emanating spiritual knowledge; enlightening

Synonyms: delicate, easy, gentle, light-footed, radiant, shimmery, unencumbered

Saying: A candle’s light is best seen in the dark.

Quotes:
• Some people change when they see the light, others when they feel the heat. — Caroline Schoeder, American aphorist
• We are all facets of the diamond which is God ... Each of us reflecting light in our own way. — Linda Ohlson Graham (1947-) American poet
• Only those who live up to the highest light they have find their lives in harmony. Those who act on their highest motivations become a power for good. — Peace Pilgrim [born Mildred Lisette Norman] (1908-1981) Steps Toward Inner Peace {2021}

Symbols: 1) dew; 2) gold; 3) the lamp; 4) the diamond

Mythological Figure: Balder, the beautiful and wise Scandinavian deity of light and peace

Definitions: (1) disposed to be helpful and solicitous; gentle and considerate; good and tenderhearted; friendly; generous; (2) affectionate; loving; agreeable; (3) inclined to offer sympathetic relief; willing to give pleasure; (4) able to put up with abuse; clement; (5) not quick to lash out; forbearing

Synonyms: affable, avuncular, courteous, fair, nice, polite

Aphorism: Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see. — Unknown

Quotes:
• Perfect kindness acts without thinking of kindness. — Lao-tse (c. 6^th Century BC) Chinese philosopher
• It is kindness that makes one strong and brave. — Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) The Patchwork Girl of Oz {1913}

Symbols: 1) the dolphin; 2) the elephant {Kind, Compassionate, and Loving} (Hindu)

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Definitions: (1) having principles of rectitude, honesty, and righteousness; upright; proper; (2) equitable; impartial; fair; (3) the duty of a judge; discriminating, reliable, and reasonable

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Saying: Justice is fairness through time.

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Motto: Justitia omnibus (Latin): “Justice for all.” — District of Columbia

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Maxim: Let justice be done though the heavens fall.

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Quotes:
• It is wise to disregard laws when they conflict with justice. — Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) Tik-Tok of Oz {1914}
• The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds. — Amenemope (c. 1100 BC) The Wisdom of Amenemope, 3:7 {Found 1888; Published 1922}
• Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought. — John Rawls (1921-2002) American philosopher
• Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) Letter from Birmingham City Jail {1963}
• Appropriate anger can be a force for good. Anger has provoked good and courageous people to come forward and defend the rights of those who are powerless to defend themselves. — Abigail Van Buren [born Pauline Phillips] (1918-2013) The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal with It {1998}

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Comments:
• Justice has a lot to do with seeing reality from the other person’s point of view.
• Vengeance has nothing to do with justice.

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Observation: The problem with a jury of one’s peers is the redneck jury who sentenced a fourteen-year-old black boy to death because he allegedly spoke flippantly to an older white woman. Then when the jury who tried him were put on trial,...

Definitions: (1) closeness with warm friendship developed through long association; very familiar; linked (2) indicative of one’s deepest nature; intrinsic; essential; self-experiential; (3) worthy of entrusting with the closest confidence; communicative; sharing; (4) the essential part of; quintessential

Quotes:
• On a level of simple personal survival, understanding and forgiveness are crucial... whether in an intimate personal relationship or on a global level. — Edward Laurence Albert (1951–2006) American actor
• People didn’t understand that true intimacy did not consist of sexual intercourse, which could be done with strangers and in a state of total alienation; intimacy consisted of talking for hours about what was most important in one’s life. — Kim Stanley Robinson (1952-) Red Mars (1992)

Color: orange-brown

Divine Definitions: (1) The ultimate authority; unchallengeable; (2) Worthy of being believed; reliable; (3) Adept; unable to make a mistake; unfailing; (4) Always accurate; never in error; (5) Dependable; incapable of deception

Idiom: Latin, "Ne plus ultra" <ultimate perfection>

Comment: God’s infallibility is a direct result of a perfect combination of omniscience and absolute wisdom. All of His decisions are determined with a resolute certainty. Everything has been taken into account.

SELFLESS
Human Definitions: (1) a proper concern for one’s own desires with those of others; (2) a healthy regard for one’s own interests yet unselfishly generous

Balancing Quality: Service-minded

Compatible Qualities: With faith, discipline, and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve. — Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948) Founder of Pakistan

Comment: True heroes are also self-forgetful and self-effacing. While doing some service, with love, for someone else, your mind and heart are focused on the good you hope the other to receive. The very thought of getting something in return lessens the value.

Quotes:
• You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you. — John Wooden (1910-2010) American basketball coach
• Always do good to others. Be selfless. Mentally remove everything and be free. This is divine life. This is the direct way to salvation. — Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963) Indian Hindu spiritual guru

Definitions: (1) filled with the spirit; (2) to stimulate to service; (3) having an animating effect upon; impelling; (4) inducing or influencing another to some creative or effective effort; (5) persuading by positive means to be good, recognize beauty, and know truth; (4) afflatus <a creative impulse>

Derivation: Latin, “to breathe in”

Quotes:
• The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. — Bertrand Arthur William Russell (1872–1970) British polymath [four disciplines]
• Inspiration may be a form of superconsciousness, or perhaps of subconsciousness – I wouldn’t know. But I am sure that it is the antithesis of self-consciousness. — Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Classical composer

Comment: If you focus on the positive, even in your criticisms of a person or a situation (with tact), you are helping to transform both the situation and the person.
     There are many ways to be treated poorly. And it is easy to feel badly when it happens to you. But if you lash out in anger and frustration, you will only be successful in creating more anger and resistance. In hoping to control an ugly situation, you may be able to box it up but the person or people who have created the negative have not been changed.
     Containment may be necessary as a first resort. Society and the individual do have the right to protect themselves. But force is not the final solution. The final solution is for people to possess the qualities within themselves that will make it impossible to do the negative things they have done before. When inspired with the positive, people tend to act in accordance with their higher qualities.

Color: blue

Symbol: the torch

Definitions: (1) a positive concept of oneself; (2) a realistic understanding of one’s capacity

Observation: It is ironic how often those with a poor self-image usually have a sensitive perception of the values of others: “I’m no good but look at how wonderful so-and-so is.”
     Subjective reality is folded in such a way that the person with a poor self-image cannot see or accept his or her own positive qualities. Consider Marilyn Monroe; her beauty was certainly obvious to an adoring public, and she surely must have been aware of it, but it was not enough. Those who study theatrical art say she was a talented actor, but her lack of self-esteem helped to destroy her.

Structure: The following are from “Anxiety—Recognition and Intervention” The American Journal of Nursing, Barbara C. Schutt R.N., Editor.

Components of a Good Self-Image
• An ability to understand and be understood
• Satisfaction of personal expectations
• Reasonable control of environment
• Satisfaction of personal wants
• Satisfaction of personal goals
• Reasonable control of self
• A sense of productivity
• A sense of usefulness
• A sense of belonging

Threats to a Good Self-Image
• A sense of isolation, alienation, or loneliness
• A sense of insecurity (a threat to identity)
• A sense of helplessness
• Fear

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Divine Definitions: (1) Unconditional kindness; unselfishly generous; charitable beyond bounty; beneficent; (2) Gracious and attractive; virtuous; (3) Blameless; unimpeachable; (4) Praiseworthy; desirable; (5) Deserving of respect; honorable; (6) A euphemism for God

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Quote: Do good without thought of benefit to the self. Goodness begets goodness, but to the one who is truly good, evil also begets goodness. True goodness is like water. It blesses everything and harms nothing. And like water, the true goodness of the Supreme seeks the lowest places, even those levels which others avoid. — Lao-Tse (c. 604-531 BC), Taoism

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Comment: Good is not good only in contrast to evil. Evil (even if encompassing stupidity, sin, and iniquity) only makes up a very small portion of the universe - a few dark spots on a pure, clean background. Evil is measurably separate from true Goodness, sometimes a little and sometimes a lot. We are certainly selfish, misguided, and immature beings with only a finite amount of information, but that goes along with the fact we have been given the right to choose. And that freewill was given by The One Person who wishes nothing more than to share His infinite goodness.

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GOODNESS
Human Definitions: (1) excellence of character, morale, or virtue; (2) showing kindly feelings; benevolence; (3) unselfish; generous; beneficent; (4) deserving of respect; honorable (5) blameless; unimpeachable

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Derivation: Sanskrit, “what one clings to;” Old English, “God”

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Synonym: praiseworthy

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Axiom: If darkness is, then darkness is good. — Mbuti

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Quotes:
• Goodness begets goodness; but to the one who is truly good, evil also begets goodness. — Lao-tse (6^th Century BC)...

Definitions: (1) worthy of acceptance or belief <an authentic idea>; genuine; real; (2) approved by authority; trustworthy; reliable; (3) true to one's own personality, spirit, or character; unique

Synonyms: credible, faithful, official, original

Quotes:
• The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love, and to be greater than our suffering. — Ben Okri (1959-) Nigerian-British poet
• That inner voice has both gentleness and clarity. So to get to authenticity, you really keep going down to the bone, to the honesty, and the inevitability of something. — Meredith Jane Monk (1942-) American vocal innovator

Definitions: (1) having or showing kindness, courtesy, charm, good taste, or generosity of spirit; (2) tactful and delicate; urbane; refined; (3) merciful; compassionate; (4) possessing divine grace; virtuous; good

Synonyms: affable, benignant, cordial, genial, mild, sociable, tender

Quotes:
• I might have some difficult questions, but I know God is good, merciful, and gracious. — Jeremy Thomas Camp (1978-) American Christian singer
• When you’ve experienced grace and you feel like you’ve been forgiven, you’re a lot more forgiving of other people. You’re a lot more gracious to others. — Richard Duane Warren (1954-) American pastor

Comment: It is because of God’s graciousness that we were given the gifts of grace. And one of those is the gift of free choice. He gave us choice so we would be able to grow and discover our own holiness.

Definitions: (1) sincere and frank; honest and forthright; (2) real; true; authentic; not artificial; not counterfeit <a genuine manuscript>

Synonyms: (fair) dinkum, natural, unadulterated, unaffected, veritable

Comment: When, on the one hand, one seems genuine and honest, but on the other hand, has selfish motives, their true purpose cannot really be known until time clarifies it. However, you may be able to see through their facade from the outset. If not, wait patiently, eventually the individual will show themself. Remember the old saying: “Actions speak louder than words.”
     Sometimes people say they are motivated by a set of positive qualities and yet are taking steps and actions going against the very qualities they profess to hold in such high regard.

Quotes:
• The essence of Hinduism is the same essence of all true religions: Bhakti or pure love for God and genuine compassion for all beings. — Radhanath Swami [born Richard Slavin (1950-) American Gaudiya Vaishnava guru
• The belief that all genuine education comes about through experience does not mean that all experiences are genuinely or equally educative. — John Dewey (1859–1952) American philosopher & psychologist

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Definitions: (1) facing and dealing with anything recognized as difficult or painful instead of withdrawing from it; (2) that firmness of spirit that meets danger or hardship without fear; strength of character; unflinching; (3) the quality of being mentally or morally fearless or brave; valorous; intrepid; unruffled

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Synonyms: bold, daring, dauntless, enterprising, gallant, hardy, heroic, pluck
     Courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty; mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience; resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one’s ends; spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one’s own or keep one’s morale when opposed or threatened; tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence.

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Balancing Qualities: Compassionate, Confident, Curious, Farsighted, Kind, Open-minded

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Compatible Qualities: appreciation, attentiveness, experience, flexibility, gratitude, humor, knowledge, preparedness, relaxation, strength, understanding
     NOTES:
• These compatible qualities may also be considered antidotes to fear either singly or in combination. Yet courage and boldness are not really antidotes to fear, they are more positive reaction mechanisms.
• If your focus is good enough, your attentiveness is good enough. You perceive the rattlesnake before it has a chance to bother you. Then you just take a wide path so you don’t even experience the fear because your attentiveness gives you an alternate path.
• You are not as afraid of the things you have already experienced.
• One of the greatest antidotes to fear is humor. When you experience fear, or if your intention is to be courageous, make sure there is a serious quantity of levity involved.
• To be prepared gives you a look into possible...

Definition: a willingness and ability to work with others; collaborative; greater efficiency through teamwork

Proverb: When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion. — Ethiopian

Quote: Whatever God’s dream that man may be, it is certain it cannot come true unless man cooperates. — Stella Terrill Mann (1898-1990) Author of Change Your Life Through Love {1949}

Reflection: Ultimately the final outcome of racial tension will be one of three separate possibilities: isolation, annihilation, or assimilation.
     Assimilation is accomplished by communication and interaction. Society is strengthened by cross-cultural relationships, cross-societal associations, personal friendships, and the melding of linguistic and musical ideas and attitudes. When assimilation is rendered with a cooperative spirit, the new combination is a strong and unique new people.

Comment: A stable civilization is built on a cooperative society.

Observation: A discussion may begin as a negotiation and, if productive, lead to cooperation; and then, if fruitful, become a collaboration.

Symbol: fish {Teamwork}; geranium flowers

Definitions: (1) showing kindly regard for the feelings or circumstances of others; thoughtful; (2) showing care; deliberate

Derivation: Latin, “examine,” )perhaps based on sidus: “star”)

Quotes:
• Being considerate of others will take your children further in life than any college degree. — Marian Wright Edelman (1939-) American civil rights activist
• Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration, and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace. — Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) The 34^th President of the United States

Definitions: (1) respectful of the basic human rights of others; (2) courteous and polite; mannerly; (3) proper behavior

Synonyms: affable, complaisant, obliging

Quotes:
• Manners are the basic building blocks of civil society. — Alexander “Sandy” McCall Smith (1948-) British legal scholar & author
• All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers. — François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon (1651–1715) French theologian
• Law in general is human reason, inasmuch as it governs all the inhabitants of the earth: the political and civil laws of each nation ought to be only the particular cases in which human reason is applied. — Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (1689–1755) French judge & historian

Comments:
• When you choose to be civil you are creating civilization.
• Although being civil oftentimes implies an attitude little more than a lack of rudeness, it also implies a willingness to be tolerant. This is the beginning of an acceptance of our unavoidable differences, and a practical step away from the negative toward the positive.

Definitions: (1) having distinctive importance; momentous; renowned; (2) marked by nobility of thought or action; distinguished; dignified (3) unusual in ability of achievement; highly gifted; illustrious; superior; eminent; (4) impressive; remarkable; grand (5) proficient; skillful; (6) excellent; splendid; fine; (7) enthusiastic

Synonyms: celebrated, extraordinary, great-minded, majestic, powerful

Quotes:
• To be great is to be Godlike. And since the quality of greatness is wholly determined by the content of goodness, it follows that, even in your present human estate, if you can through grace become good, you are thereby becoming great. (28:6.22) — The Urantia Book {1955}
• Greatness is a transitory experience. It is never consistent. It depends in part upon the myth-making imagination of humankind. The person who experiences greatness must have a feeling for the myth he is in. He must reflect what is projected upon him. And he must have a strong sense of the sardonic. This is what uncouples him from belief in his own pretensions. The sardonic is all that permits him to move within himself. Without this quality, even occasional greatness will destroy a man. — Frank Herbert (1920-1986) Dune {1965}
     Note: The word ‘sardonic’ is said to derive from the sardonion plant that grows in Sardinia, which when eaten produces convulsive laughter that can end in death.

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Divine Definitions: (1) The personal aspect of deity; (2) The One Uncaused Reality; (3) The first, best, and highest being in existence; (4) The embodiment of sanctity

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Comments:
• Divinity is the unifying and coordinating quality of deity. Divinity is qualitatively comprehended as love, truth, beauty, and goodness. Divinity is correlated in personality as love, mercy, and ministry. Divinity is manifest impersonally as justice, power, and sovereignty.
• God started it all going. He lets it run its course with the aid of of more sophisticated beings who He also created that have specific responsibilities in the scheme of things. God is supernatural, above nature, as well as in nature, but nature is not God.

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Quote: God is the shortest distance between Zero and Infinity – in either direction. But God, being without dimension, is not a line but a point. Therefore, God is the tangential point between Zero and Infinity. — Alfred Jarry (1873-1907) Elements of Pataphysics [The Science of Imaginary Solutions] {1911}

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GODLY
Human Definitions: (1) filled with love for God; pious; devout; religious; (2) aspiring to conform to God’s design or will; (3) metta <loving-kindness; (4) theophile <one who loves God and is love by God; theosophy <the knowledge that God may be achieved through spiritual ecstasy, direct intuition, or special individual relations

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Quotes:
• Why indeed must “God” be a noun? Why not a verb . . . The most active and dynamic of all? — Mary Daly (1928-2010) American theologian
• God is Love, and whenever you reach out in loving kindness, you are expressing God. God is Truth, and whenever you seek truth, you are seeking God. God is Beauty, and whenever you touch the beauty of a flower or sunset, you are touching God. — Peace Pilgrim [born Mildred Lisette Norman] (1908-1981) Steps...

Definitions: (1) refined or polite; noble; (2) heeding the need of others with delicacy and sensitivity; generous; kind; (3) able to handle a situation smoothly; self-composed, serene; patient; (4) mild; moderate

Synonyms: meek, pacific, peaceful, placid, quiet, softhearted, tender

Balancing Qualities: Determined, Strong

Maxim: Gently in manner, strongly in deed.

Quote: The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time. — Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) American naturalist

Comment: We associate gentleness with the sense of touch; but even though we cannot physically touch most people, we can touch their hearts with the kindness of a smile, touch their minds with an encouraging word, or touch their funny bones with a sense of humor.

Symbol: the unicorn {Gentleness and Longevity} (Chinese)

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Divine Definitions: (1) Showing loving interest and amiable goodwill; congenial; (2) Always ready to comfort, help, and be supportive; loyal; (3) The Person who knows you completely and is intensely fond of you; amicable; (4) The Person who is considerate of your every want and need; (5) Willing and able to take you into His heart; endearing; inviting; hospitable

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Comments:
• God is the friend of each and every individual. Friends do not like to see friends hurting themselves or other friends, therefore God is the ultimate promoter of peace. If there is a conflict, He will let each individual know what is the best right action.
• God is not only a judge. He is also a companion. If you do not recognize Him, look at your human and animal friends. All good-natured compatibility is shared and enjoyed by the creator of relationships.
• We normally take God very seriously. That does not change the fact that He has the best sense of humor in the universe. He knows all the incongruous situations we put ourselves into. His empathy for our difficulties is not diminished. We will be able to best surpass ourselves when we get to the point where we do not take ourselves so seriously.
     The cynic says the universe is just a big joke. But God does not laugh at us; He laughs with us. He is the embodiment of compassion. It is we who make mistakes and treat each other foolishly. Humor is the general anesthesia for being born human. Humor clarifies the facts and purifies the truth.

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FRIENDSHIP
Human Definitions: (1) showing kindly interest and good will; amicable; (2) comforting or supportive of others needs and wants; helpful; (3) attached to another by affection or esteem; a favored companion; (4) disposed to peace; ; amity; (5) cheerful; (6) entente <friendly understanding between factions>

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Synonyms: a buddy, conciliatory, hospitable,...

Divine Definitions: (1) The non-personal side of Deity; (2) The unlimited, primal, original, and precursor aspects of Divinity from which power, energy, and matter emerge; (3) Holding and controlling all power, energy, and strength in check.

Quotes:
• May The Force be with you. — George Lucas (1944-) Star Wars {1977}
• The absolute truth abides forever, whether enlightenment appears in the world or not. — Buddhism, Lankavatara Sutra 61 {3rd Century}

Observation: All the stars and the tiniest atom all obey the Force.

Comment: God’s force and power are always in control, always acting with the best interest of all involved. They are governed by goodness and distributed with fairness. He has no reason or will to force or coerce anyone to do anything.

FORCEFUL
Human Definitions: (1) acting with power or full of energy; vigorous; (2) effective; cogent; telling

Balancing Qualities: This quality is best in combination. It needs always to be balanced with a range of other qualities depending on the circumstances. As a parental disciplinarian you need to be forceful yet tender. A person in a potentially threatening situation needs to be forceful and prudent. In a rough and tumble game the combination would be forceful and playful.

Too Far: bully, insensitive

Quote: Persuasiveness is really just about getting your ideas across without being forceful. It's a skill that can be learned and is useful for anyone who works in a team environment. — Amanda de Cadenet (1972-) British photographer & author

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Divine Definitions: (1) The head of the universe; paternal; (2) Devoted to the care and rearing of the cosmic family; (3) The first Person of The Trinity; (4) The originator and initiator of all things and beings; The Father-Absolute
     Note: Here Father denotes the loving nature of The Original Person.
          See Also: Mother

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Quotes:
• Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. — The Bible, Matthew 5:48
• In gaining an entrance into the kingdom of heaven, it is the motive that counts. My Father looks into the hearts of men and judges by their inner longings and sincere intentions. (140:3.19) — Jesus of Nazareth (7 BC-30 AD) The Urantia Book {1955}

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PARENTAL
Human Definition: (1) fatherly or motherly integral characteristics; tender; affectionate; (2) the source from which something is derived

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Quote: Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. — James Arthur Baldwin (1924-1987) American writer

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Reflection: Number five of the ten commandments, "Honor your father and mother."

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Observation: One can be the parent of an idea and nurture an ideal.

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Tips:
• It is important to know how to let your child learn. Give them the tools, instruction, encouragement, and then the freedom. We all learn differently.
• Notice what talents your child has naturally. Expose them to lots of options. Give your child the benefit of your observations about their talents and interests.

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Advice: Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do. ― Benjamin McLane Spock (1903-1998) American pediatrician

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PATERNAL
Human Definition: fatherly; characteristic of a father or...

Divine Definition: The Father, The Mother, Sons and Daughters; the unit of mutual and intimate support; storge <natural (or acquired) familial love>

Comment: God was replete before creating anything or anyone. It was His loving nature motivating Him to begin the universal family. It is love that brings His family together. The best parental qualities are His.

FAMILIAL
Human Definition: pertaining to or characteristic of family bonds; a unit of mutual and intimate support

Quotes:
• So much of what is best in us is bound up in our love of family, that it remains the measure of our stability because it measures our sense of loyalty. — Haniel Long (1888-1956) American poet
• The family is the test of freedom; because the family is the only thing that the free man makes for himself and by himself. — Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936) English writer & philosopher

Consideration: The family is the basic unit of society, then comes the clan, race, state, nation, world, and universe. Once we all recognize that we are all kin, we will have a chance for world peace.

Suggestion: Leave a place in the family for God.

Symbols: 1) the chain; 2) the ruby slippers (silver in the original written version) [Dorothy of Kansas wore them in The Wizard of Oz {1939} when she declared, “There’s no place like home.”]

Definitions: (1) all sides treating each other truthfully and impartially; just; equitable; objective; evenhanded; (2) pleasant and courteous; civil; fair-minded; (3) free from anything which might impair the appearance, quality, or character; clean; pure; (4) agreeable to the eye or mind <especially because of fresh, charming, or flawless traits>; lovely; beautiful; attractive; (5) open; honest; (6) the perfect melding of justice and mercy

Synonyms: candid, clear, equanimous, frank, honest, open, reasonable, sympathetic, unprejudiced

Idiom: Let’s be fair and square.

Quotes:
• We must always remember that it is when passions are most inflamed that fairness is most in jeopardy. — Susan Margaret Collins (1952-) American Senator
• I don't think fairness means that you give equal time to every point of view no matter how marginal. You weigh the sides, you do some truth-testing, you apply judgment to them. — Bill Keller (1949-) American journalist

Comment: Every circumstance cannot be fair, but if all parties enter a situation with an attitude of fairness, they will have a better chance of ending up with a satisfactory outcome for all. Take into consideration not only a concern for your interests, but also a healthy concern for the other person’s interests.

Observation: Many of the higher, or more complex, qualities need a solid foundation. The groundwork for fairness begins with a raw reading of the law (natural or legal), then a balanced reading of justice, then comes the question of fairness, after that patience, and then kindness. Only then can one take the next step and show loving mercy.

Definitions: (1) enlarging in range or scope; unfolding; becoming more comprehensive; opening; developing in detail; (2) spreading positive ideas or ideals; (3) possessing a large measure of benevolence; broad-minded, generous, open-hearted, and sympathetic

Synonyms: amplifying, extending, swelling

Quote: The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. — Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841-1935) American poet

Comment: When you make someone your enemy, you shrink your consciousness; you shrink your options; you limit your possible points of view. The narrower your world view(s), the smaller your world.

Visualization: There was a TV show called “Bonanza.” It opened with a map being consumed by fire expanding from the center outward. Think of it as a positive metaphor: an increase of consciousness, an unfolding of personality, a growing of the soul?
     Life gets consumed as experience is expanded, only to nurture new growth.

Divine Definitions: (1) Setting the cosmos in motion; actualizing reality; activating the plan of creation; (2) Fully committed to the dynamic service of the universe; (3) Affectionately connecting with each person; (4) Exerting executive control of the energetic forces proposed by Original Thought; (5) Operating within everything and everyone; absolute immanence

Comments:
• Only after God had thought about what would be the options (having taken a look at all possible beginnings, all branching possibilities, and every possible outcome), using His infinite omniscience and perfect wisdom, did God finalize a plan of action. Then did the decree go forth as to what should take place and who should be involved.
• The divine plan asks those who have made some progress toward The Center to be willing to help those who are still struggling to become more complete. We are asked to be engaged as He is engaged.

ENGAGING
Human Definitions: (1) drawing positive attention or affection by being attractive, winning, or pleasant; (2) fully committed and affectionately connecting to the service of others

Compatible Quality: charming

Quotes:
• Not engaging in ignorance is wisdom. — Bodhidharma (5th or 6th century AD) Chinese Buddhist monk
• We are at our very best, and we are happiest, when we are fully engaged in the work we enjoy on the journey toward the goal we’ve established for ourselves. It gives meaning to our time off and comfort to our sleep. It makes everything else in life so wonderful, so worthwhile. — Earl Nightingale (1921-1989) American motivational speaker

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Divine Definitions: (1) God is the ultimate and inevitable goal of all creation; the final accomplishment; (2) The promise of prevailing in one’s search for God; the definitive attainment; (3) The end result of giving in to God’s irresistible influence; triumphant and victorious; (4) Our refuge and our strength

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Comment: If we had no free will, our future would be predetermined. But since He, in His infinite wisdom, did give us the gift of free will, we can choose our destination and how to get there. If we choose to align our will with the will of The Father, He has assured us we will fulfill our heart’s desire. God gives us whatever help we need but we choose our own fate.

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DESTINED
Human Definitions: (1) developing according to a plan <destined to become; (2) certain to meet <a particular fate; (3) focused on a goal

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Derivation: Latin, “to stand”

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Quotes:
• It can only be true love when you enable your other half to be better, to be the person they’re destined to be. — Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng (1962-) Malaysian actress
• Never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place – that is, the unique you. Have an aim in life, continuously acquire knowledge, work hard, and have perseverance to realize the great life. — Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (1931–2015) Indian aerospace scientist and statesman; 11^th President of India

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Reflection: If your goal is pure and heavenly enough it will be preordained.

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PURPOSEFUL
Human Definitions: (1) having a meaningful goal or an important aim; (2) determined; resolute

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Quotes:
• Life itself must be founded upon the infinite possibility for choice and accident; and if we cannot prove that it is, we must believe that it...

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Definitions: (1) arriving at a solution after purposeful consideration thus ending uncertainty or dispute; (2) making a choice or finalizing a judgment; (3) showing determination for a dedicated purpose; firmness; resolute

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Synonyms: conclusive, incontestable, positive, unmistakable, unquestionable

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Balancing Qualities: Open-minded, Vision

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Parental Qualities: faith, wisdom

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Consequential Qualities: calm, peaceful

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Too Far: demanding, narrow-minded

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Quote:
The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity. — Rollo May (1090-1994) Man’s Search for Himself {1953}
     Note: You must be in charge of your decisions. There are elements of weakness and cowardice in conformity. Those who possess power tend to praise qualities which trigger an obedient response.

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Reflection: One of the most difficult times we have is just before a decision is made. This is particularly true on important decisions: a career choice, a relationship choice, a life choice. The mind brings up lots of possibilities and what-ifs. Some of these options have fear-triggering repercussions. But once the decision is made, and you proceed with a course of action, most of that fear dissipates. There are new decisions to make. Doubts will always come up, but if your self-reliance and self-esteem are strong, then some doubt is healthy.
     Decisiveness is connected with faith. Decision creates motion. You are acting, which will lead to your goal, and to becoming someone different. Have the faith to go ahead and take that first step based on your powers of judgment and experience. As you begin it, and move through it, you’ll find out what the next steps need to be to adjust to the...

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Divine Definitions: (1) The Person who brings everything into being; the originator (and maintainer); the ordainer of what is caused to exist; (2) Characterized by originality and execution of first thoughts; (3) Productive; inventive; omniferous; (4) The generator of reality: physical, mental, spiritual, and personal; (5) Establishing and mandating the primal patterns, forms, and designs; the lawmaker; (6) Self-moved by the motivation of love

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Quote: In loving his own productive, generative, generous love, God loves all those ways in which that love can be realized in creation. — Rowan Douglas Williams (1950-) 104th Archbishop of Canterbury

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Comments:
• To appreciate and stand in awe of the creation is to give credit to The Creator for manifesting such prolific and imaginative innovations.
• God has also blessed us with a bit of the creative impulse. When we are being creative, we are sharing with Him a fundamental quality of His nature. This gift is one reason why He does not give us all of the answers. It is part of The Plan that we discover, and even create, reality for ourselves.

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CREATIVE
Human Definitions: (1) to bring into being; to originate; to cause to exist; (2) characterized by originality and execution of thought; (3) forming something new; inventive

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Synonyms: constitutive, generative, productive, resourceful

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Balancing Qualities: Ability, Harmony, Practicality, Responsibility, Talented

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Compatible Qualities: adaptability, devoted, dreaming, flexible, humorous, playful, whimsical

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Familial and Consequential Qualities: Three qualities work well with creativity: curiosity, courage, and confidence.
     In order to be courageous, in the inventive sense,...

Divine Definitions: (1) Imparting reassurance, encouragement, and strength; (2) Bringing solace and consolation in times of distress; (3) Providing grace, hope, and cheer; (4) Showing compassion and soul soothing kindness; (5) Bestowing satisfaction and contentment; (6) The Teacher of all things

Comments:
• Definition number six, “the Teacher of all things,” helps us understand how comfort is beyond a simple hug with a sympathetic, “It will be all right. I’ll help you through this.” Comfort also includes information, security, and understanding. The more we know the more comfortable we feel.
• Some of God’s qualities (omnipotence, omniscience) are impossible to share. Some, like comfort, are where we have our opportunity to be like Him. We can give comfort, in all of its forms (teacher, listener, inventor, nurse) to our brothers and sisters; all the while getting better as we practice.

COMFORTING
Human Definitions: (1) imparting encouragement and strength; heartening; (2) bringing solace or cheer to someone; consoling; reassuring; (3) providing grace, hope, and cheer; showing compassion and soul soothing kindness; (4) bestowing satisfaction and contentment; (5) commodious

Synonyms: relieving, supportive

Quotes:
• Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself, the most comforting words of all; this, too, shall pass. — Esther Pauline "Eppie" Lederer [pen name: Ann Landers] (1918-2002) Advice columnist
• We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. — Viktor Emil Frankl (1905-1997) Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, & Holocaust survivor

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Divine Definitions: (1) The most exquisite Person in the universe. The Divine gift to every person that enhances pleasure to the senses, exalts the mind, and elevates spiritual reality; (2) The aesthetic effect produced by harmony; (3) The essence of any excellent quality; (4) Grace with charm; delightful; (5) Intensely pleasing; extremely fine; (6) Artistic; attractive; lovely

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Quotes:
• Beauty springs from God and it is like a circle, the center of which is Goodness. — Baldassare Castiglione (1478–1529) Italian diplomat & author
• Beauty is always triumphant over ugliness in the hearts of all who are illuminated by the love of truth. — Jesus of Nazareth (7 BC-30 AD), The Urantia Book, 156:5.5 {1955}

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Reflection: Our idea of beauty is so paltry compared with the grandeur of Divine Beauty that it seems hopelessly meager. And yet these are the words we have available to use. One possibility is to extend the concept from an idea to an ideal and then it can be felt as well as known.

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BEAUTY
Human Definitions: (1) the quality or combination of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses, exalts the mind, and/or elevates the spirit by their harmony, pattern, excellence, or truth; loveliness; (2) any particularly attractive, graceful, ornamental, or excellent characteristic; (3) a special grace or charm; delightful; (4) generally pleasing; very fine

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Synonyms: adornment, embellishment, exquisite, fair, picturesque, seemly

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Saying: Beaux yeux (French): “beautiful eyes” [beauty of face]

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Poetry:
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw a perfume on the violet,
To smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow, or with taper light
To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
Is...

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Divine Definitions: (1) The Giver of gifts; the Person with the most lavish generosity; (2) The Benefactor of examples and life lessons; (3) The application of devotion to the universe <He bestows his love upon all his children.>

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Observation: Many great people have lived remarkable lives: Jesus, Buddha, Lao-Tse, Saints (known and unknown). These lives, lived in the service of The Truth, are a gift, an example of how to live. All personalities can choose to amplify themselves to the exalted character they are meant to be. And when they do, they become a bestower of the gift of themselves upon humanity.

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Comment: Among the gifts which have been bestowed upon us are: life, personality, body, mind, spirit, grace, freewill, and revelation (external and internal).

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GENEROUS
Human Definitions: (1) liberal in sharing; unselfish; a warmhearted readiness to give; bountiful; (2) free from meanness or pettiness; open-handed; (3) magnanimous; noble-minded; gracious

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Balancing Quality: Practical

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Too Far: poverty

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Quotes:
• If you haven't got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble. — Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope(1903-2003) American comedian
• If you get great pleasure and joy out of giving of yourself, then your “selfishness” manifests itself as generosity. — Judy Kain (1948-) American Empath

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Parable: The Bible story of the employer who paid those who worked all day the same as those who worked just at the end of the day shows generosity to be a greater quality than consistency.

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Comment: Generosity does not mean only the giving of money. It also includes the sharing of ideas, establishing positive systems and...

Divine Definitions: (1) The Person from which everything emanates; (2) The foundational focal point; the nucleus; (3) The place of tranquil quiescence; stationary and still (4) The fundamental source of power and authority; (5) The convergence of every part of reality <physical force, personality and mind circuits, spiritual and physical gravity, and all life>; (6) The destiny of everything; the nexus (7) Holding everything together; cosmic cohesiveness

Inspiration: God encompasses all reality, is its source and center, is extant throughout it, and is its ultimate destination.

CENTERED
Human Definitions: (1) composed and poised; in control of the mind and emotions; (2) placed or fixed at or around an axis; focused; (3) gathering together; concentrating; (4) holding a moderate or central position; (5) in a place of tranquil quiescence; stationary and still

Quotes:
• A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe. — Wayne Walter Dyer (1940–2015) American self-help author
• The highest levels of performance come to people who are centered, intuitive, creative, and reflective – people who know to see a problem as an opportunity. — Deepak Chopra (1946-) Indian-American author

Symbols: 1) the number one; 2) the tree [as the world axis]

Definitions: (1) having easy and open access to; approachable; friendly; intimate; (2) receiving with gladness or delight <you are always welcome>; courteous, cordial; (3) able to be contacted, appreciated, or discovered

Quote: Nature promotes mutualism. The flower nourishes the bee. The river waters quench the thirst of all living beings. And trees provide a welcoming home to so many birds and animals. There is a rhythm to this togetherness. — Ram Nath Kovind (1945-) Indian politician, 14^th president of India

Observation: A welcoming person projects an air of friendliness by putting others at ease.

(INVITING)
Definitions: (1) offering the promise of an attractive or enjoyable experience; (2) polite urging; a welcome request

Quote: Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.— Martha Graham (1894–1991) American dancer and choreographer

Definitions: (1) stimulating or exciting; having gusto; zippy; (2) adding a pleasant tang or zing to; piquant; (3) sedulous

Quote: Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest. — Christian Emest Dior (1905–1957)) French fashion designer

Definitions: (1) ardent in the pursuit of an object; enthusiastic; (2) full of, characterized by, showing, or sowing fervor or passion; (3) giving wholehearted commitment

Compatible Qualities: Intelligent enthusiasm, High ideals, Deep understanding

Too Far: fanatic

Saying: Practices zealously pursued pass into habits.

Quote: Don't let our outside labels or how fervent we look or zealous we are or how righteous we seem; that's not how you measure yourself against other people. Everyone is a child of God; if we really believed that, we'd treat each other better. — Mitchell “Mitch” David Albom (1958-) American author & musician

Comment: It is hard to be zealous in tedium. In order to proceed with a tedious task, one must transcend the boredom with a higher purpose; i.e., zealous concentration on the accomplishment of the chore by focusing on the idea you are doing some good for someone else, the community, or society as a whole.

Color: red

Definition: whimsically comical; clownishly crazy; wildly absurd

Derivation: Italian, "a clownish performance"

Quotes:
• Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity. — Thor Heyerdahl (1914 – 18 April 2002) was a Norwegian adventurer & ethnographer
• Master the zany habit of thinking backwards. It will help you become a really great thinker! — Lucas Remmerswaal, New Zealand journalist

Definitions: (1) very pleasing to the senses <especially if tasty or tasteful>; delicious; delectable; succulent; (2) a general quality of approval or appreciation

Saying: One should always keep their words soft and tender for tomorrow they may have to eat them.

Quote: Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. — Winston Francis Groom Jr. (1943–2020) Forest Gump {1986}

Symbols: 1) the tummy; 2) the tongue

Foods: 1) Love; 2) Creativity; 3) Music; 4) Nature; 5) Humor; 6) Gratitude; 7) Communion with the Divine

Definition: amusing in a clever way; exhibiting ironic humor

Quotes:
• In the beginning was the thing … and one thing led to another. — Thomas “Tom” Eugene Robbins (1936-) American novelist, Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas {1994}
• A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life. — William Arthur Ward (1921–1994) American motivational writer
• Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing. — Clive James [born Vivian Leopold James] (1939–2019) Australian journalist

Definition: demonstrating commendable excellence or great merit; possessing noble value or distinguished character; deserving praise; estimable; virtuous

Quotes:
• True happiness... is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. —  Helen Keller (1880-1968) American author & lecturer (blind and deaf from 19 months old)
• It's not our job to play judge and jury, to determine who is worthy of our kindness and who is not. We just need to be kind, unconditionally and without ulterior motive, even - or rather, especially - when we'd prefer not to be. — Joshua “Josh” Thomas Radnor (1974-) American actor, author, & musician

Consideration: In general, if the parents have a strong sense of self-worth, the child can then also feel safe in having that same healthy sense of intrinsic value. If life is not safe, then something else will take its place so that the child will still have an ego identity. If the ego is built on a negative pseudo-structure, these deficiencies will eventually have to be replaced with more constructive and natural qualities.
     The fact is you cannot disconnect from your self. It takes courage and faith to let go of something and go toward another, but if you have a bridge to your new self, you will more easily let yourself do so. The bridge is made of positive qualities. Accept these building materials to shore up your deficiencies. Tell yourself they are necessary, that you are worthy of them, then you will start to crave them. If you seek, the way will be made clear.

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Definitions: (1) expressing adoration, veneration, or homage to a divine person; showing sincere devotion; (2) giving respect or honor due to a lofty character; (3) feeling intense love and admiration for a loved one

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Familial Quality: liturgical

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Saying: Worship leads to service. Service leads to worship.

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Quote: Worship, taught Jesus, makes one increasingly like the Being who is worshiped. (146:2.17) — The Urantia Book {1955}

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Reflection: Remember having been, almost literally, grabbed by something of extreme interest? Remember being struck with the beauty of a flower, a butterfly, a bird? Nature can hold our fascination for moments or for a lifetime. Remember those long philosophical discussions that were so exciting you stayed up all night? Remember that hug from a child so innocent and giving you were surrounded with love? This state of appreciation and self-forgetfulness can be triggered by exquisite beauty, sublime truth, or heartwarming goodness.
     During these times, you are totally absorbed. You give yourself over to your appreciation. It may be an involuntary act, but you like it so much you would not describe it as a loss of will.

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Observation: During worship the ego disappears; there is a sublime self-forgetfulness. There are a certain set of qualities putting you in this remarkable state. They are reverence, playfulness, humor, service, thoughtfulness. But love is primary. Love evaporates negativity and sustained love obliterates it. In this state a few things are notably absent. You no longer are experiencing fear, doubt, or worry, and your prideful ego is left behind – you are not even aware they have gone.

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Comments:
• Worship illuminates destiny. Yet that is not its primary goal; it...

Definitions: (1) excellent; grand; marvelous; (2) unusually good; extraordinary; amazing; swell; supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Proverb: When one stops wondering at the wonderful it stops being full of wonder. — Chinese

Quotes:
• If you want to find something wonderful, you have to be prepared to wonder. — Gerard “Jerry” Vincent Hubert Downs (1949-) American photographer & writer
• It is wonderful how much time good people spend fighting the devil. If they would only expend the same amount of energy loving their fellow men, the devil would die in his own tracks of ennui. — Helen Keller (1880-1968) American author & lecturer (blind and deaf from 19 months old)

Tip: Don’t be so interested in the ultimate spectacle that you walk unknowingly right by the simply wonderful.

Definitions: (1) a cause of astonishment; a marvel; (2) the quality of exciting and amazed admiration; (3) rapt attention at something awesomely mysterious or new and beautiful

Synonyms: appreciation, awestruck, curious, reverence, thunderstruck, wonderstruck

Saying: Sometimes a wonder is obscured by a miracle.

Quotes:
• To be surprised, wonder, is to begin to understand. — Jose Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955) Spanish philosopher
• Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don’t let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity. — Robert I. Fitzhenry (1918-2008) Canadian publisher

Tip: Deal with what happens as an answer and not as a question.

Symbol: a wide-eyed child

Definitions: (1) possessing amazing skill or accomplishment; very clever; (2) enchanting; charming; magical; (3) sagacious; wise; (4) praiseworthy

Quotes:
• Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power. — Lao-tse (6^th Century BC) Chinese Mystic philosopher
• Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived. — Helen Keller (1880-1968) American author & lecturer (blind and deaf from 19 months old)

Definitions: (1) engagingly or ingeniously clever in conception and execution; (2) good-humored kidding; smartly facetious; (3) quick to see and illuminate amusing relationships or insights

Saying: Sal atticum (Latin): “attic salt” [wit]

Quotes:
• Wit is the salt of conversation, not the food. — William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
• The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. — Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960) English author, poet, & dramatist
• To be witty is not enough. One must possess sufficient wit to avoid having too much of it. — Andre Maurois [born Émile Salomon Wilhelm Herzog] (1885–1967) French author
• You can pretend to be serious; but you can't pretend to be witty. — Alexandre-Pierre Georges "Sacha" Guitry (1885–1957) French actor, director, screenwriter, & playwright

(QUICK-WITTED)
Definitions: (1) having a nimble, alert mind; quick in perception and understanding; keen; clever; sharp-witted; (2) being able to readily access memory and put ideas together in new ways

Quote: Those who have a natural talent for calculation are generally quick-witted at every other kind of knowledge; and even the dull, if they have had an arithmetical training, although they may derive no other advantage from it, always become much quicker than they would have been. — Plato (428-328 BC) Greek philosopher

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Definitions: (1) having or showing good judgment; discerning; (2) accurately discriminating between what is true and what is false; (3) able to decide between what is proper and what is improper; prudent; discreet; (4) able to conceive of a pragmatic solution; common sense; sagacious

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Derivations: Sanskrit, “knowledge;” Latin, “to see”

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Synonyms: calculating, crafty, cunning, enlightened, erudite, incorruptible

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Balancing Quality: Appreciation

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Compatible Quality: common sense

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Familial Qualities: farsighted, foresighted, prepared

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Saying: A word to the wise is sufficient.

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Dictums:
• The heart is wiser than the intellect. — Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819-1881) American novelist
• Be you always as wise as serpents but as harmless as doves. — Jesus of Nazareth (7 bc-30 ad)
• God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. — Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) American theologian

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Quotes:
• The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms. — Socrates (c. 4th Century bc) Greek philosopher
• Wisdom is better than strength, and a wise man is better than a strong man. — Amenemope (c. 1100 BC) The Wisdom of Amenemope 26:15-16 {Found 1888; Published 1922}
• [Merlin:] The essence of wisdom is to know when to be doing and when it is useless even to try.  — Mary Stewart [born Mary Florence Elinor Rainbow] (1916-2014) The Last Enchantment {1979}

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Comments:
•Wisdom is the result of balancing positive qualities. It is the ability to contrast opposites and choose the highest possible good. It is also seeing the positive in...

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Divine Definitions: (1) Encompassing the entirety of discernment; Perfect judgment; capable; (2) The embodiment of truth; aware of all of the real facts and true circumstances; (3) The embodiment of beauty; the integration of reality; (4) The embodiment of goodness; knowing what is proper; prudent; discriminative; (5) Enlightened; incorruptible; (6) Having the wisest possible perspective; being able to see all reality at once; profound; (7) Proposing the practical application of His pragmatic plan; sagacious; (8) The most sensible adaptation of omniscience; possessing supreme common sense

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Quote: As mind pursues reality to its ultimate analysis … Thinking surrenders to wisdom, and wisdom is lost in enlightened and reflective worship. (112:2.11) — The Urantia Book {1995}

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Inspiration: God is our sure leader and unfailing guide. He is the great parent of heaven and earth, possessed of unlimited energy and infinite wisdom. — Hinduism

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Consideration: All that we perceive as separate is being coordinated in perfect symmetry because God’s wisdom is absolute and motivated solely by supreme love. All choices taken by The All-wise Creator will be the best course of action for all persons for all time. Nothing is out of place. He experiences no regrets. He makes no mistakes.

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WISE
Human Definitions: (1) having or showing good judgment; discerning; (2) accurately discriminating between what is true and what is false; (3) able to decide between what is proper and what is improper; prudent; discreet; (4) able to conceive of a pragmatic solution; common sense; sagacious

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Derivations: Sanskrit, “knowledge;” Latin, “to see”

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Synonyms: calculating, crafty, cunning, enlightened, erudite, incorruptible

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Definitions: (1) innocently charming; engagingly sweet; attractive; (2) cheerful; merry

Derivations: Old English, “joy;” Anglo Saxon, “delightful”

Quotes:
• Let your life yield a sweet, winsome melody that this old world needs so desperately. Yes, you can if you will. — Charles Rozell Swindoll (1934-) American pastor & educator
• There is to the poetical sense a ravishing prophecy and winsome intimation in flowers that now and then, from the influence of mood of circumstance, reasserts itself like the reminiscence of childhood, or the spell of love. — Henry Theodore Tuckerman (1813–1871) American writer

Definitions: (1) inclined or favorably disposed to act; ready; prompt to respond; (2) done, given, borne, or used with cheerful readiness <a willing volunteer>

Adage: Energy flows where intention goes.

Poetry:
Lead me Zeus, and you too Destiny
To wherever your decrees have assigned me
I follow readily, but if I choose not,
Wretched though I am, I must follow still.
Fate guides the willing, but drags the unwilling.
— Cleanthes (c. 330–230 BC) Greek philosopher

Affirmations:
• I will continue to make headway.
• I will bear up under the strain.
• I will clean up my own messes.
• I will double down on what I know is right.
• I will lay up my treasure in heaven.

Inspiration:
I will allow my will to be God’s Will.
I will align my will with God’s will.
I will that my will be God's will.
God is willing His Will to be my will.
God is willing. I am willing.

Advice:
• Be willing to hear what another is saying. Are you secure enough to be open to change your behavior to conform to another’s insights?
• Be willing to consciously surrender yourself to the guidance of your guardian angel and your inner Spirit. Give them permission to adjust your mind and soul to the pre-approved settings you are hoping to attain. You are still in control.

Definition: the intentional exercise of freewill; one’s deliberate choice resulting in voluntary action; volitional

Derivation: Middle English, "full of <free> will"

Balancing Qualities: Open-minded, Respect for others

Parental Quality: conscious

Too Far: obstinate, stubborn

Quotes:
• All variety of created objects which represent order and life in the universe could happen only by the willful reasoning of its original Creator. — Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727) English polymath [eight disciplines]
• I don't have any control over what actually happens except for that I have full control over my will for myself, my intention, and why I'm there. That's all that matters. — Solána Imani Rowe [aka SZA] (1989-) American singer-songwriter

Symbols: 1) music; 2) the sun

Definitions: (1) promoting or conducive to good health, mental vitality, or well-being; vigorous; sound; (2) tending to improve the mind or morals

Compatible Quality: homey

Quotes:
• Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraint. — Daniel Webster (1782-1852) American lawyer and statesman
• The first condition of education is being able to put someone to wholesome and meaningful work. — John Ruskin (1819–1900) English polymath [eight disciplines]

Symbol: bread

Definition: (1) showing devoted commitment, earnest enthusiasm, directed determination, or sincere and energetic focus; (2) dedicated to an ideal over a long time; loyal; whole-souled

Quotes:
• A man who always speaks the truth wholeheartedly is greater than those who do penance and deeds of charity. — Thiruvalluvar [aka: Valluvar] (31 BC) Indian poet & philosopher
• Moral acts are those human performances which are characterized by the highest intelligence, directed by selective discrimination in the choice of superior ends as well as in the selection of moral means to attain these ends. Such conduct is virtuous. Supreme virtue, then, is wholeheartedly to choose to do the will of the Father in heaven. (16:7.10) — The Urantia Book {1955}

Definitions: (1) in sound health; not diseased or injured; unimpaired; (2) intact; not broken, damaged, or defective; (3) containing all elements or parts; entire; complete

Quote: An act is not, as young men think, like a rock that one picks up and throws, and it hits or misses, and that’s the end of it. When that rock is lifted, the earth is lighter; the hand that bears it heavier. When it is thrown, the circuits of the stars respond, and where it strikes or falls the universe is changed. On every act the balance of the whole depends. … Having intelligence, we must not act in ignorance. Having choice, we must not act without responsibility. — Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) The Farthest Shore {1972}

Reflection: As the individual grows in grace and wisdom, they help the Whole to become more complete. As the Whole is evolving to its ideal, it helps the individual to become more perfect. It all works together. Thus, things eventually become more ordered and less chaotic.

Observation: A net is a group of (w)holes tied together with string.

Suggestion:
Actively function in all aspects of life.
• Appreciation
• Art, Creation
• Education, Teaching, Learning
• Emotional
• Job, Career
• Mental gymnastics
• Nature
• Physical exercises
• Playfulness, Relaxation
• Relationships
• Spiritual

Symbols: 1) the ring; 2) the globe; 3) the wheel; 4) the peacock; 5) the bracelet; 6) the pomegranate {Unity with Diversity} [many seeds contained in one sphere]

Mythological Figure:
Woman, in the picture language of mythology, represents the totality of what can be known. — Joseph John Campbell (1904-1987) The Hero with a Thousand Faces {1949}

Mythological Object: Yggdrasil, in Scandinavian mythology, is a huge ash tree whose roots and branches hold together the universe.

Definition: (1) acting with playful humor; (2) demonstrating eccentric creativity; (3) spontaneous, fanciful, and imaginative inventiveness

Compatible Qualities: changeable, rascally

Quotes:
• If you're alive, kick into drive. Chase whimsies. See if you can turn dreams into a way to make a living, if not an entire way of life. — Kevin Patrick Smith (1970-) American filmmaker
• We find in the history of ideas mutations which do not seem to correspond to any obvious need, and at first sight appear as mere playful whimsies such as Apollonius' work on conic sections, or the non-Euclidean geometries, whose practical value became apparent only later. — Arthur Koestler (1905–1983) Hungarian-born author & journalist

Definitions: (1) able to communicate with grace, kindness, or propriety; articulate; (2) civil; courteous; (3) having the ability to converse with ease; quick-minded

Proverb: The great man is not he who takes a city or overthrows a nation, but rather he who subdues his own tongue.

Quotes:
• Good English, well spoken and well written, will open more doors than a college degree... Bad English will slam doors you don't even know exist. — William Raspberry (1935-2012) American syndicated columnist
• The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been kindness, beauty, and goodness. — Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-born theoretical physicist

Comment: It can often be a greater kindness not to speak.

Definition: one who loves literature; well-educated; well-informed

Derivation: The word encyclopedia comes from the Greek meaning “well-rounded.”

Quotes:
• I was reading the dictionary. I thought it was a poem about everything. — Steven Alexander Wright (1955-) American stand-up comedian & actor
• Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. — Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher & statesman

Symbols: 1) any book; 2) a library

Mythological Figure: Nebo, the god of science and literature in Babylonian mythology; also the god of prophecy

Definitions: (1) having a purpose in mind; (2) willing to convey, with clear focus and good intent, one’s sincere truth; (3) what is clearly in mind, both included and excluded; (4) logical and straightforward; (4) well-wisher <a person who desires or expressed happiness or success for another>
     See also: Purposeful

Quotes:
• I want to go places where there are really well-meaning people doing work that is interesting and seems to really matter and where everybody, at least once a day, have a really good laugh. — Christine “Tina” Elizabeth Smith (1958-) American politician & businesswoman
• Smart, well-meaning people get it wrong when they start believing that the world owes them something and that the rules are different for them. — Guy Takeo Kawasaki (1954-) American marketing specialist
     Note: Every positive quality can benefit from a little help from other positive qualities.

Definitions: (1) feeling favorable, kind, or sympathetic; (2) having a pleasant character; friendly

Quote: In Utopia, where every man has a right to everything, they all know that if care is taken to keep the public stores full no private man can want anything; for among them there is no unequal distribution, so that no man is poor, none in necessity, and though no man has anything, yet they are all rich; for what can make a man so rich as to lead a serene and cheerful life? — Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) English philosopher & statesman

Definitions: (1) sound in body and mind; healthy; (2) having reasonable propriety; just; right; (3) expertly accomplished; skillful; complete; done with close attention <well done>; thorough; (4) abundant; prosperous; fortunate; comfortable <His investments did well.>; (5) with a high degree of pleasure or approval; (6) the proper or satisfactory treatment of a person, thing, or situation; in a kindly or friendly manner; (7) to accept in good grace; (8) behaving in a moral manner; commendable; with merit; (9) a reservoir of feelings and emotions; (10) elegantly <She carries herself well.>

Music: “When Peace Like a River” {1873}
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
— Horatio Gates Spafford (1828-1888) American lawyer & church elder

Quotes:
• People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily. — Hilary Hinton “Zig” Ziglar (1926-2021) American motivational speaker
• Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. — Lou Leo Holtz (1937-) American football coach & analyst

Symbol: sunflowers

Definitions: (1) carefully observant; vigilant; attentive <especially with parental care>; cautious; diligent; awake; aware; (2) guarding against danger; (3) alert to opportunity; (4) mentally informed; (5) acting with discretion; self-observant; self-restrained

Quotes:
• More firm and sure the hand of courage strikes, when it obeys the watchful eye of caution. — James Thomson (1834-1882) Scottish poet & playwright
• Be ever watchful for the opportunity to shelter little children with the umbrella of your charity; be generous to their schools, their hospitals, and their places of worship. For, as they must bear the burdens of our mistakes, so are they in their innocence the repositories of our hopes for the upward progress of humanity. — Conrad Nicholson Hilton (1187-1979) American businessman

Symbol: eyes

Mythological Figure: Argus, a Greek mythological giant had a hundred eyes and was ever watchful. After he was killed by Hermes, the god Hera set his eyes into the tail of the peacock.

Definitions: (1) ready with affection, cordiality, kindness, generosity, or sympathy; (2) loving; ardent

Familial Quality: familial

Quote: When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. — Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen (1932–1996) Dutch priest & theologian

Color: red-orange

Definitions: (1) infused with feeling of loving kindness; affectionate; (2) strongly attached; intimate; (3) cordial or hearty <a warm welcome>; (4) animated; vigorous; (5) the ability to inspire with kindly feeling <warm to the idea>; affect with lively pleasure; (6) excited enthusiasm, contagious cheerfulness, attractive vitality; (7) to successfully approach a goal or find a solution <You’re getting warmer.>

Quotes:
• A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. — William Arthur Ward (1921–1994) American motivational writer
• Why there is one body in our System qualified to give light and heat to all the rest, I know no reason but because the Author of the System thought it convenient; and why there is but one body of this kind, I know no reason, but because one was sufficient to warm and enlighten all the rest. — Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727) English polymath [eight disciplines]

Colors: orange-brown, red

Symbol: the hearth

Definitions: (1) gratification of aesthetic appetites <especially artistically>; (2) the hope for beauty fulfilled; (3) occupied with delight or pleasure <especially sensually>; (4) given to or spent in luxurious enjoyment

Derivation: Latin, “pleasure”

Quote: With everything that I design, from a church to a plate to skyscraper to a spoon. I am always thinking about voluptuous volumes and spaces. — Greg Lynn (1964-) American architect

Divine Definitions: (1) The personal exercise of the Divine free will; self-willed; (2) The all-wise choosing made manifest; self-disclosing; (3) The clearly correct interpretation of the original thought; self-determinative

Comment: The Creator respects His own decisions. God is the one Person with freewill who completely understands the value of unrestricted will. Since He knows its value, He decided to gift us with freewill as well. He will not stray from His own perfect decisions. He will never violate our free will. He will respect our freewill even if we choose foolishly. Neither will He coerce or compel us to submit to His bidding. Instead, He has given us the opportunity to affectionately dedicate our will as a precious gift to Him. We can decide to be in harmony with His all-wise volition.

VOLITION
Human Definitions: (1) having the power to choose; willful; (2) forming a purpose or an opinion; decisive; self-determinative

Derivation: Medieval Latin, “I wish” (17th century: a decision or choice made after deliberation)

Quotes:
• The true test of a leader is whether his followers will adhere to his cause from their own volition, enduring the most arduous hardships without being forced to do so, and remaining steadfast in the moments of greatest peril. — Xenophon (c. 430–354 BC) Athenian general, philosopher, & historian
• We see that every external motion, act, gesture, whether voluntary or mechanical, organic or mental, is produced and preceded by internal feeling or emotion, will or volition, and thought or mind. — Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831-1891) Russian & American mystic & author

Definition: alluringly lively, playfully active, spirited in temper or conduct; sprightly; pizzazzful

Derivation: Latin, “long-lived”

Synonym: Italian, brio: “vivacity of style”

Quotes:
• Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy. — Leatrice Eiseman (~1960's-) American color specialist
• In many ways, the physical dimension of life becomes less important as the soul enlarges. In my late twenties, I was astonished by the elders with whom I began to spend most of my professional time - how vivacious so many of them were, once I looked beyond my negative bias. — Wendy Lustbader M.S.W., Life Gets Better: The Unexpected Pleasures of Growing Older {2011}

Definitions: (1) necessary to existence, continuance, or well-being; indispensable; essential; critically important; (2) energetic, lively, or forceful

Quotes:
• One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child. — Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) Swiss psychiatrist
• When we know that we actually do live in uncertainty, then we ought to admit it; it is of great value to realize that we do not know the answers to different questions. This attitude of mind - this attitude of uncertainty - is vital to the scientist, and it is this attitude of mind which the student must first acquire. — Richard Phillips Feynman (1918–1988) American theoretical physicist

Colors: orange, red

Symbol: blood

Definitions: (1) the ability to anticipate and make provision for future events; foresight; (2) the power of seeing into a situation or the inner nature of things; insight; (3) a vivid imaginative conception or anticipation; envision; (4) able to create an artistic presentation of extraordinary beauty; (5) sure-sighted Quotes: • Visions born of fear give birth to failing. Visions born of hope give birth to success. — Terry Brooks (1944-) Magic Kingdom for Sale—Sold {1986} • I understand how scarlet can differ from crimson because I know that the smell of an orange is not the smell of a grapefruit. I can also conceive that colors have shades and guess what shades are. In smell and taste there are varieties not broad enough to be fundamental; so I call them shades. … The force of association drives me to say that white is exalted and pure, green is exuberant, red suggests love or shame or strength. Without the color or its equivalent, life to me would be dark, barren, a vast blackness. Thus, through an inner law of completeness my thoughts are not permitted to remain colorless. It strains my mind to separate color and sound from objects. Since my education began, I have always had things described to me with their colors and sounds, by one with keen senses and a fine feeling for the significant. Therefore, I habitually think of things as colored and resonant. Habit accounts for part. The soul sense accounts for another part. The brain with its five-sensed construction asserts its right and accounts for the rest. Inclusive of all, the unity of the world demands that color be kept in it whether I have cognizance of it or not. Rather than be shut out, I take part in it by discussing it, happy in the happiness of those near to me who gaze at the lovely hues of the sunset or the rainbow. — Helen Keller (1880-1968) American author & lecturer (blind and deaf from 19 months old) Affirmation: After you have decided to accomplish something, visualize it as completed with...

Definitions: (1) possessing moral and ethical excellence; upright; righteous; (2) having good and great qualities; (3) chaste; pure; virginal; (4) aretaics <the science of virtue>

Synonym: South African, Ubuntu: a quality that includes the essential human virtues; compassion and humanity; “I am because we are.”

Saying: Evil must be left behind in this world, but virtue follows the soul to heaven. — Hindu

Quotes:
• Virtue is like a stone, best plain set. — Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher & statesman
• His father had … insisted that they [the virtues] were the most important things he could have, and implying with a sharp dismissive gesture of hand and arm that wealth, fame, and worldly possessions were worthless and demeaning. “Little men,” he once said, “spend their days in pursuit of such things. I know from experience that at the moment of their deaths they see their lives shattered before them like glass. I’ve seen them die. They fall away as if they have been pushed, and the expressions on their faces are those of the most unbelieving surprise. Not so, the man who knows the virtues and lives by them. The world goes this way and that. Ideas are fashion or not, and those who should prevail are often defeated. But it doesn’t matter. The virtues remain uncorrupted and incorruptible. They are rewards in themselves, the bulwarks with which we can protect our vision of beauty, and the strengths by which we may stand, unperturbed, in the storm that comes when seeking God.” — Mark Helprin (1947-) Winter’s Tale

Symbols: 1) the Christian Theological Virtues {Faith, Hope, and Charity}; 2) the Greek Cardinal Virtues {Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance}

Definitions: (1) possessing moral and ethical excellence; upright; righteous; (2) having good and great qualities; (3) chaste; pure; virginal; (4) aretaics <the science of virtue>

Derivation: Latin, “strength, valorous conduct, rectitude"
     Note: vir is the Latin word for man

Synonym: South African, Ubuntu: a quality that includes the essential human virtues; compassion and humanity; “I am because we are.”

Saying: Evil must be left behind in this world, but virtue follows the soul to heaven. — Hindu

Quotes:
• Virtue is like a stone, best plain set. — Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher & statesman
• His father had … insisted that they [the virtues] were the most important things he could have, and implying with a sharp dismissive gesture of hand and arm that wealth, fame, and worldly possessions were worthless and demeaning. “Little men,” he once said, “spend their days in pursuit of such things. I know from experience that at the moment of their deaths they see their lives shattered before them like glass. I’ve seen them die. They fall away as if they have been pushed, and the expressions on their faces are those of the most unbelieving surprise. Not so, the man who knows the virtues and lives by them. The world goes this way and that. Ideas are fashion or not, and those who should prevail are often defeated. But it doesn’t matter. The virtues remain uncorrupted and incorruptible. They are rewards in themselves, the bulwarks with which we can protect our vision of beauty, and the strengths by which we may stand, unperturbed, in the storm that comes when seeking God.” — Mark Helprin (1947-) Winter’s Tale {1983}

Symbols: 1) the Christian Theological Virtues {Faith, Hope, and Charity}; 2) the Greek Cardinal Virtues {Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance}

Definitions: (1) having or exhibiting masculine strength; manly; (2) characterized by a vigorous spirit; forceful      Note: One word I wish I could have used in these listings is Virago. Originally referring to a woman of great stature, strength, and courage, but it has degenerated into a description of a woman who is loud and overbearing. Of the six dictionaries I used four gave only the negative meaning. Quote: Peasants are a rude lot, life has hardened their hearts, but they are thick and awkward only in appearance; you have to know them. No one is more sensitive to what gives man the right to call himself a man: good-heartedness, bravery, and virile brotherhood. — Jacques Roumain (1907–1944) Haitian writer & politician Color: red Symbol: the lion

Definitions: (1) pure; chaste; clean; modest; innocent; (2) pristine; fresh; new Quote: So much suffering is caused because of the misunderstandings of God's true nature. God's heart is more gentle than the Virgin's first kiss upon the Christ. And God's forgiveness to all, to any thought or act, is more certain than our own being. — Saint Catherine of Siena [born Caterina Benincasa] (1347-1380) Italian Catholic theologian Symbols: 1) the belt; 2) a private room; 3) the number six Fictional Figure: Brandamante, the “Virgin Knight” wore white armor and carried an irresistible spear. — Ludovico Ariosto (1473-1533) Orlando Furioso {1516}

Definition: robust energy; enthusiasm; lively spirit; vital

Quotes:
• When we recognize the virtues, the talent, the beauty of Mother Earth, something is born in us, some kind of connection, love is born. — Thich Nhat Hanh [born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo] (1926–2022) Vietnamese monk & author
• Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy, and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble. — Yehuda Berg (1972-) Jewish-American author & teacher

Definitions: (1) living or growing with full vital strength;  heartsome; robust; (2) acting with abundant energy and force; powerful

Quotes:
• Knowledge is not a passion from without the mind, but an active exertion of the inward strength, vigor and power of the mind, displaying itself from within. — Ralph Cudworth (1617–1688) English philosopher & theologian
• If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be. — John Heywood (c. 1497–1580) English writer, poet, & playwright

Color: red

Symbol: the hippopotamus (Egyptian)

Definitions: (1) exalted in having gained the advantage or superiority over negative passions, appetites, or temptations; (2) successful in the accomplishment of a positive goal; fulfilled

Synonyms: triumphant, successful

Quote:
• There is no one magic move or secret that creates victory, but lots of little items that, when added together, can make you victorious. — William [Bill] Anthony Toomey (1939-) American Olympic decathlon champion {1968}
• Peace is the beauty of life. It is sunshine. It is the smile of a child, the love of a mother, the joy of a father, the togetherness of a family. It is the advancement of man, the victory of a just cause, the triumph of truth. — Menachem Begin (1913–1992) Israeli politician, 6^th Prime Minister of Israel

Symbol: the palm tree

Historic Figure: Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar [El Cid] (1040-1099) was victorious in every battle.

Definitions: (1) ever awake and alert; (2) keenly watchful to detect danger or trouble; wary; (3) on the lookout for opportunities to do good

Quotes:
• He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination. — José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda [aka: Jose Rizal] (1861–1896) Filipino eye doctor, political activist, & writer
• An owl is traditionally a symbol of wisdom, so we are neither doves nor hawks but owls, and we are vigilant when others are resting. — Urjit Patel (1963-) Indian economist

Observation: Birds are always vigilant even while busily feeding or drinking.

Symbols: 1) the cock; 2) the rooster atop of a weather vane

Definition: characterized by energetic activity; vital; vigorous

Balancing Qualities: Vibrancy is only as effective as the mastering of restraint. — Sara Genn (1972-) Canadian artist

Quote: We get to choose how we're going to live - what level of energy, what level of vibrancy, what level of excitement. — Brendon Burchard (1977-) Personal development author

Definition: vigor, energy, or enthusiasm in the expression of ideas either verbal or physical <as in dance>; vivacious; spirited

Quotes:
• You can con God and get away with it, Granny said, if you do so with charm and wit. If you live your life with imagination and verve, God will play along just to see what outrageously entertaining thing you'll do next. — Dean Ray Koontz (1945-) American author
• Our life force is a form of flowing energy, a blast of verve renewed through our ongoing daily interactions and the inevitable collisions between the id and the ego. — Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls {2016}

Definition: familiar because of attentive study or close association; skilled; experienced

Quotes:
• Be versed in ancient lore, and familiarize yourself with the modern; then may you become teachers. — Confucius [born Kǒng Qiū] (c.551-479 BC) Chinese ethical philosopher
• What is the Tao Te Ching? Five hundred years before the birth of Jesus, a God-realized being named Lao-tse in ancient China dictated 81 verses which are regarded by many as the ultimate commentary on the nature of existence. — Wayne Walter Dyer (1940-2015) American self-help author

Definitions: (1) able to perceive the truth; (2) inclined to speak the truth; honest; accurate; precise

Derivations: Latin, “truthful;” Old English, “true;” Old High German, “trust”
     Note: Not to be confused with voracious, which refers to greed or an excessive appetite - to devour.

Synonym: veridical <coinciding with reality>

Poetry:
'Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.' – that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.
— John Keats (1795–1821) English poet

Quote: Veracity does not consist in saying, but in the intention of communicating the truth. — Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English poet & philosopher

(VERISIMILITUDE)
Definitions: (1) the appearance of being true or real; (2) in philosophy, “truthlikeness” is the question of how close a proposition is to truth or to another proposition; (3) coinciding with reality; veridical

Derivation: Latin, “seems probable”

Observations:
• The ‘uncanny effect:’ When seeing something fake, the feeling or judgement of how close it is to being real. Or hearing some theory, or bit of news, how true it seems to be to the truth.
• The Spirit of Truth, the “new teacher,” is the soul’s barometer of living the fruits of the spirit.

Divine Definitions: (1) Competent to act in any situation; flexible; pliable; (2) Self-adjusting within the ever-growing complexity of the universe; self-correcting; (3) Competent to spiritize human notions; adjuster; (4) Available to satisfy any need; many-sided; resourceful; (5) Able to make old things new; renewing; (6) Ever-leading all beings toward the light; (7) Skillful at turning and tuning a situation; deft

Quote: The Universal Father sees the end from the beginning, and his divine plan and eternal purpose actually embrace and comprehend all the experiments and all the adventures of all his subordinates in every world, system, and constellation in every universe of his vast domains. — The Urantia Book (2:1.4) {1995}

Comment: God does not do it all alone. As a matter of course (because of His absolute generosity) He bestows every ability and gives away every task that can be done by any of his Sons or Daughters. As we become more like Him, we will be able to serve to a greater degree.

VERSATILITY
Human Definitions: (1) competent to act in any situation; flexible; pliable; (2) turning with ease from one thing to another; deft; multifaceted; (3) self-adjusting in the face of complexity; resourceful; (4) having or capable of many uses or applications

Quotes:
• In the long run, fancier [in nature] lasts longer since versatility is a virtue. — William H. Calvin (1913-) American theoretical neurophysiologist; The River That Runs Uphill {1986}
• Try as hard as we may for perfection, the net result of our labors is an amazing variety of imperfectness. We are surprised at our own versatility in being able to fail in so many different ways. — Samuel McChord Crothers (1857–1927) American Unitarian minister
      Note: Nonetheless, the quest for perfection will always open a new path.

(A coined word) Definitions: (1) having the ability to bring a fresh point of view into a situation, the talent to breathe new life into <as a ballplayer who makes a great play and inspires his or her teammates to excel>; (2) marks the act of bringing something out into the open <as a grievance or a problem>; (3) describes the person who, when angry, frustrated, or immature, has the capacity to vent his or her negative energy in a positive direction <usually in the form of some physical or social activity; or by vocalizing with a friend or professional counselor> Derivation: Latin, “the wind”      Note: from ventilate: a circulating and refreshing air in a space <thus driving out staleness> Familial Quality: stress hardy, spacious <room to move> Quotes: • I always leave a window open. — Pope John XXIII [born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli] (1818-1963) [When asked how the “ventilious” ideas which he initiated in the Church came to him.] • Where there is no ventilation, fresh air is declared unwholesome. — George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish Playwright Inspiration: The following is written in the style (personifying qualities) of Janet Ruth Gendler in The Book of Qualities {1984}.      Ventilious entertains at children’s parties with ventriloquism, juggling, and clowning around. She creates wind sculptures and kites. She works as a volunteer for the Better Air Campaign.      Ventilious is a much sought-after arbitrator. Her fresh point of view and sense of humor make her perfect for the job. If you feel cluttered and confused, she will be glad to introduce you to Clarity.      She’s hoping to, someday, combine the just-right essences in a bouquet, the fragrance of which will clean the head and open the mind. Observation: An artist will often describe their inspiration as arriving as if from a muse. When action is taken one is turning oneself into a window through which the inspiration can manifest. Comments: • Venting, if directed toward the positive, helps to...

Definition: prone to taking risks in spite of possible danger or loss; eager for adventure; daring

Synonyms: bold, brave, courageous, intrepid

Compatible Quality: lucky

Quotes:
• The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs. — Vance Havner (1901-1986) American preacher
• Religion leads to serving men, thus creating ethics and altruism. Wisdom leads to the higher and better fellowship of both ideas and one's fellows. Revelation liberates men and starts them out on the eternal adventure. (102:3.6) — The Urantia Book {1955}

Divine Definitions: (1) Worthy of profound respect; noteworthy; (2) Worthy of worship or adoration; (3) Worthy of praise; laudable; (4) Worthy of appreciation; thankworthy; (5) Worthy of being enshrined; sacred; (6) Worthy of devotion; hallowed; (7) Worthy of reverence; blessed; (8) Deserving of deference; exalted; (9) Of the most holy stature; sacrosanct

Comment: Genuine supreme spiritual experience is beyond emotion, tradition, or philosophy. Once we know God, even to the small extent possible for humans, we realize He is worthy of worship by all intelligent beings.

VENERABLENESS
Human Definitions: (1) worthy of honor or respect because of meritorious distinction; noteworthy; (2) deserving of deference; exalted; (3) worthy of admiration or reverence because of recognized goodness <often mingled with a degree of awe>; (4) worthy of praise; laudable

Quotes:
• Is the babe young? When I behold it, it seems more venerable than the oldest man. — Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American Author
• Religion is among the most beautiful and most natural of all things - that religion which 'sees God in clouds and hears Him in the wind,' which endows every object of sense with a living soul, which finds in the system of nature whatever is holy, mysterious, and venerable, and inspires the bosom with sentiments of awe and veneration. — William Godwin (1756–1836) English philosopher & novelist

Symbol: an older person

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Definitions: (1) having qualities worthy of esteem; being highly thought of; considered a treasure; (2) having significant worth monetarily, emotionally, personally, or spiritually; (3) the embodiment of all virtue; attractive; appealing

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Synonyms: admirable, cherishable, estimable, irreplaceable, precious, priceless, probity

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Quote: We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit. — Edward Estlin [e. e.] Cummings (1894-1962) American poet

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Consideration: Cloistered nuns and monks spend their whole lives in silence, praying. They pray for the pope, starving children, and the good of the planet. They believe they are having a positive effect. And yet, by all popular accounts, things are getting worse. So, are they wasting their time? No, because they are being positive. All positive energy has a dual effect. First, on a personal level, it is making them more real because they are becoming closer to the qualities that make up the universe. Those positive choices are of value in and of themselves. And second, the prayer energy is being used for something. It is positive energy; therefore, it must have a positive effect.

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Observations:
• You are valuable. Recognition of your value may be external; you believe the evaluation of another because they love you. Or you can take an honest, private assessment of your own inner value.
• Einstein said you can only chase down the facts by what is observable. Science depends on it. On the level of being, the level of experience, you can actually get inside what you are observing via feelings and recognition of...

Definition: possessing a strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter difficulty with courage; bold or determined in facing danger

Derivation: Old French, “to be of worth”

Synonyms: brave, fearless, heroic, intrepid, knightly, stout

Quotes:
• Valor grows by daring, fear by holding back. — Publilius Syrus (85–43 bc) Latin writer
• Valor is a gift. Those having it never know for sure whether they have it till the test comes. And those having it in one test never know for sure if they will have it when the next test comes. — Carl August Sandburg (1878 –1967) American poet & journalist

Symbols: 1) the lion; 2) the wolf

Mythological Figure: Hector was the most valiant of the Trojans and their noblest hero. — Homer (c. 751-651 BC) The Iliad {762 BC}

Definition: (1) possessing the quality or property of being useful; (2) utilitarianism: an ethical doctrine that seeks the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people

Quotes:
• Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. —   William Morris (1834–1896) British textile designer, poet, artist, & fantasy writer
• To be a utilitarian means that you judge actions as right or wrong in accordance with whether they have good consequences. So you try to do what will have the best consequences for all of those affected. — Peter Albert David Singer (1946-) Australian moral philosopher

Definition: having the power to produce good or profit; beneficial; helpful; service giving

Quotes:
• What greater bliss than to look back on days spent in usefulness, in doing good to those around us. — Dorothea Lynde Dix (1802–1887) American advocate for the mentally ill
• Joy, feeling one's own value, being appreciated and loved by others, feeling useful and capable of production are all factors of enormous value for the human soul. — Maria Montessori (1870-1952) Italian physician and educator

Consideration: There are many ways to enliven and direct the innate urges of curiosity, adventure, and discovery into useful and progressive paths of growth. It begins by looking around and seeing what interests you.

Definition: having polite manners; courteous; civil; suave; elegant or refined; sophisticated; polished and poised; pleasantly tactful

Quotes:
• If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world. — Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) British philosopher and statesman
• Every peasant has a lawyer inside of him, just as every lawyer, no matter how urbane he may be, carries a peasant within himself. — Miguel De Unamuno y Jugo (1865-1936) Spanish writer & poet

Comment: We can fool ourselves into thinking that when we are doing well, well, are cultured and sleekly urbane that we do not have to bother with growing our soul. Life soon plays its little tricks to get us to grow again.

Definition: having integrity; upright; honorable; straightforward

Quotes:
• Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up. Don't give up the fight. — Robert "Bob" Marley (1945–1981) Jamaican songwriter
• Always tell young people to hold on to their dreams. Sometimes you have to stand up for what you think is right even if you have to stand alone. — Claudette Colvin (1939-) American Civil rights pioneer

Symbol: a tall tree

Definitions: (1) an emotional or spiritual exaltation; (2) a bettering of conditions; (3) bringing to a higher moral, cultural, intellectual, or spiritual level

Quotes:
• If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. — Booker Taliaferro Washington (1856 –1915) American author & orator
• Your destiny is to fulfill those things upon which you focus most intently. So choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting, and joyful. Your life is always moving toward something. — Ralph Fulsom "Red" Marston (1904-1967) American inspirational writer
• Remembering what you've been through and how that has strengthened your mindset can lift you out of a negative brain loop and help you bypass those weak, one-second impulses to give in. Even if you're feeling low and beat down by life right now, I guarantee you can think of a time or two when you overcame odds and tasted success. — David Goggins (1975-) American SEAL & ultra-marathoner

Definitions: (1) carrying oneself with pride; (2) adhering to suitable rectitude

Synonyms: pure, upstanding
     Upright implies a strict adherence to decent principles; conscientious implies an active moral sense governing all one’s actions with a painstaking efforts to follow one’s conscience; honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, and fairness; honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of decency and duty; just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable; scrupulous implies showing close attention to detail and applies to what is proper or fitting or ethical.

Quotes:
• The little reed, bending to the force of the wind, soon stood upright again when the storm had passed over. — Aesop (c 620–564 BC) Greek fabulist
• It is only through seriousness of purpose and persistence that we ultimately carry the day. We might liken it to riding a bicycle. You stay upright and move forward so long as you keep up the momentum. — Ban Ki-moon (1944-) South Korean [eighth secretary-general of the United Nations]

Symbol: the qilin [similar to the unicorn, with two horns] (Chinese)

Definitions: (1) happy; optimistic; cheerful; (2) marked by an increase in activity; prosperous

Quotes:
• Being upbeat is the key to life. — David Paradine Frost (1939-2013) British television host
• In any walk of life, a positive, upbeat outlook trumps any adversarial act. Revenge is counterproductive. Unproductive emotions limit one’s ability to move forward, to focus, to think positively, to act creatively. — Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. (1960-) 16th Governor of Utah

Definition: knowing what is in vogue in attitude or style; modern; able to see and set new trends

Quotes:
• Values are not trendy items that are casually traded in. — Ellen Goodman (1941-) American journalist
• The more up-to-date the information, the more valuable it is. — Katie Jacobs Stanton (1970-) American businesswoman

Definitions: (1) alert to opportunity; enterprising; (2) industriously successful; promising

Quotes:
• Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be. — Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) Lebanese-American artist and poet
• Put yourself in the position of an up-and-coming artist living in early-sixteenth-century Italy. Now imagine trying to distinguish yourself from the other artists living in your town: Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, or Titian. — Jerry Saltz (1951-) American art critic
     Note: First of all: good luck; but also what astonishing inspiration!

Definition: determined; resolute; indefatigable, implacable

Quotes:
• Dare, dream, dance, smile, and sing loudly! And have faith that love is an unstoppable force! — Suzanne Brockmann (1960-) American writer
• God steps into the suffering with us, and He takes it on himself, and He walks through it with us, and He uses it to create something in you that is unstoppable. — Kirk Cameron (1970-) American actor

Definitions: (1) existing as the only one or as the sole example; solitary in type or characteristics; (2) having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable; (3) singular; unusual; extraordinary; (3) singular; unusual; extraordinary; (4) inimitable <so good or unusual as to be impossible to imitate>; unorthodox

Quotes:
• When strangers meet, great allowance should be made for differences of custom and training. — Frank Patrick Herbert Jr. (1920-1986) Heretics of Dune {1984}
• If we live truly, we shall see truly – insist on yourself; never imitate – nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind, nothing can bring you peace but yourself, nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles. — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American poet

Poetry:
I am now who never was.
I am becoming who never was.
I am always unique.

Comment: Everybody is different; everyone needs something different.

Visualization: Each one of us is a seed beginning to grow into a unique plant in an infinite forest.

Observation: Parents soon see each of their children’s personalities as unique and wonderfully lovable.

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Divine Definitions: (1) Knowledgeable; discerning; (2) The source of the power and ability to think and to know; intelligent judgment; (3) Friendly or harmonious relationship; an agreement in feeling; (4) Helpful in the adjusting of differences; (5) Fully aware of meanings and implications; (6) Patient and tolerant of growth; sympathetic

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Comments:
• To understand is literally to stand under. In this way God is the one who supports all reality with His empathetic knowledge: omniscience.
• God is inscrutable, impossible to understand completely, but we can continuously discover more and more as we grow in grace.

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UNDERSTAND
Human Definitions: (1) the power to think and learn; the ability to make sense; intelligent judgment; (2) comprehension of knowledge; discernment; (3) fully aware not only of the meaning or nature of something but also of its implications; (4) a friendly or harmonious relationship; an agreement of opinion or feeling; an adjustment of differences; (5) patient and tolerant of growth; sympathetic; (6) an exaltation of intellection

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Poetry:
Knowledge, so full of itself, flies
beyond the cosmos, while Wisdom,
only as ancient as the earth, tries
to follow, but staggers and stumbles,
held back by the short-legged pace
of Understanding, still merely a child.
— Katherine Solomon (1944-) American poet

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Sayings:
• First understand the basics.
• To understand all is to forgive all.

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Proverb: Walk a mile in another person’s moccasins. — Native American
Note: This saying is encouraging us to see things from someone else’s perspective. Even though you will then be better able to see things how they see them, the common misunderstanding is that you will then agree with their point of view. As always, you will retain your own unique point of view....

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Definitions: (1) the quality of being in accordance with or conforming to actual experience, facts, and reality; (2) the ideal of fundamental objective reality apart from and transcending perceived experience; (3) subjective existence portrayed to oneself or to others with honesty, integrity, and veracity; (4) expressing sincerity in action, character, and utterance; forthright; (5) in agreement with a common standard or a collective idea; (6) reliably certain; accurate; (7) dependably exact; precise
     Note: 1) Higher nature in Sanskrit is called satchitananda: sat = truth, chit = conscious, and ananda = bliss. 2) A philalethist is a lover of truth

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Synonyms: genuine, logical, upright

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Compatible Quality: tact

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Maxim: Truth is mighty and will prevail. — Attributed to multiple authors

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Adage: The truth will set you free. — The Bible, John 8:32

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Poetry:
He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
He who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in Eternity’s sun rise. — William Blake (1757-1827) English poet

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Quotes:
• In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. — George Orwell [born Eric Arthur Blair] (1903-1950) English author
• Nonviolence and truth are inseparable and presuppose one another. There is no God higher than truth. — Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) Indian lawyer & peacemaker
• Unless there is truth, and unless people tell the truth, there is always danger in everything outside of the individual. — Terence Hanbury White (1906-1964) The Once and Future King {1958}
• The truth cannot contradict The Truth. — Pope Leo XIII [born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci] (1810-1903) the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
     Note: In 1996 Pope John Paul...

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Divine Definitions: (1) The dependable custodian of reality; (2) The assurance of tranquility; reliable; (3) The one who puts minds at ease; certainty; (4) The one who makes failure impossible; (5) The one who shelters souls; security; (6) The one who frees us from anxiety and doubt; safety; (7) Worthy to give our confidence to; (8) Forthright in dealing with His children; matter-of-fact; straightforward; (9) Receptive to prayers

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Quote: It is so uncomplicated. Infinity has produced me. I am literally a child of the universe. Crafted by an unseen, loving hand. Today I walk the earth in this body; think with this mind. Tomorrow I shall slip from these vestments in cosmic nakedness, wrapped only in the character I have built. And I will speed, like a dawning thought, through the starry expanse of his creation to the galaxy, world, body, mind, and life that the Father-Infinite has ordained for me. Knowing his love for me, I shall go gladly, giving all of myself sincerely and trustingly. — Troy R. Bishop (~1943-2023)

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Comment: A relationship based upon personal devotion (having the best interest of the other in mind) with a human partner or The Divine Parent, can only be had if it is founded on faith and trust. His trustworthiness is undeniable.

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TRUST
Human Definitions: (1) placing confidence in; believing in the honesty, integrity, or justice of; reliability; (2) without fear of consequences; allowing exposure; open-hearted; confiding; (3) supposing and supporting something as accurate; (4) certain; sure; expectant; hopeful

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Compatible Quality: responsible

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Too Far: gullible
     Note: Be wise to the signs. Are you being played for a sap? If the person you trust is a real good liar, don’t beat yourself up for being taken in. Be true to your...

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Definitions: (1) placing confidence in; believing in the honesty, integrity, or justice of; relying on; (2) without fear of consequences; allowing exposure; open-hearted; confiding; (3) supposing and supporting something as accurate; (4) certain; sure; expectant; hopeful

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Compatible Qualities: responsible, trustworthy

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Too Far: gullible
Note: Be wise to the signs. Are you being played for a sap? If the person you trust is a real good liar, don’t beat yourself up for being taken in. Be true to your ideals. Give yourself credit, and learn from the experience.

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Saying: In God we trust.

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Quote: As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German polymath [eight disciplines]

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Consideration: A blind person takes for granted the fact he or she occasionally needs to trust someone else; they need to put their faith in someone as a guide from time to time. Visualize a bicycle built for two; the person in front is sighted, the person in back is blind. They enjoy being together and they each play their part.
     Each person is sometimes a leader and sometimes a follower. We are all somewhat blind and somewhat sighted.

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Observation: If you trust someone, you will find (or have found) in their actions reasons to trust them. At first, you may give them the benefit of the doubt.
     If you do not trust someone (including oneself) or if you have a suspicious nature, then even the most innocent actions will be clothed in negative scrutiny.

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Comment: Trust is linked with expectations. If someone says, “I’ll pick you up at three,” and doesn’t show up until four, that person has set up and broken an expectation. The next time he...

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Definitions: (1) placing confidence in; believing in the honesty, integrity, or justice of; reliability; (2) without fear of consequences; allowing exposure; open-hearted; confiding; (3) supposing and supporting something as accurate; (4) certain; sure; expectant; hopeful

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Compatible Qualities: responsible

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Too Far: gullible
     Note: Be wise to the signs. Are you being played for a sap? If the person you trust is a real good liar, don’t beat yourself up for being taken in. Be true to your ideals. Give yourself credit, and learn from the experience.

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Motto: In God we trust. — United states of America

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Quotes:
• As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German polymath [eight disciplines]
• It’s alright if you fail. Just try, and then be what you are. Know what you know. — Daniel James Abraham (1969-) Age of Ash {2022}

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Consideration: A blind person takes for granted the fact he or she occasionally needs to trust someone else; they need to put their faith in someone as a guide from time to time. Visualize a bicycle built for two; the person in front is sighted, the person in back is blind. They enjoy being together and they each play their part.
     Each person is sometimes a leader and sometimes a follower. We are all somewhat blind and somewhat sighted.

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Observation: If you trust someone, you will find (or have found) in their actions reasons to trust them. At first, you may give them the benefit of the doubt.
     If you do not trust someone (including oneself) or if you have a suspicious nature, then even the most innocent actions will be clothed in negative scrutiny.

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Comment: Trust is linked with...

Definition: a person of inflexible honesty and fidelity; loyal; faithful

Derivation: Derived from the blue cloth made at Coventry, England {1670}. The town's dyers had a reputation for producing material that didn't fade with washing.

Music:
• “Dear Prudence” {1968}
The sun is up; the sky is blue
It’s beautiful, and so are you.
Dear Prudence open up your eyes
Dear Prudence see the sunny skies
— John Winston Lennon (1940-1980) Revolutionary artist; The Beatles (1960-1970)

• “Blue Skies” {1926}
Blue skies, smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies do I see
— Irving Berlin [born Israel Beilin] (1888–1989) American composer & lyricist

Prayer: I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. — Edward Estlin [e. e.] Cummings (1894-1962) American poet

Definitions: (1) conforming to fact; real; (2) genuine; pure; legitimate; (3) loyal to a friend, idea, or ideal; faithful; steadfast; (4) honest; sincere; upright; true-hearted; (5) reliable; certain; (6) conforming to an established standard <true north>; exact; precise; accurate; (7) reflecting the essential character <true meaning>; (8) in proper order; in alignment to an important point or ideal; (9) logically necessary Poetry: This above all: to thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. — William Shakespeare (1564-1616) King Henry IV {1598} Quotes: • To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge. — Confucius [born Kǒng Qiū] (c.551-479 BC) Chinese ethical philosopher • People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. — Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926–2004) Swiss-American psychiatrist

Definitions: (1) notably successful; victorious; (2) rejoicing over winning; exultant; elated

Sayings:
• Set the stage for success.
• Celebrate your small victories.

Quotes:
• The most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. — Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937) French historian [Father of the Modern Olympic Games]
• Unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant. — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) American preacher & peacemaker

Comment: Triumphant is a quality of the past and the future. It is important to appreciate what has been accomplished. Contemplate the fact of having been triumphant in order to project it onto your next goal. Visualize it clearly and experience the victory even before it happens.

Color: red

Symbols: 1) a laurel wreath; 2) the Chariot (Tarot)

Definitions: (1) being in good order; neat; tidy; (2) a modification of viewpoint or opinion to satisfy another; compromise; (3) in balance; (4) being in good physical shape; firm; (5) well-proportioned; smartly designed; snug

Quote: Wake the power within thee slumbering, trim the plot that's in thy keeping, thou wilt bless the task when reaping sweet labor’s prize. — John Stuart Blackie (1809–1895) Scottish scholar

Comment: You can trim your mustache, trim your trees, and trim your calories, but by all means keep your attitude trim.

Definition: greatly valued or highly prized; cherished; appreciated

Compatible Quality: abundant

Idiom: One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Quote: Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness. — Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil [aka George Sand] (1804–1876) French novelist

Admonition: What to treasure: gems of mentation, events that have touched your heart and soul, hard times overcome, spiritual treasures stored in heaven, home.

Symbol: the golden fleece {Supreme Spirituality [through purity of the soul]}

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Divine Definitions: (1) Beyond the bounds of the finite; supermortal; (2) Superior to the material universe; multidimensional; (3) Existing objectively to any human conception; eventuated reality; (4) Potential actualized physical, mental, and spiritual reality; (5) Excellence surpassing practical understanding; supereminent; (6) Beyond the human realm; ethereal

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Comment: God can help us in transcending our current finite state, but we have to choose to be more than we are. This is done by embracing those positive values inherent in, but not limited to, the finite. And by doing so we are also choosing to expand our ability to decide appropriately.

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TRANSCENDENCE
Human Definitions: (1) rising above or going beyond limits; extending ordinary experience; surpassing; (2) the potential actualization of physical, mental, and spiritual reality; (3) exceeding in excellence; supreme; superior; (4) not constrained by subjective understanding, conjecture, or experience; objective; (5) said of the Divine Being <i.e., prior to, beyond, and above material existence; independent of the physical universe

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Quotes:
• Spiritual transcendence is never satisfied; its potential is unlimited. — Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) American psychologist
• To abandon the struggle for private happiness, to expel all eagerness of temporary desire, to burn with passion for eternal things--this is emancipation, and this is the free man's worship. — Bertrand Arthur William Russell (1872–1970) A Free Man's Worship {1903}

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Comments:
• One can know truth, not only in an intellectual sense but also in an ontological sense. There are perceptions beyond scientific or philosophical keening.
• It has become common to think transcendence means to leave what is unwanted behind. It would be unwise, and therefore less valuable, to forget...

Definition: pioneering in any field; making or finding a new way; track breaking

Quotes:
• There are two kinds of stones, as everyone knows, one of which rolls. — Amelia Mary Earhart (1897-1939?) American aviator
• The progressing personality leaves a trail of actualized reality as it passes through the ascending levels of the universes. (117:5.6) — The Urantia Book {1955}

Definitions: (1) free from emotional disturbance or agitation; calm; serene; placid; (2) quiet; even; steady

Too Far: lax

Quotes:
• Gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) German Lutheran theologian
• It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, which gives happiness. — Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) 3rd President of the United States
• The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. — James Allen (1864–1912) British philosophical writer & poet

Color: green

Symbol: statice flowers

Definition: valuing the oral, written, or recorded history <especially the truth> handed down from age to age or ancestor to posterity

Balancing Quality: Curiosity

Familial Quality: conservative

Saying: Live your traditional values (not forgetting they are ever expanding).

Quotes:
• Science and technology revolutionize our lives, but memory, tradition, and myth frame our response. — Arthur Meier Schlesinger (1917–2007) American historian & critic
• When a tradition gathers enough strength to go on for centuries, you don't just turn it off one day. —  Chinua Achebe (1930–2013) Nigerian novelist & poet

Observations:
• There is a traditional conflict between those who hold to the established ways of the past and those who seek a more modern approach. This conflict need not be as divisive if those involved focus on the truth and value of each strategy. All things known lead to the next things knowable.
• “Traditional Values” vary from place to place and culture to culture, but they all include the basic human virtues: love, honesty, humor, fairness, justice, wisdom, honor, goodness, freedom, mercy, loyalty, etc.

Definitions: (1) easily taught; malleable; (2) allowing oneself to be managed; compliant; docile; (3) autodidactic <self taught> Quote: To ask what qualities distinguish good from routine scientific research is to address a question that should be of central concern to every scientist. We can make the question more tractable by rephrasing it, “What attributes are shared by the scientific works which have contributed importantly to our understanding of the physical world—in this case the world of living things?” [There are] different frames of reference. — George Adelbert "Bart" Bartholomew (1919–2006) American biologist Comments: • It is a pleasure for a teacher to see a student striving to learn. Those students (gifted or not) who apply themselves are the most satisfying. • It is a great joy for managers to have on their team people who are professional – people who are willing to cooperate within the team as well as take initiative on their own. • In our culture we have a funny mix. We value both independence as well as strict adherence to social convention. Sometimes it is wise to keep your mouth shut, other times to ask questions, and occasionally express that new idea.

Definitions: (1) strong but pliant; yielding to force without tearing or breaking; flexible; resilient; (2) capable of enduring hardship; sturdy; resistant; (3) robust; hardy; durable; vigorous; (4) resolute; firm; tenacious; tough-minded

Balancing Qualities: Gentle, Reasonable

Quote:
• Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it's a small price to pay for living a dream. — Peter Alexander McWilliams (1949–2000) American self-help author
• Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough. — Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) 32nd President of the United States

Symbol: the sword

Definitions: (1) arousing sympathetic emotions of tenderness or compassion; moved to tears; pathos; (2) marked by sensitivity or tact

Quotes:
• The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. — Warren Gamaliel Bennis (1925–2014) American scholar & leadership consultant
• Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul. — Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky (1866–1944) Russian painter & art theorist

Definitions: (1) an ability, skill, or knack <especially with a musical instrument or with a mechanical tool requiring dexterity>; (2) a distinguishing trait or quality <a woman’s touch>; (3) the execution of an artistic talent in a special manner, <van Gogh’s touch with the brush >; (4) an appreciative and/or gentle contact; (5) to lay hands upon with the intention of healing; (6) in communication <let’s keep in touch>

Quotes:
• Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.  — Felice Leonardo Buscaglia [aka Dr. Love] (1924–1998) American motivational speaker
• Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. — Ernst Friedrich Schumacher (1911–1977) German-British statistician & economist

Definition: energetic and dynamic; indefatigable

Quotes:
• I seem to have tireless energy when I get involved in things, which is a good way to do things because if you're gonna do something, you'd better make sure you do it well. — James (Jimmy) Patrick Page (1944-) English musician
• Labor is work that leaves no trace behind it when it is finished, or if it does, as in the case of the tilled field, this product of human activity requires still more labor, incessant, tireless labor, to maintain its identity as a ‘work’ of man. — Mary Therese McCarthy (1912–1989) American novelist

Definitions: (1) enduring pain or hardship with fortitude; stamina; (2) having sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one’s own; to put up with; (3) allowing for the possibility something unknown to you is worthy; having forbearance; (4) capacity to continue to grow, or even thrive, when subjected to stressful factors

Synonyms: latitudinarian <tolerant of variations in religious opinion or doctrine>; sufferance <endurance with patience>

Compatible Qualities: open-minded, perspicacious

Consequential Quality: friendship

Saying: Intolerance is not tolerated

Quote: Quote: The ability to yield, to bend, to give way, to accommodate is sometimes a source of strength in men as well in wood, so long as it is helmed by inner resolve and by principle. — George Yeomans Pocock (1891-1976) English-American designer & builder of racing shells

Reflection: One of the ways we make people less than lovable is to create or believe dehumanizing propaganda about them, i.e., labeling them with vicious names, supporting a prejudice and allowing oneself to dismiss or to hate.
     Drop the stereotypes. Allow yourself to accept other individuals. Each person is striving just as you are. If they prove themselves to embrace evil, then be cautious when you have to deal with them. It is poison to you if you hate them. Hate the sin but tolerate the sinner.

Admonition: Remember to be tolerant of your own flaws and immaturities. You are always in the process of growth too.

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Definitions: (1) happening, done, or said at a suitable moment, especially in order to achieve a desired effect; opportune; (2) arriving at the appointed time; well-timed; (3) appropriate or adapted to the times or the occasion; (4) a lifesaver

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Balancing Quality: Prepared

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Adage: Take the time to do it right, or you’ll find the time to do it over. — John Wooden (1910-2010) American basketball coach

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Idiom:  There is no time like the present.

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Quotes:
• For everything there is an appointed time, even a time for every affair under heaven. — The Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1
• Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. — Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American polymath [eight disciplines]
• Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small it takes time – and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time. — Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) American artist
• God … does not recognize earth-time. To the universe, four days is no different than four billion light years. — Robert James Waller (1939-2017) The Bridges of Madison County {1992}
• My hour has not yet come. — Jesus of Nazareth (7 BC-30 AD) Jewish theologian
     Note: Do not be forced into something you are not ready for. Be wise in your judgment of the best time to act.

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Affirmations:
• I have enough time to enjoy everything I do.
• I have enough time to do everything I need to do.

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Reflection: Your pace is not the same as that of another. Respect the pace of others. There is an ideal pace at which we each should proceed. You don’t want to be going too fast or too slow. Your pace may be restricted by your lack of courage, emotional blocks, comfort patterns, and belief systems. Even so, you can only proceed from where...

Definitions: (1) in good order; neat; (2) organized; systematic; methodical; (3) precise and appropriate <especially in manner and dress for a particular occasion>; (4) an acceptable and fair solution to a problem

Quotes:
• Be careless in your dress if you must, but keep a tidy soul. — Mark Twain [born Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835-1910) American humorist
• Coming home to a tidy, pulled-together space will help everything in your life feel the same way. — Bobby Berk (1981-) American interior designer

Definitions: (1) experiencing increase or success <especially because of good management>; prosperous; (2) flourishing; growing

Quotes:
• My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. — Maya Angelou [born Marguerite Annie Johnson] (1928-2014) American poet laureate, memoirist, & civil rights activist
• In order that people may be happy in their work, three things are needed: they must be for it, they must not do too much of it, and they must have a sense of success in it. — John Ruskin (1819-1900) English polymath [eight disciplines]

Symbol: marigolds

Definition: a feeling of sudden emotional excitement or an unexpected wave of emotion

Quotes:
•The thrill isn't in the winning, it's in the doing. — Charles Henry Noll (1932–2014) American professional football player & head coach
• Exploring is an innate part of being human. We're all explorers when we're born. It's there, I think, in all of us. And for me that moment of discovery is just so thrilling, on any level, that I think anybody that's experienced it is pretty quickly addicted to it. — Edith Anne "Edie" Widder Smith (1951-) American oceanographer

Comment: It may be interesting to look at what gives you a thrill. Is it fear in a small dose? Is it the exhilaration accompanying an important discovery or a personal accomplishment. Or maybe it is the beauty of nature or art?

Definitions: (1) practicing prudent economy; sparing; using good management of money and other resources; frugal; (2) thriving; successful; prosperous; fortunate

Synonym: careful

Too Far: miserly

Saying: A penny save is a penny earned.

Quote: You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing what they could and should do for themselves. — Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) 16th President of the United States

Question: Is it possible to introduce the idea of thrift into government spending?

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(DIVINE WILL)
Definitions: (1) The original absolute thought of the Universal Father; (2) The personal thoughts of God; (3) The final will

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Comment: All Divine thoughts, being perfect, are instantly (in infinity) or eventually (during the finite) manifest. He is the originator of purpose and His actions are full of reason.

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(DIVINE MIND)
Definitions: (1) Full of thought; mindful; (2) Actions resulting from thought, i.e., decisiveness and creativity; (3) The opener of eyes; intelligible; (4) Able to keep track of all thought; reflective; (5) Characterized by careful thought; deliberative then deliberate; (6) The conceiver of new ideas; imaginative; (7) The ability to turn ideals into ideas and ideas into ideals; (8) Able to fit different thoughts together; elastic; supple

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Comment: Our mind is hard wired with the ability to know right from wrong and fact from fiction. But we can also evaluate the future based on the experiences of the past. We can look before we leap. We can determine the value of something and then decide if and when to pursue it. We can evaluate good, better, and best.

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(DIVINE COURTESY)
Definitions: (1) The inventor of respect; considerate; (2) Heedful; careful; (3) Concerned for the well-being of His sons and daughters; attentive; (4) Willing to do everything to fulfill the needs of His family

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Comment: The thoughts of God are so magnificent and so immense as to be beyond our ability to grasp completely. But He kindly makes it possible for us to comprehend His will in finite pieces.

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(DIVINE WORTH)
Definitions: (1) Worthy of being thought about with intense interest; engrossing; (2) Worthy of active study; theology; (3) Worthy of being meditated upon; worthy of devoted reflection; (4)...

Definitions: (1) the power of reasoning and conceiving ideas; imaginative; (2) the ability of a person to form mental images; envision, (3) given to pondering a suggestion; cogitation; (4) focusing on something in order to arrive at a conclusion using logic, judgment, and inference      See also: Conscious, Thoughtful Synonyms: deliberating, fancying, realizing, reflecting, speculating Quotes: • I am, therefore I think. — Dr. Chris Halvorson (1960-) American theoretical physicist • At first life was a struggle for existence; now, for a standard of living; next it will be for quality of thinking. (81:6.28) — The Urantia Book {1955} • Then only are we thinking when the subject on which we are thinking cannot be thought out. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German polymath [eight disciplines] Comments: • Thinking people apply their knowledge to new situations unrelated to the original situation. •To move from a single good idea to its completion surround it with compatible ideas, and umbrella it with good ideals. • Complexity results from keeping ideas in your head. Create systems to help you express your thoughts. Holding ideas takes energy – write them down. Observation: Types of Thinking ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Strategic         Personality               Disciplinary                   Overall            Miscellaneous                         Related                                                          Quality ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Additive          Aggressive            Anthropological                Brilliant            Aesthetic Analytic           Extroverted          Financial                             Clear               Constructive Applied           Introverted           Historical                            Deep               Creative Backward        Kinky                    Humanistic                         Keen                Efficient Broad             ...

Definitions: (1) concerned with healing the body, mind, or spirit; (2) calming; relaxing

Derivation: Greek, “to treat,” “to attend to”

Music: There are so many moods to melodies that they have instructions on how to play them: There are about 80 different expressions, for example: Amore (tenderly), Calore (calmly), Espansivo (effusively), Sospirando (sighingly), etc. Music is truly therapeutic.

Quotes:
• Physician, heal thyself.  — The Bible, Luke 4:23
• Since narcissism is fueled by a greater need to be admired than to be liked, psychologists might use that fact as a therapeutic lever - stressing to patients that being known as a narcissist will actually cause them to lose the respect and social status they crave. — Jeffrey Kluger (1954-) American writer, The Narcissist Next Door {2014}

Definitions: (1) very exact, accurate, attentive, or painstaking <especially in regard to details>; complete; (2) having full command of an art or talent; (3) executed without negligence or omissions <a thorough search>

Synonyms: absolute, perfect

Compatible Qualities: focused, practical, zealous

Quotes:
• If you cut corners, you just keep going in circles — Grant Stoelwinder (1971-2023) Australian swimming coach
• Some people are making such thorough preparation for rainy days that they aren't enjoying today's sunshine. — William A. Feather (1889–1981) American publisher & writer

Prayer: God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: 'This is my country.'  — Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American author & statesman

Comment: Thoroughness need only go so far. How many decimal points are really essential?

Definition: ready to acknowledge a kindness received; grateful; appreciative Quotes: • Thank you for finding room for me in your dreams. You’re always welcome in mine, too. — Orson Scott Card (1951-) The Ships of Earth {1994} • Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves. — Henry Ward Beecher (1813–1887) American clergyman & social reformer Exercise: Write out a list of what you are thankful for. • I am thankful for the following [things]. ◦ ◦ For the plenty of Mother Earth, I am grateful. • I am thankful for the following [beings]. ◦ ◦ The love I feel for these friends is healing. I thank them for their support and companionship. • I am thankful for the following [experiences]. ◦ ◦ I know it is through experiences that I grow. I am thankful for the happy and peaceful times in my life. ◦ ◦ I am also grateful for my difficulties and disappointments because I know some of my greatest blessings have come from encompassing them. • I am thankful for my [positive qualities]. ◦ ◦ I realize I have some of them as gifts. I have others because of my choices. I will continue to strive to enhance my values. • I am thankful for my self, my ideas, my heart, and my life. I will cheerfully and faithfully continue to grow.

Definition: awesome; excellent; extraordinary; great; magnificent; unusually good; wonderful

Quotes:
• It's better to be good than evil, but one achieves goodness at a terrific cost. — Stephen Edwin King (1947-) American writer
• It is a terrific thing to get a building built that has the qualities of greatness in it. — Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) American architect

Definition: softhearted, sympathetic affection; easily moved to love or pity; compassionate; tender-minded; tender-souled

Saying: Tenderness can melt a heart.

Quotes:
• There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate. — Robert Lee Frost (1874-1963) American poet
• The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who have reverence for Him and his righteousness even to our children's children. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his creation; he heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. — The Bible, Psalm 103.17

Definitions: (1) youthful and delicate; fragile; (2) expressive of affection, consideration, or friendship; gentle; (3) keenly aware of impressions, emotions, or moral influences; (4) sensitive to others’ feelings; sympathetic; compassionate

Synonyms: careful, meek, merciful, mild, soft, yielding, intenerate <to make tender, soften>

Quote: Christlike communications are expressions of affection and not anger, truth and not fabrication, compassion and not contention, respect and not ridicule, counsel and not criticism, correction and not condemnation. They are spoken with clarity and not with confusion. They may be tender or they may be tough, but they must always be tempered. — L. Lionel Kendrick (1932-2022) LDS Elder

Colors: green, indigo

Symbol: honeysuckle flowers

Definitions: (1) holding fast to ideals, ideas, habits, or possessions; (2) having a highly retentive memory

Synonyms: courageous, determined, persevering, persistent, tough

Quotes:
• Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity. — Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) French chemist & microbiologist
• Tenacity is not about avoiding being overwhelmed but being indomitable in the face of the overwhelming odds of your venture's failure. — Andy Dunn (1979-) American entrepreneur

Symbol: bamboo {Tenacity, Endurance, and Longevity}

Definitions: (1) moderate indulgence in or use of substance, speech, or action; self-controlled; (2) even management of passion and feelings; patient; calm; cool; (3) in proper proportion; balanced

Compatible Quality: Self-control (No flying off the handle.)

Familial Qualities: symmetrical, synergistic

Quote: Being forced to work, and forced to do your best, will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence, and strength of will, cheerfulness and content, and a hundred virtues which the idle will never know. — Charles Kingsley (1819–1875) Church of England professor, social reformer, & historian

Comments:
• Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle all extolled a common set of cardinal virtues. Shared by all of them were: wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance.
• There is a time component to temperance. All of the good things of life need not be crammed into the shortest time (or even one life). There is value in savoring the moment.

Symbols: 1) a beach; 2) the number fourteen

Fictional Figure: Sir Guyon, a knight, is the personification of temperance and self-restraint. — Edmund Spenser (1552-1599) Faërie Queene {1590}

Definitions: (1) having to do with the practical, industrial, or mechanical arts; (2) showing technique <a technical skill>; (3) concerned with the applied and computer sciences

Balancing Quality: Intuitive

Observation: The following table is from: “Man versus Machine” — Wesley E. Woodson (1918-2003) and Donald W. Conover (1923-2006) Human Engineering Guide for Equipment Designers {1964}
MAN EXCELS IN:
• Detection of certain forms of very low energy levels
• Sensitivity to an extremely wide variety of stimuli
• Perceiving patterns and making generalizations about them
• Detecting signals in high noise levels
• Storing large amounts of information for long periods
• Recalling relevant facts at appropriate moments
• Ability to exercise judgment where events cannot be completely defined
• Improvising and adopting flexible procedures and alternate solutions
• Ability to react to unexpected low-probability events
• Inductive reasoning
• Ability to profit from experience and alter a course of action
• Ability to perform fine manipulation, especially where misalignment appears unexpectedly
• Ability to continue to perform even when overloaded
• Original problem solving

MACHINES EXCEL IN:
• Monitoring people and machines
• Performing routine, repetitive, or very precise operations
• Responding very quickly to control signals
• Exerting great force, smoothly and precisely
• Storing and recalling large amounts of information in short time periods
• Perform complex and rapid computation with high accuracy
• Sensitive to infrared, radio waves, et cetera, beyond the human range
• Able to do many different things at one time
• Deductive processes
• Insensitivity to extraneous factors
• Rapid, continuous, and/or precise repetition of operations the same way over a long period
• Operating in environments which are hostile or beyond human tolerance

Definitions: (1) possessing the faculty of discerning <beauty, order, style, nature, or character> with appreciation; (2) able to act in a fitting or politic manner; using proper or decorous behavior; tactful; (3) elegant; refined

Synonyms: appetizing, flavorful, piquant, sapid, toothsome

Music: A Miles Dewey Davis III (1926-1991) trumpet ballad.

Quote: Power might feel tasty and good in the moment, but it will never be satisfying, never fill you up. Yep, no matter how much power you get, you will always feel empty. You just keep wanting more and more power. — Karen Salmansohn, American behavioral change expert

Visualization: Tasteful is often used to describe art, architecture, and gardens.

Definitions: (1) mild; gentle; harmless;  inoffensive; (2) civilized; obedient; behaved; tractable; (3) humble

Balancing Qualities: Courageous, Spontaneous

Quotes:
• Stress is an important dragon to slay - or at least tame - in your life. — Marilu Henner (1952-) American actress
• Birds are the most popular group in the animal kingdom. We feed them and tame them and think we know them. And yet they inhabit a world which is really rather mysterious. — Sir David Frederick Attenborough (1926-) British biologist, historian, & author

Symbol: 1) a cat; 2) a dog

Definitions: (1) possessing a specific faculty, natural gift, or extraordinary endowment; (2) skilled in some field; showing great capacity; (3) exhibiting eminent abilities in art; (4) having superior genius in science; (5) brilliant in more than one field; multi-talented

Derivation: Greek, referring to a balance or scale, also a weighed amount of precious metal

Compatible Quality: creative

Parable: There was a certain great man who called all his trusted servants before him and delivered into their hands all his goods. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, according to their several abilities … My Father requires all his children to grow in grace and in a knowledge of the truth. — Jesus of Nazareth (7 BC-30 AD) Jewish theologian

Quotes: If you’ve got a talent, sometimes you’ve got to take that talent to where it is appreciated. — John Emmet Raitt (1917-2005) American singer, to his daughter, Bonnie, when she asked why he wasn’t home so much.

Comment: A talent may be innate, inherited, or acquired but it can always be enhanced.

Consideration: The one talent we all have been entrusted with is time. Its base use is taking care of physical needs. Beyond and above that, it should be devoted to the development and ennoblement of mind and spirit.

Symbol: narcissus flowers

Definitions: (1) possessing a keen sense of what to say or do <especially to avoid giving offense>; fitting; having skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations; diplomatic; (2) considerate of and concerned for the sensibilities of others <particularly those who are troublesome or stubborn>; persuasive; (3) possessing a shrewd sense of what is appropriate, tasteful, or aesthetically pleasing; discriminating

Compatible Qualities: patient, sagacious

Familial Qualities: finesse, graceful

Quotes:
• Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes. — Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) 33^rd President of the United States
• Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. — Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American polymath [eight disciplines]

Comment: To be tactful is not to be compromising. One must perceive the consciousness of one’s audience to understand what and how to say precisely what is needed.

Definitions: (1) precisely organized; having a logical plan; methodical; (2) having the need to order things, ideas, or structures into an integrated whole; thorough

Balancing Qualities: It is easy for a systematic person to get caught in the rut of efficiency by pursuing a task in a linear manner. If you add the qualities of flexibility and objectivity, you will be able to focus on the detail as well as manage to see the overview.

Quotes:
• Science is the systematic classification of experience. — George Henry Lewes (1817–1878) English philosopher and critic
• Through systematic exercising of our thinking faculties, we can train ourselves for exact clairvoyance. Imaginative Knowledge is the first step in supersensible perception. — Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner (1861-1925) Austrian esotericist

Definitions: (1) working together in harmony; cooperative; (2) characterizes separate agents, persons, or qualities that [when acting in unison] have a greater total effect than the sum of their individual values; superadditive; (3) describes a balanced or symmetrical collaboration; teamwork

Synonyms: A synectic exercise is the bringing together of a select group of diverse personalities and areas of expertise for creative thinking about a specific problem with the free use of metaphor and analogy; brainstorming is the spontaneous contribution of ideas, no matter how obscure, in the hope of solving a specific problem or to generate a general stimulation of creative thinking.

Quote: Synergy is what happens when one plus one equals ten or a hundred or even a thousand! It's the profound result when two or more respectful human beings determine to go beyond their preconceived ideas to meet a great challenge. — Steven Covey (1932-2012) American inspirational speaker

Observation: Any chemist can tell you about the synergistic/superadditive (definition #2 above) results which occur all around us. The most abundant example is water. From hydrogen, which burns freely, and oxygen, which supports fire, we get a substance essential to extinguish many combustible substances – not to mention its life-giving characteristics.
     Another example is salt. From sodium, an extremely reactive metal, and chlorine, a poisonous gas, comes one of the most necessary substances for human health.

Symbols: 1) Sagittarius (Zodiac); 2) the hurricane {Cosmic Synergy} (American Indian)

Definitions: (1) having insight into another person’s mental or emotional state <even though never having been in that state oneself>; (2) demonstrating affinity between persons or from one person for another; (3) an action or response arising from compassion; (4) showing pity and understanding for another’s trouble or suffering; condolatory; (5) in mental agreement; in cosmic harmony; in financial accord, etc.
See also: Nonjudgmental, Empathetic

Quotes:
• Developing our sympathetic compassion is not only possible but the only reason for us to be here on earth. — George Saunders (1958-) American writer
• Broad paths are open to every endeavor, and a sympathetic recognition is assured to everyone who consecrates his art to the divine services of a conviction of a consciousness. — Franz Liszt (1811–1886) Hungarian composer, pianist, & conductor

Comment: Although you can sympathize with and for another, it is not a good idea to try to sympathize for yourself. It is too easily turned into self-pity. When you are in need of sympathy, is just the time when you must focus on the talents you have, the things you like, the people you admire, the accomplishments you have made, and the good you can do. Also, a time to lean on a good friend.

Colors: green, red

Definitions: (1) possessing beauty of form <arising from balanced proportions>; (2) showing similarity of arrangement on either side of a dividing line or plane; having correspondence of opposite parts in size, shape, and position; (3) able to comprehend the nature of reality <symmetrical thinking (beyond logic and reasoning onto elliptical symmetry - the recognition of the curvature of all relation concepts)>

Quotes:
• There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. — Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher & statesman
• When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. — John Muir (1838-1914) Scottish-born American naturalist

Observation: The perfect proportion is known as the Golden Section: the square root of 5 plus 1 divided by 2. This ratio is 1 to 1.618. A is to B as B is to A & B. This is the ratio of most of nature’s most beautiful things: the human body, DNA, the spiral nautilus, et cetera.

Comment: Symmetry is beautiful in physical manifestation. Symmetry of the soul is not only seen; it is also felt.

Symbol: Gemini (Zodiac)

Definitions: (1) ready to move; celeritous; prompt; speedy; (2) able to shift from idea to idea rapidly; quick-witted; (3) able to do what must be done without delay; efficient

Compatible Qualities: farsighted, focused, steady

Consideration: I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy. — Marie Salomea Skłodowska–Curie (1867-1934) Polish-French physicist

Quotes:
• Let everyone be swift to hear; slow to speak; slow to wrath. — The Bible, James 1:19
• I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. — The Bible, Ecclesiastes 9:11

Symbols: 1) the horse; 2) lightning (American Indian)

Fictional Figure: Camilla was the queen of the Volscians. She could run over standing grain without causing it to bend. — Publius Vergilius Maro [Virgil] (70-19 BC) The Aeneid {19 BC}

Definitions: (1) a loved one; a darling; a dear heart; (2) a generous, friendly person; anyone arousing loyal affection

Quotes:
• Find the sweetness in your own heart, then you may find the sweetness in every heart. — Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rumi (1207–1273) Persian Sufi poet
• In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. — Khalil Gibran (1883-1931) Lebanese-American writer & poet

Definitions: (1) something or someone pleasing or gratifying to the mind <sweet words of affection>; (2) mild, gentle, meek, or kind; soft or delicate; pure and clean; (3) obliging civility; courteous; amiable manners or behavior; gracious; an affable disposition; good-humored; reasonable; (4) pleasant to the sense of taste; harmonious to the ear; attractive to the eye; aromatic to the sense of smell; comfortable, soft, or cozy to the tactile sense; (5) indicative of a beloved friend, child, or lover
    See also: Suave

Idiom: Sweetness and Light [The harmonious association of Beauty and Intelligence]

Quote: If there were no night, we would not appreciate the day, nor could we see the stars and the vastness of the heavens. We must partake of the bitter with the sweet. There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless. — James Esdras Faust (1920–2007) American religious leader (LDS) & lawyer

Symbols: 1) honey; 2) sugar; 3) nectar; 4) daphne flowers

Definitions: (1) graceful with good proportions; lithe; possessing clean lines; sleek; (2) showing a high degree of refinement and assurance <coming from wide social experience>

Derivation: Italian, “quick”

Quote: The freedom of thought is a sacred right of every individual, and diversity will continue to increase with the progress, refinement, and differentiation of the human intellect. — Felix Adler (1851–1933) German-American ethics professor

Comment: This word usually refers to the female figure, therefore if she is also refined, assured, and experienced in social situations (definition #2) she should be appreciated and admired for her inner and outer qualities.

Definitions: (1) upholding, supportive, maintaining, or enduring; (2) providing for; encouraging; confirming; (3) keeping up one’s spirits <especially in the face of difficulty or hard times>

Quotes:
• I must uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time will come when I shall be able to carry them out. — Anne Frank (1929-1945) The Diary of Anne Frank {1947}
• There are two 'faiths' which can uphold humans: faith in God and faith in oneself. And these two faiths should exist side by side: the first belongs to one's inner life, the second to one's life in society. — Maria Montessori (1870-1952) Italian physician & educator
• When men carry the same ideals in their hearts, nothing can isolate them - neither prison walls nor the sod of cemeteries. For a single memory, a single spirit, a single idea, a single conscience, a single dignity will sustain them all. — Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (1926–2016) Cuban revolutionary politician

Symbol: Strength (Tarot)

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Definitions: (1) remaining alive or in existence; (2) continuing to function or manage in spite of some adverse circumstance or hardship; holding up; enduring

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Quotes:
• Existence on a mountain is simple. Seldom in life does it come any simpler: survival, plus the striving toward a summit. The goal is solidly, three-dimensionally there – you can see it, touch it, stand on it – the way to reach it is well defined, the energy of all is directed towards its achievement. It is this simplicity that strips the veneer off civilization and makes that which is meaningful easier to come by – the pleasure of deep companionship, moments of uninhibited humor, the tasting of hardship, sorrow, beauty, joy. — Thomas F. Hornbein (1930-2023) Everest, The West Ridge {1966}
• In so far as [the] soul becomes permeated by truth, beauty, and goodness as the value-realization of God-consciousness, such a resultant being becomes indestructible. If there is no survival of eternal values in the evolving soul of man, then mortal existence is without meaning, and life itself is a tragic illusion. But it is forever true: What you begin in time you will assuredly finish in eternity – if it is worth finishing. (111:3.7) — The Urantia Book {1955}
• Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries, without them humanity cannot survive. — Tenzin Gyatso [aka: Gyalwa Rinpoche] {14th Dalai Lama} (1935-) Buddhist teacher

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Consideration: Become positive qualities and you will survive death. First give your chosen qualities meaning: definition, scope, and range. Do this with intention, study, use, and sharing them with others.

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Comment: The first impulse of a being is to survive; usually thought of as physical survival. This is important, of course, for a while. Except we have an abundance of evidence that physical survival does end. This is why we turn to the...

Definitions: (1) always effective <a sure method>; (2) reliable or dependable; trustworthy; (3) without doubt, question, or dispute; absolutely true; (4) showing no hesitancy; positive; confident; certain; (5) never missing; unerringly steady

Quote: You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot - it's all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive. ― Maya Angelou [born Marguerite Annie Johnson] (1928-2014) American poet

(SURE-HANDED)
Definitions: (1) displaying dexterity with confidence and proficiency; (2) good with money or with any important matter <A mother has to be sure-handed in many areas.>

People Who Exemplify This Quality: 1) jugglers; 2) magicians

Quotes:
• Build a bridge by extending your hand. — Ken Poirot (~1970’s) American author, entrepreneur, & public speaker
• As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. — Audrey Kathleen Hepburn (1929-1993) British actress

(SURE-FOOTED)
Definition: proceeding carefully; not likely to fail or fall

Experience: On a lone hike along the Colorado river, I was taking dangerous chances here and there. Telling the story at camp to my companions about a particularly risky move, I quipped, “and my foot landed good.”

People Who Exemplify This Quality: The Flying Wallendas (1905-) Tightrope and daredevil stunt performers who execute high-wire acts without a safety net.

Quote: Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed and confident. It can handle anything that comes along. — Ruth Crowley [aka: Ann Landers] (1918-2002) American advice columnist

Question: When was it you first set foot on the road to Paradise?

Symbol: the ram

Definitions: (1) upholding another by aid or countenance <especially if in need>; (2) encouraging the spirits of another person; (3) helpful emotionally, financially, or morally; (2) characterizes one who keeps another from fainting, falling, failing, or declining

Synonyms: assisting,  bolstering, corroborative, forwarding, furthering, seconding, substantiative

Quotes:
• The problem with certainty is that sometimes it can sound cold and heartless, although it is the most compassionate and supportive answer. ― Yehuda Berg (1972-) Jewish-American author & teacher
• Choose to focus your time, energy and conversation around people who inspire you, support you and help you to grow you into your happiest, strongest, wisest self. — Karen Salmansohn, American behavioral change expert

Advice: Instead of getting mad at yourself or someone else for mistakes, you can get over the disappointment quickly by putting as much support into the situation as you can.

Symbols: 1) the staff; 2) the crutch; 3) the throne; 4) a pillar

Definitions: (1) an ability of the mind to be resilient and adaptable <especially to something new>; (2) soft and pliant; flexible; compliant; (3) limber; lithe

Quotes:
• The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail. — Lao-tse (6^th Century BC) Chinese mystic philosopher
• Like the very air and water that flows through our physical body to sustain it, love must flow through our heart to keep it supple, and to keep us truly alive. ― Jeffrey Ryan Anderson (1960-) American author

Definitions: (1) of the highest quality; splendid; extremely fine; excellent; very competent; (2) grand; magnificent; stately; noble; august; (3) rich; elegant; luxurious

Quote:
• No matter where your lot may be cast, no power on earth can keep you from making a man of yourself, a superb character, a masterpiece. ― Orison Swett Marden (1848–1924) American inspirational author
• Learning to accept failure on multiple levels is the key to become a world-class therapist. But that means humility, and setting your ego aside, while you develop superb new technical skills. — David D. Burns (1942-) American psychiatrist & professor

Definition: possessing a warm and cheerful disposition; optimistic; brightsome

Music: “On the Sunny Side of the Street” {1930}
If I never had a cent I'll be as loaded as old Rockefeller
With that gold dust 'round my feet
On the sunny side of the street
— Jimmy Francis McHugh (1894-1969) American composer
— Dorothy Fields (1905-1974) American librettist & lyricist

Saying: The Father causes his rain to fall on the just and the unjust; the sun likewise shines on the righteous and the unrighteous. Jesus of Nazareth (7 bc-30 ad) The Bible, Matthew 5:45

Quotes:
• A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition. — William Arthur Ward (1921–1994) American motivational writer
• Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up. — Allen Klein (1931–2009) American businessman

Symbol: sunshine

Definition: appropriate; acceptable; fitting; proper; becoming

Quotes:
• Not every difficult and dangerous thing is suitable for training, but only that which is conducive to success in achieving the object of our effort. — Epictetus (55-135) Greek Stoic philosopher
• Because of the diverse conditions of humans, it happens that some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as inappropriate to them. — Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Italian theologian

Observation: If the demands of perfection, for any reason, dictate a reaction better than any other, then wisdom would function in that better and more suitable way. The expression of a higher law is not the reversal of a lower law.

Definition: particular and concise <especially in speech>

Derivation: Middle English, “to encircle”

Quotes:
• One needs to continually make sense of a bafflingly complex, constantly changing environment. Brief, succinct quotes can quickly produce clarity amid moral murkiness. — Valhalla Vale (1944-) Japanese American writer, interviewer, & musician
• By loving people without cause, one discovers indubitable causes for loving them. It would be hard to find a more succinct description of the chief work of the Holy Spirit in the human heart. — Lionel Mordecai Trilling (1905–1975) American critic, writer, & teacher

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Definitions: (1) turning out to be as hoped for; (2) achieving a desired objective or a favorable result; (3) having gained wealth, fame, or quality

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People Who Exemplify This Quality: A successful person teaches another person how to succeed in the same way they had succeeded. The student, in turn, promises to keep the cycle alive by teaching someone else. The commitment is not fulfilled until the new student has reached the predetermined goals and knows how to do it again. The student repays the debt by becoming the teacher.

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Poetry:
He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;
Who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men, and the love of little children;
Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth’s beauty or failed to express it;
Who has left the world better than he found it,
Whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
Who has always looked for the best in others and given the best he had;
Whose life was an inspiration;
Whose memory is a benediction.
— Bessie Anderson Stanley (1849-1952) American poet

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Quote: Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. — Earl Nightingale (1921-1989) American motivational speaker

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Affirmation: I am succeeding; and am helping others to succeed also.

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Reflection: There are a lot of successful people who say anybody can succeed. They have some natural qualities and talents they developed. But even the most naturally gifted person has to reach beyond themselves. There is no success without effort.
     Nonetheless, it is important to know your limitations. If you get frozen when the limitations are more powerful than the vision of our desired objectives, change the goal or...

Definitions: (1) possessing a refined sense of observation; capable of discerning the finer points of things; (2) delicately skillful or clever; artful craftsmanship; cunning; (3) having a keen insight and ability to penetrate deeply and thoroughly; astute; discriminating

Quotes:
• Train yourself to be in awe of the subtle, and you will live in a world of beauty and ease. — Rodney Yee (1957-) American yoga instructor
• Sometimes all it takes is a subtle shift in perspective, an opening of the mind, an intentional pause and reset, or a new route to start to see new options and new possibilities. — Kristin Armstrong Savola (1973-) American bicycle racer

Questions:
• What do I have to offer?
• How can I love this other person?
• What form of love does this person need?
• How subtle should I be with my generosity?
    Note: Be willing to see the person’s value and respect their individual need.

Definitions: (1) lofty or exalted in excellence, nature, thought, or style; (2) inspiring awe due to outstanding spiritual, intellectual, or moral worth; (3) imbued with high honor or dignity; noble; (4) to purify or convert something inferior into something of higher value

Quote:
• Sublime upon sublime scarcely presents a contrast, and we need a little rest from everything, even the beautiful. — Victor-Marie Hugo (1802–1885) French writer
• This sublime search for the God of universes is the supreme adventure of the inhabitants of all the worlds of time and space. (1:0.6) — The Urantia Book {1955}

Comment: Acquiring qualities transforms you from an interesting collection of physical molecules into the sublime state of a spiritual being.

Definition: smoothly gracious or polite; sophisticated polish; well-mannered

Derivation: Latin, “sweet” <referring to sweetness of the mind versus sweetness to the tongue.>

Synonyms: Suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction; diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully; politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave in the handling of people; urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

Quotes:
• There is no point in trying to be brutal if it's not in your nature; there is no point in trying to be suave and sophisticated if it doesn't come naturally. — Alan Michael Sugar (1947-) British businessman & author
• If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if you behave properly with those holding divergent views from you or who criticize you, then you deserve to be credited with having an excellent character. — Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (1925–2021) Indian scholar & peace activist

Definitions: (1) characterized by or conforming to the current fashion; (2) elegantly smart or chic; (3) a unique combination of charming elements; individualistic

Quotes:
• Style is the dress of thought. Style is the outward manifestation of our inner spirituality. — Reverend Leo Booth (1946-) British-American author, Say Yes to Your Spirit {2008}
• Style is something very individual, very personal, and in their own unique way, I believe everyone is stylish. — Salman Salim Abdul Rashid Khan (1965-) Indian actor & producer

Definitions: (1) strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, or solidity of constitution <a person of sturdy stock>; robust; hardy; (2) courageous; indomitable; resolute

Quotes:
• Your desires are being held in the hand of the cosmos with incredibly sturdy care. Life is not testing you. She is rooting for you. — Danielle LaPorte (1969-) Canadian author & inspirational speaker
• The key to every man is his thought. Sturdy and defying though he look, he has a helm which he obeys, which is the idea after which all his facts are classified. He can only be reformed by showing him a new idea which commands his own. — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American poet

Observation: Even if a person is as sturdy as an oak, you can tell by their smile if they have a gentle spirit.

Definition: possessing striking beauty or excellence

Derivation: French, “astonishing”

Quotes:
• To experience sublime natural beauty is to confront the total inadequacy of language to describe what you see. Words cannot convey the scale of a view that is so stunning it is felt. — Eleanor Catton (1985-) New Zealand novelist & screenwriter.
• The human soul itself is quite ordinary, existing by the billions, and on a crowded street you pass souls a thousand times a minute. And yet within the soul is a graceful shining song more wonderful than the stunning cathedrals that stand over the countryside unique and alone. The simple songs are the best; they last into time as inviolably as the light. — Mark Helprin (1947-) Memoir From Antproof Case {1995}

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Definitions: (1) physically fit; substantial; solid; having great muscular brawn; robust; stout; in healthy and sound condition; hale; hearty; (2) morally powerful; having command of character or will; forceful; persuasive; cogent; (3) intellectually authoritative; able to think clearly and to express thoughts dynamically; forthright; passionate; (4) emotionally intense <in degree or quality>; ardent; warm; deeply felt; (5) being a distinctive or distinguished character; (6) possessing a singular competency or ability in a specified subject or field; (7) able to endure beyond normal limits; ; (8) having many resources <i.e., controlling wealth, numbers (of people), or supplies>; (9) exhibiting a potent effect; conspicuously productive

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Synonyms: strong-hearted, iron-hearted; Anglo Saxon, brawny “fiery sword”

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Balancing Qualities: Compassionate, Friendly, Gentle, Helpful
     Note: In the physical realm you can’t just keep your body hard, you have to keep it supple as well. Same on the emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. You can’t just exemplify those qualities that give you strength. You also need to allow yourself the flexibility necessary to encompass the “softer” side of reality.

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Dictum: What does not destroy me, makes me strong. — Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) German philosopher

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Axiom: When we were young, we were stronger than death. — Inuit Explorer

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Quotes:
• A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success. — Joyce Diane Brothers (1927-2013) American psychologist, advice columnist, and writer
• When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure. — Ralph Pierre LaCock [aka: Peter Marshall] (1926-2024) American game...

Definitions: (1) devoted to the acquisition of knowledge; (2) characterized by careful attention to facts or truth; diligent; earnest; (3) marked by or suggesting purposefulness; (4) deliberately or consciously planned; (5) fond of or engaged in instruction

Derivation: Latin, “eager, zealous”

Quotes:
• A pupil from whom nothing is ever demanded which he cannot do, never does all he can. — John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) British philosopher & economist
• Some are so very studious of learning what was done by the ancients that they know not how to live with the moderns. — William Penn (1644–1718) English writer & peacemaker

Definition: remarkable due to conspicuous qualities; noticeably attractive; obviously impressive

Idiom: Strike while the iron is hot.

Quotes:
• Every strike is one step closer to a home run. — George Herman "Babe" Ruth (1895–1948) American professional baseball player
• That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful. — Anne "Ninon" de L'Enclos (1620–1705) French author
• One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives. — Mark Twain [born Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835-1910) American humorist

Definitions: (1) making great efforts to do one’s best; trying very hard; (2) taking productive steps toward a valuable goal; (3) struggling vigorously <as in opposition or resistance> <striving for justice>>; (4) motivated to reach the highest point: acme, apotheosis, zenith

Quote: Living [is] struggling to do something impossible – to succeed, or die, knowing you had tried! — Anne McCaffrey (1926-) Dragonflight {1968}

Comment: When we suffer and strive, we tend to focus on a narrow, subjective sense of reality. But if we view our situation as part of something larger, we can anticipate the values we have the opportunity of manifesting. Consider the tree growing on the edge of existence at tree line. The fact it is surviving in a harsh environment creates its magnificence. Our life is just like that tree, we are living through difficulty and continuing to grow.

Advice: When people use the words I, me, or mine, we are usually speaking from our lower selves. But at those times when a person is aligned with his or her higher self, they speak with the voice and identity of the higher self. During that time, we can dictate to the lower self what is of greater value.
     Practice this alignment through meditation. Talk to your higher self, give your will over to your higher self. “It is my will that Your will be done.” Heed the positive feelings, insights, and understandings that are always trying to break though from the higher mind. We will filter and change what we receive to align with our current sense of reality, but as we pay attention to those fragments of pure, clear, accurate thought, our current reality will be transformed for the better.

Definitions: (1) expanding; reaching <stretching the limits of imagination>; (2) opening the mind beyond its previous boundaries <resulting in new extents>; (3) elongating something that has the ability to return to its original shape; (4) going beyond an original ability <usually with effort>; (5) extending over a distance <stretching your thoughts even to the heavens>

Quotes:
• Man’s mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimension. — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809-1894) American polymath [six disciplines]
• I believe in Liberty for all men: the space to stretch their arms and their souls, the right to breathe and the right to vote, the freedom to choose their friends, enjoy the sunshine, and ride on the railroads, uncursed by color; thinking, dreaming; working as they will in a kingdom of beauty and love. — William Edward Burghardt [W. E. B.] Du Bois (1868–1963) American sociologist

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Definition: able to maintain stability when faced with the state of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors tending to alter an existent equilibrium; emotional flexibility

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Balancing Qualities: Clarity, Relaxation, Understanding

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Quotes:
The mind can go either direction under stress – toward positive or toward negative: on or off. Think of it as a spectrum whose extremes are unconsciousness at the negative end and hyperconsciousness at the positive end. The way the mind will lean under stress is strongly influenced by training. — Frank Patrick Herbert Jr. (1920-1986) Dune {1965}

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1. Know your life goals. Concentrate on what is worth being, rather than what is worth having.
2. Stop measuring your life in quantities and begin to think in terms of qualities.
3. Cut back on the “I’ve got to do everything” idea – delegate.
4. Spend some quiet time to read; stare into space.
5. Cultivate a deep friendship.
— Jane Brody (1941-) Type “A” Behavior: Don’t Rush Your Life Away {1980}
     Note: Ms. Brody also advises that we cure “hurry sickness” and conquer hostility.

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Comments:
• Exercise helps create stress hardiness – all kinds of exercise: physical, emotional (friendship), psychological (reflecting), and spiritual (meditation).
• All qualities are progressive. Compare a current concern to a previous one. Earlier you would have folded, but now it is less of a big deal. It used to be heavy, but now you take it in stride.
• If you are escaping your stress with drugs or alcohol, you are doing so to relax and forget. But you should know your shortcut does not work in the long run. The next time you reach for the temporary solution, do something to move yourself onto a healthier path.
• There is hard stress and soft stress. What is soft stress to one could be hard stress to another. But you know...

Definition: possessing undeviating rectitude; upright; honest; open; frank; candid; uncomplicated

Idiom: Call a fig a fig and a trough a trough — Plutarch (46–119) Greek philosopher
     Note: The origin of “Call a spade a spade.”

Quotes:
• You can run faster if you don’t run into walls. — Gerard “Jerry” Vincent Hubert Downs (1949-) American photographer & writer
• Speech devoted to truth should be straightforward and plain — Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BC–65 AD) Roman Stoic philosopher
• Divine principles and values are straightforward and clear; they are beautiful, profound, and powerful; and they can definitely help us to avoid future regrets. — Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf (1940-) German aviator & religious leader

Symbol: a straight line

Definition: (1) evoke strong feelings; (2) rousing; thrilling; stimulating; exciting

Compatible Quality: inspiring

Quotes:
• It is easier to lead men to combat, stirring up their passion, than to restrain them and direct them toward the patient labors of peace. — Andre Paul Guillaume Gide (1869–1951) French author
• It is the mind which creates the world around us, and even though we stand side by side in the same meadow, my eyes will never see what is beheld by yours, my heart will never stir to the emotions with which yours is touched. — George Robert Gissing (1857–1903) English novelist
    Note: The stirring of the heart may be quite similar though. We confirm this when, years later, you and a friend relive the moments you spent together in a magical place.

Definitions: (1) strong; sturdy; robust; able-bodied; (2) bold; intrepid; valiant; brave; courageous; (3) resolute; fortitude; dauntless; (4) powerful; forceful

Synonyms: brawny, enduring, solid, staunch, stouthearted, substantial, vigorous

Balancing Qualities: Generous, Gentle

Too Far: hard hearted

Quotes:
• A stout heart breaks bad luck. — Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha {1605}
• Endurance comprises a strong activity of the soul, namely, a vigorous grasping of and clinging to the good; and only from this stout-hearted activity can the strength to support the physical and spiritual suffering of injury and death be nourished. — Josef Pieper (1904–1997) German philosopher

Prayer: Give me a stout heart to bear my own burdens. Give me a willing heart to bear the burdens of others. Give me a believing heart to cast all burdens upon Thee, O Lord. — John Baillie (1886–1960) Scottish theologian

Definition: characterizes one who encourages others to growth; rousing to greater activity; (2) exciting the senses or emotions; stirring

Compatible Quality: inspiration
     Note: You are inspired to begin or continue with enthusiasm if you are stimulated by some force, outside or inside, that is powerfully valuable to you.

Quotes:
• A noble purpose inspires sacrifice, stimulates innovation, and encourages perseverance. —  Gary P. Hamel (1954-) American management consultant
• Every society needs people who can encourage and stimulate and cheer. They are the ones who make the world run. — Richard Marvin DeVos (1926-2018) American businessman

Colors: magenta, yellow

Definitions: (1) constant, firm, persevering, or determined; tenacious; (2) resolutely supportive; faithful, loyal

Quotes:
• He always stands by his decisions: what is right is right, even if it hurts or later turns out to be wrong. — Nina George (1973-) The Little Paris Bookshop {2013}
• The rewards of tomorrow are safely hidden in the belief of never quitting and not giving up on yourself today. ― Johnnie Dent Jr. (~1960's-) American author

Observation: Antidotes to Disappointment
• A sense of humor
• Faith in what you are doing
• Learning from information given
• Adjusting your plan to circumstances

Inspiration: Terry Fox (1958-1981) ran 3,339 miles across Canada in 1980 raising $25 million for cancer research, even though he had one artificial leg lost to cancer. — Ann Donegan Johnson, The Value of Facing a Challenge: The Story of Terry Fox {1983}

Definition: conforming to excellent quality, value, or standard < a sterling reputation>; genuine purity

Quote: Propriety is a rigid master, but one that must be obeyed if one wants to keep a sterling reputation. — Lawana Blackwell (1952-) American author

Definition: firm, constant, or resolute in mind, purpose, pursuit, or principle; controlled and stable

Compatible Quality: dependable

Adage: Slow and steady wins the race. — Aesop (c 620–564 BC) Greek fabulist
     Note: To win the race one also needs to be clear-eyed, prepared, and systematic.

Definitions: (1) like a star; brilliant; (2) outstanding; a superstar

Motto: Through difficulties to the stars. — British Royal Air Force

Quote: When one has been touched by the stellar power and ethereal playing of a sublime musician, one is lifted, if only briefly, to a place beyond the realm of the temporal. — Paul John Keating (1944-) Australian politician, 24th Prime Minister

Definitions: (1) well established; (2) firmly fixed in faith; dedicated; (3) devotion to duty; resolute; (4) not fickle or wavering; loyal

Derivation: Old English, “to stand fast (stable)”

Too Far: stubborn

Quote: There is only one reason that you ever fail at anything, and that is because you eventually change your mind. — Victor Lemonte Wooten (1964-) American Bassist & Author

Definition: holding tightly to a principle; steady and steadfast; constant and consistent

Compatible Qualities: good listener, open-minded

Familial Qualities: faithful, loyal

Quote: My mum raised me in a home without mirrors. She's a staunch feminist and wanted us to know that what we look like is the least interesting thing about us. — Claudia Anna Irena Winkleman (1972-) English writer & journalist

Comment: Staunch has been attached to all manner of persuasions. Unfortunately, it also carries the stigma of ‘My way or the highway.’ Keep it civil and polite so as to change the narrative. All attitudes do contain positive traits.

Definitions: (1) well-proportioned beauty; stately; (2) showing poise and dignity; graceful

Quote: Life comes before literature, as the material always comes before the work. The hills are full of marble before the world blooms with statues. — Phillips Brooks (1835–1893) American clergyman & author
    Note: There are three statues of Rev. Brooks in Boston – one of them is marble.

Comment: The minimum requirements of a statuesque person are tall, healthy, proportionate, and presenting an attitude of surety. If you fall short on any of these, smile and be kind.

Definitions: (1) majestic in mien or manner; lofty, (2) dignified elegance

Synonyms: elevated, grand, imposing, lordly, magnificent, proud

Quote: Redwood time moves at a more stately pace than human time. To us, when we look at a redwood tree, it seems to be motionless and still, and yet redwoods are constantly in motion, moving upward into space, articulating themselves and filling redwood space over redwood time, over thousands of years. — Richard Preston (1954-) American writer

Comment: When you attend a formal occasion (whether funeral of state dinner) present yourself with appropriate stately decorum.

(STATESMANSHIP)
Definitions: (1) one versed in the principles or art of government; (2) one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government or in shaping its policies; (3) a wise, skillful, and respected leader serving in the public interest.

Quote: The art of statesmanship is to foresee the inevitable and to expedite its occurrence. — Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand (1754–1838) French statesman

Definitions: (1) resistance to fatigue, illness, stress, or difficulty; (2) possessing staying power or endurance

Derivation: Latin, referring to the life-threads spun by the Fates

Compatible Quality: enthusiasm

Quotes:
• Grit, in a word, is stamina. But it's not just stamina in your effort. It's also stamina in your direction, stamina in your interests. — Angela Lee Duckworth (1970-) American psychologist
• There is no problem that doesn't have some underlying need for more optimism, stamina, resilience, and collaboration. — Jane McGonigal (1977-) American author

Definitions: (1) valiant in character or deed; brave; bold; daring; (2) robust in body, mind, or spirit; strong; sturdy; (3) resolute; firm; (4) one who is staunchly supportive; steadfast; unwavering; unshakable dependability

Compatible Qualities: self-control, fair, gentle

Quote: The past doesn’t exist except as a memory, a mental story, and though past events aren’t changeable, your stories about them are. You can act now to transform the way you tell the story of your past, ultimately making it a stalwart protector of your future. — Martha Nibley Beck (1962-) American author

Fictional Figure: Philip Faulconbridge, a daring soldier, true as steel to his friends. — William Shakespeare (1564-1616) King John {1623}

Definitions: (1) not easily moved or thrown off balance; not likely to break down, fall apart, or give way; steady; fixed; (2) firm in character, purpose, or resolution; steadfast; stalwart; (3) enduring or possibly permanent; long lasting; firm; solid; (4) capable of returning to equilibrium or original position after having been displaced; flexible; (5) full of composure; self-possessed; self-sufficient; staid <soberly respectable but primly unadventurous>

Balancing Qualities: Adventuresome, Changeable, Lively

Too Far: stagnant

Quote: Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. — Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American author

Reflection: We hold on to our old selves while allowing our new selves to grow around the old. We are like coral, where the old is the structure upon which the new growth of life is active. The old self is a record of what we have chosen. The only you that is alive and vibrant is the new you. The past is the structure upon which we rely for stability. We know ourselves by who we have been, and yet we are not our past structure any more than we are our body.

Symbols: 1) the cube; 2) the number four

Definition: courageous; lively; mettlesome; plucky; spirited

Quote: The voting booth joint is a great leveler; the whole neighborhood - rich, poor, old, young, decrepit, and spunky - they all turn out in one day. — David Byrne (1952-) Scottish-American singer/songwriter

Definition: full of life; nimble; agile; energetic; active <especially of the aged>

Quote: When you're an athlete and you play every day and are conditioning yourself every year, the aging is gradual. — Calvin “Cal” Edwin Ripken, Jr. (1960-) American baseball player, 2,632 consecutive games played

Question: If you came in last in the 100-meter dash in the Olympics, would they deign to call you spry?

Definitions: (1) showing a lively and happy gait <with a spring in her step>; (2) having an elastic quality; resilient; flexible; (3) Being filled with the joy and newness of the spring season

Quote: To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life. — John Burroughs (1837–1921) American naturalist

Definitions: (1) possessing an airy spirit providing cheerfulness or courage; (2) lively or spryly animated; brisk; vivacious; light but spirited vigor of manner; buoyant; spirituelle <a refined and witty nature>

Poetry:
True Wit is Nature to advantage dressed
What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed;
Something whose truth convinced at sight we find,
That gives us back the image of our mind.
As shades more sweetly recommend the light,
So modest plainness sets off sprightly wit.
— Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English poet

Definitions: (1) characterizes one who indulges in a happy diversion <usually with others>; playful; merry; one who enjoys recreation; gamesome; (2) playing fairly and according to the rules; courteous; accepts failure gracefully and victory graciously; (3) possessing the ability to accept jestful teasing with a good sense of humor; (4) fair and generous in one's behavior or treatment of others, especially in a game or contest

Quote: The only way to prove that you're a good sport is to lose. — Ernest “Ernie” Banks (1931–2015) American baseball player

Definitions: (1) inspiringly valiant; illustrious of heroic imagination; famous; celebrated; distinguished; (2) exceptionally good; very fine; excellent; (3) sumptuously grand < a splendid idea>; imposing

Synonyms: brilliant, glorious, magnificent, beau geste <a splendid gesture>

Quotes:
• The most splendid achievement of all is the constant striving to surpass yourself and to be worthy of your own approval. — Denis Waitley (1933-) American motivational speaker
• We had seen God in His splendors, heard the text that Nature renders. We had reached the naked soul of man. — Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874–1922) Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer; Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, Alfred Mark Lansing {1959}

Inspiration: Says the Lord: ‘I dwell within their own souls as a lamp of wisdom. I am the splendor of the splendid and the virtue of the virtuous.” — Hinduism, Bhagavad Gita [The Song of the Spirit]: 10:36

Color: violet

Definitions: (1) acting playfully or creatively upon a sudden impulse; (2) not premeditated; not contrived or manipulated; natural; (3) done or resulting from one’s own desire

Too Far: capricious

Saying: Carpe diem (Latin): “Seize the day.”

Quote: Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit. — Edward Estlin [e. e.] Cummings (1894-1962) American poet

Comment: Each quality has a default level. But you can change that level by being open to it when it comes up in your life. Consciously supporting it enhances it.

Observation: Automatic versus Spontaneous
Your automatic reactions are put into play immediately without thought. They could be very complex responses or as simple as flight, fight, or freeze. Your habitual reactions have been created genetically over many generations. You can and have modified them somewhat by your conscious actions.
    A spontaneous response could, at the least, be the same as an automatic response. But it also could be much more flexible. As you add a wider range of possible options, you extend your responsiveness.

Definitions: (1) pertaining to the spirit or soul as distinguished from the body; (2) from or concerned with the higher part of the mind; (3) consisting of pure essence; incorporeal; (4) showing much refinement of thought and feeling; (5) having to do with religion or the church; sacred, devotional, or ecclesiastical; not lay or temporal; the moral aspect; (6) supernatural; supra-personal; supersensible <above & beyond the senses>

Quotes:
• To grow in unconditional love and in beauty, is spirituality. — Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (1956-) Indian guru
• We are not human beings on a spiritual journey; we are spiritual beings on a human journey. [He goes on to quote: “Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides, and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love.” — Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) French Jesuit priest] — Steven Covey (1932-2012) inspirational speaker

Reflection: On the highest spiritual level all potentials are actuals.

Colors: blue, indigo

Symbols: 1) fire; 2) birds; 3) wings; 4) the lamp; 5) the eagle; 6) the lotus flower {Spiritual Fragrance}

Definitions: (1) having or showing mettle, courage, vigor, animation, or energy; (2) the spiritualizing influence; the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person; (3) the supreme moral and ethical standard; the motivating, activating, or essential principle influencing a person’s actions <the spirit of helpfulness>; (4) a positive inclination, impulse, or tendency (5) the source of ideals and values; the extraordinary feelings and qualities characterizing one’s inner attitude; qualitative reality; (6) the disposition of firmness or assertiveness
    See also: High-Spirited, Public-Spirited, Spiritual

Too Far: tempestuous

Quote: A spirited mind never stops within itself; it is always aspiring and going beyond its strength. —  Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, Seigneur de Montaigne [aka: Michel de Montaigne] (1533–1592) French Renaissance philosopher

Definitions: (1) grippingly charming; fascinating; enchanting; (2) characterizes a speaker of compelling eloquence; captivating; (3) marks an act of surprising interest; riveting

Music: “That Old Black Magic” {1942}
That old black magic has me in its spell,
That old black magic that you weave so well;
Icy fingers up and down my spine,
The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine.
— Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck] (1905–1986) American music composer
— John “Johnny” Mercer (1919-1976) American lyricist

Comment: At some point in your childhood you will have found yourself spellbound by some image or sound or story. The essence of that feeling could, and maybe even should, be a (if not the) primary focus of your life.

Symbol: 1) oleander; 2) moon flower

Definitions: (1) interesting or exciting <applies to individuality, manners, or mind>; (2) something or someone who enriches in a positive way; characterizes that which gives zest or interest to; (3) lively, spirited, piquant

Dictum: Variety is the spice of life. — William Cowper (1731-1800) English poet

Quote: To see two people that are battling to make it work just shows that love is in a marriage, but there are also trials and things that you have to make it through; showing women and men how to keep it spicy. — Kyla Alissa Pratt (1986-) American actress

Comment: Just as spice is an accent in food, it can enliven more primary qualities in a personality as well.

Symbol: peppers

Definitions: (1) possessing extraordinary or uncommon characteristics; exceptional; unique; (2) particularly valued <a special friend>; a gem; (3) appropriate; proper
    See also: Important

Synonyms: distinctive, distinguished, individualistic

Quotes:
• Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God. — Mary Manin Morrissey (1949-) Co-founder Living Enrichment Center {1970-2004}
• Keep all special thoughts and memories for lifetimes to come. Share these keepsakes with others to inspire hope and build from the past, which can bridge to the future. — Mattie Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek (1990-2004) American peace poet

Definitions: (1) founded on truth; strong; valid; reliable; sensible <sound advice>; (2) morally solid; honest; honorable; upright; virtuous; trustworthy <The Church prides itself on sound principles.>; (3) firm; safe; stable; secure <especially financially>; (4) thorough; complete; (5) whole; unimpaired; unhurt; unmutilated; not weak, diseased, or damaged; healthy

Saying: A sound mind in a sound body

Quote: The sound of a kiss is not so loud as that of a cannon, but its echo lasts a great deal longer. —  Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–1894) American polymath [six disciplines]

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Definitions: (1) possessing positive qualities; ; great-souled; the embodiment of a quality <Brevity is the soul of wit.>; (2) full of or expressive of emotion or deep feeling <All were moved by the artist’s soulful rendition.>; (3) having spiritual or emotional warmth, power, or understanding

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Derivation: Latin, “mind, soul”

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Quotes:
• If the head and the body are to be well, you must begin by curing the soul. — Plato (c. 4th Century BC) Greek philosopher
• What shall it profit you if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul? — Jesus of Nazareth (7 BC-30 AD) The Bible, Matthew 16:26
• If the soul could have known God without the world, the world would never have been created. — Meister Eckhart [born Eckhart von Hochheim] (c.1260-1328) German theologian
• The soul is the self-reflective, truth-discerning, and spirit-perceiving part of man which forever elevates the human being above the level of the animal world. (133:6.5) — Jesus of Nazareth (7 BC-30 AD) The Urantia Book {1955}
• If you would have the message of the gods to direct your life, look for that which repeats. ... It comes again and again until you have made it part of your soul and your enduring spirit. — Marion Zimmer Bradley (1930-1999) The Mists of Avalon {1982}

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Comments:
• Remember your belongings are just stuff; material possessions belong to Mother Earth. You are really made of your spiritual qualities, your soul.
• The tools used to build your soul are:
    1. Events – may be external or internal
    2. Evaluations/reactions – based on your mind frame and soul characteristics to date
    3. Choices
    4. Actions
    5. Experiences
    6. Assimilations
    7. Growth

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Observation: Human beings, in a structural sense, are made up of five components: body, mind, spirit, personality, and soul. Enlightenment is a balanced...

Definitions: (1) knowledgeable and perceptive of modern matters; urbane; worldly-wise; cultured; (2) clever with complex ideas

Derivation: The Sophists were a class of ancient Greeks who taught values: rhetoric, philosophy, politics, mathematics, etc. Unfortunately, the use of vain subtleties and false axioms by some, gave the word sophistry its current meaning of general distrust and contempt.

Balancing Qualities: Honest, Natural, Simple

Quote: We are not angels; we are merely sophisticated apes. Yet we feel like angels trapped inside the bodies of beasts, craving transcendence and all the time trying to spread our wings and fly off. It is really a very odd predicament to be in. — Vilayanur Subramanian Ramachandran (1951-) Indian-American neuroscientist

Definitions: (1) restored to a quiet, calm, or normal state; (2) mitigate, soften, or relieve <as pain or grief>; (3) gratifying; pleasing <soothing clarinet>

Synonyms: allaying, appeasing, assuaging, composed, pacifying

Quote:
• The spoken word is man's physician in grief. For this alone has soothing charms for the soul. — Menander (c. 342–290 BC) Greek dramatist
• Music is a very strong force when it comes to making a difference, as well as entertaining, soothing, and encouraging. — Philip James Bailey (1961-) American singer

Colors: blue, violet

Definitions: (1) firm; sound; real; genuine; (2) showing complete unity <a solid contract>; in accord; (3) possessing moral strength and just principles; (4) displaying valid or true reasoning; (5) dependable <a solid relationship>; (6) exhibiting substantial quality <solid values>; (7) demonstrating ample comfort <solid furniture>

Synonyms: complete, prudent, stable, stout, thoroughgoing

Balancing Qualities: Flexible, Flowing

Compatible Quality: reliable

Quote: A house must be built on solid foundations if it is to last. The same principle applies to man, otherwise he too will sink back into the soft ground and becomes swallowed up by the world of illusion. — Sathya Sai Baba (1926-2011) Indian spiritual guru

Symbols: 1) granite 2) diamonds

Definitions: (1) serious <especially with religious reverence>; sacred; devout; pious; marked by veneration to God; (2) willing to be deeply earnest, very sincere <a solemn oath>

Synonyms: awe-inspiring, profound

Compatible Qualities: liturgical, prayerful, worshipful

Familial Qualities: humor, selflessness

Too Far: dour; somber <oppressively solemn>

Quote: Our errors are surely not such awfully solemn things. In a world where we are so certain to incur them in spite of all our caution, a certain lightness of heart seems healthier than this excessive nervousness on their behalf. ― William James (1842-1910) American psychologist & philosopher

Definition: showing kindly affection; feeling tender and compassionate; meek; sympathetic or responsive to others; having a generous and giving spirit

Quotes:
• If there is one word in the universe capable of softening hearts, it is this: Mommy. ― Richelle E. Goodrich (1969-) American novelist & poet
• The funny thing about the heart is a soft heart is a strong heart, and a hard heart is a weak heart. ― Christopher James Gilbert [aka Criss Jami] (1987-) American author & philosopher

Definitions: (1) gentle to the touch; smooth; pleasant to the feelings; comfortable; (2) easy to work with; malleable; pliable; flexible; (3) not hard, rough, rigid, rude, or harsh; (4) emollient (making soft)

Synonyms: civil, courteous, delicate, engaging, kind, lenient, mellow, mollify, mild, quiet, sentimental, sympathetic, tender

Balancing Quality: Hardy

Too Far: timid

Quotes: Our love of what is beautiful does not lead to extravagance; our love of the things of the mind does not make us soft. — Pericles (495–429 BC) Greek politician & general

Symbols: 1) fur; 2) a baby’s cheek

Definition: inclined to friendly communication; open to conversing; neighborly; agreeable to a free exchange of ideas

Balancing Quality: Attentive.
     Note: The best communicator is the person who is the best listener; one who is genuinely interested in the views and lives of others.

Compatible Quality: gracious, humorous, interested

Familial Quality: companionable

Too Far: garrulous, nosy

Quote: We take our bearings, daily, from others. To be sane is, to a great extent, to be sociable. — John Hoyer Updike (1932-2009) American novelist

Definitions: (1) showing self-control; not extreme in any way; practicing a reasonable and moderate use of substance or emotion; temperate; (2) regularly displaying calm reason; cool; (3) having a serious, earnest, or thoughtful nature; solemn; (4) quiet; not flashy; (5) honest; not exaggerated <the sober truth>; (6) sane; rational

Balancing Qualities: Enthusiastic, Spontaneous

Too Far: somber <oppressively solemn>

Quotes:
• True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost. — Arthur Robert Ashe Jr. (1943-1993) American tennis player
• Elegance is achieved when all that is superfluous has been discarded and the human being discovers simplicity and concentration: the simpler and more sober the posture, the more beautiful it will be. — Paulo Coelho de Souza (1947-) Brazilian lyricist & novelist

Definitions: (1) experiencing lofty thought, superior imagination, or sublime contemplation; (2) aspiring to great heights; (3) a feeling of unfettered freedom

Quotes:
• The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space on the infinite highway of the air. — Wilbur Wright (1867–1912) American aviation pioneer
• Education has the ability to change lives and send children soaring to heights that extend beyond what their zip code has predetermined for them. — Glenn Youngkin (1966-) American, 74^th governor of Virginia

Comment: One can use the ascending spiritual currents of the universe to soar beyond this life to the next.

Symbols: 1) a sailplane; 2) an albatross

Definition: (1) comfortably close <especially of a loved one>; characterizes one who cuddles with affection; cozy; (2) safe and secure

Poetry:
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
— Clement Clarke Moore (1779–1863) The Night Before Christmas {1823}

Quote: Let's hold hands and brave this beautiful, crazy life together with a sweet smile and a calm breath. — Colleen Saidman Yee (1960’s-) American yoga instructor

Definition: attractive in a flashy way; fancy

Quote: We think if we win something big or buy something snazzy it'll make us more than we are. Our hearts know that's not true, but the eyes are powerful. It's easier to fix on what we can see than listen to the still, small voice of a whispering heart. A heart will say amazing things if it's given half a chance. — Joan Baehler Bauer (1951-) American writer

Definitions: (1) calm; serene; tranquil <a smooth disposition>; (2) equable; amiable; professional; (3) gentle; tender <especially to touch>; (4) making the way easy; comforting emotional upset; (5) a sweet and soothing sound in music or voice; (6) pleasant; enjoyable; (7) at ease in the social graces; charming; (8) even; slick <done in an impressively efficient and effortless way>

Quotes:
• God is in control. He's working for my good. Doesn't mean everything's going to be smooth, but that's all I needed to know. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. — Shawn Michaels [born Michael Shawn Hickenbottom] (1965-) American professional wrestler
• An inexhaustible good nature is one of the most precious gifts of heaven, spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather. — Washington Irving (1783–1859) American essayist, historian, & diplomat

Definitions: (1) possessing quick intelligence; mentally alert; shrewd; brilliant; (2) capable and practiced know-how; astute; clever; (3) brisk, lively, or witty <as an insightful remark>; (4) neat and clean with a fresh flair; in contemporary style; (5) sophisticated; elegant; fashionable

Quotes:
• A smart man makes a mistake, learns from it, and never makes that mistake again. But a wise man finds a smart man and learns from him how to avoid the mistake altogether. — Roy Holster Williams (1958-) American author & marketing consultant
• The kind of people that all teams need are people who are humble, hungry, and smart. Humble being little ego; focusing more on their teammates than on themselves. Hungry meaning they have a strong work ethic; determined to get things done and contribute any way they can. Smart meaning inner personally smart. — Patrick Lencioni (1965-) American management author

Definitions: (1) polished or smooth in manners, speech, or appearance; suave; (2) a well-groomed or healthy look; dapper; elegant; (3) slender, graceful lines; stylish

Quote: Elegance is reduction, simplification, condensation. It is spare, stark, sleek. Elegance is cultivated abstraction. The source of Greek and Roman classicism - clarity, order, proportion, balance - as in Egypt. — Camille Anna Paglia (1947-) American academic

Observation: A full head of hair just out of the shower needs a comb to make it smooth. We have a full set of positive qualities. They also need to be organized and groomed to present a sleek countenance.

Definitions: (1) revealing knowing intelligence; expert; ingenuity; (2) individual deftness in execution or performance; virtuosity; mastery of technique; nifty; (3) able to perform dexterously a manual operation in the arts or professions; adroit; (4) having a competent aptitude in management; (5) trickeration (jazz swing, a snazzy sports play)

Quotes:
• No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination. — Edward Hopper (1882–1967) American realist painter
• When God calls a man to be upright, pure, and generous, he also calls him to be intelligent, skillful, strong, and brave. — Orison Swett Marden (1848–1924) American inspirational author

Mythological Figures: 1) Harpocrates, the god of science, secrets, and confidentiality among the Greeks and Romans; 2) Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, manual skill, eloquence, cleverness, and travel; 3) Hermes, the Greek god of science, eloquence, and cunning; also the inventor of the lyre, the protector of boundaries, and the god of commerce – serving as messenger to the other gods

Definition: affectionate <as the intimate kindness of a sister>; characterizing congenial or loyal relationship with or among siblings or other women; sororal

Familial Quality: brotherly

Quote: A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves – a special kind of double — Chloe Anthony [Toni] Wofford Morrison (1931–2019) American novelist

Definitions: (1) being the same in actual character as in outward appearance; genuine; real; (2) simple and straightforward innocence; (3) truthful and honest; without deceit, pretense, or hypocrisy; (4) faithful

Saying: Ex animo (Latin): “from the heart”

Quotes:
• Sincerity is the single virtue that binds divinity and man in one. — Senge Takatomi (1845-1918) Japanese Shinto philosopher
• Mother Nature is always speaking. She speaks in a language understood within the peaceful mind of the sincere observer. Leopards, cobras, monkeys, rivers, and trees; they all serve as teachers. — Radhanath Swami [born Richard Slavin] (1950-) American Gaudiya Vaishnava guru

Comment: The primary quality saving a person from being an out and out fool is sincerity.

Consideration: There are some crucial qualities, a class of qualities one really cannot do without. First on the list would be sincerity. If you are sincere in your attempt to do the right thing – however you define it – you are succeeding in a very important aspect.

Advice: If you are motivated by, and have a genuine sincerity in what you do, you should never feel guilty. If you choose correctly, it will reinforce the positive. If you choose incorrectly, you will learn there is a better way. And if it is some of both, you will get to experience them both and learn what was right and what was wrong.

Color: blue

Definitions: (1) easy to understand or deal with; (2) sincere; free of deceit or guile; innocent; (3) elegant and plain; not ornate or luxurious; unadorned; not elaborate or complicated; unembellished; (4) modest; unaffected; unassuming; unpretentious

Compatible Qualities: It takes time, teamwork, and tenacity to arrive at simplicity.

Music: “Simple Gifts” {1848}
‘Tis the gift to be simple
‘Tis the gift to be free …
— Elder Joseph Brackett (1797-1882) American Quaker songwriter

Quotes:
• When you bless it, you can own it. Our eye is how God sees the world. Our hand is how God holds the world. Our job is simply to be. — Gerard “Jerry” Vincent Hubert Downs (1949-) and Joe Burull (1947-2019) American photographers
• Everything should be made as simple as possible but not simpler. If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. — Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-American physicist
     Note: The most complex thing can be boiled down to a simple formula or precept, for instance: E=mc2 or “All You Need Is Love.” As you are creating or investigating a system, its complexity can be overwhelming. But as you begin to grasp it, it begins to collapse back into its simple, unified reality.

Comment: Friar William Ackham, (c.1287-1347) English philosopher & theologian, never said, “The simplest explanation is usually the correct (best) one.” But he did write, “Plurality must never be posited without necessity.”

Question: Although it may not seem obvious for some to ask, “Is there a reality beyond this one?” There are very few who do not succumb to this wonder when Death is breathing down their necks.

Symbol: The number one

Definition: harmless folly; simple whimsicalness; happy innocence

Familial Quality: giggly, giddy (literally possessed by a god)

Quotes:
• If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done. — Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian philosopher
• Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment. — Horace [born Quintus Horatius Flaccus] (65-8 BC) Roman lyric poet

Definitions: (1) a person of value; (2) the self-realization of one’s own worth; self-esteem; (3) important

Quotes:
• Rational discussion is useful only when there is a significant base of shared assumptions. — Noam Chomsky (1928-) American linguist
• Every person has a longing to be significant; to make a contribution; to be a part of something noble and purposeful. — John Calvin Maxwell (1947-) American author & pastor

Definitions: (1) cunningly artful; (2) keen-witted in practical concerns; possessing useful smarts, insightful; (3) acute perception and sound judgment; savvy, sharp, argute

Synonyms: Shrewd stresses pragmatic cleverness; astute combines shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill; perspicacious implies unusual power to see through, and understand, what is puzzling or hidden; sagacious suggests wisdom, penetrating thought, and farsightedness.

Balancing Qualities: Honest, Tactful

Quotes:
• Every spirit makes its house, and we can give a shrewd guess from the house to the inhabitant. — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American poet
• Why do you need street smarts? Shrewdness? Toughness? It's to protect something soft that is going to be in danger if it's exposed at the wrong time and place. It's to protect a soul. But to protect your soul, you have to have one to start with. — Peter Charles Schjeldahl (1942-2022) American art critic, poet, & educator

Definition: in good order; tidy; trim

Derivation: “Shipshape and Bristol fashion” {1827} At low tide in Bristol harbor ships would fall to one side on their keel resulting in cargo chaos if everything was not tidily tied down.

Too Far: compulsive

Definitions: (1) possessing a distinguished remarkable quality; illustrious; brilliant; eminent; (2) bright and often splendid in appearance <It was as if a shining angel appeared when she walked into the room.>; resplendent; (3) radiant; gleaming; sparkling, glistening, lucid, lucent; refulgent <to shine>; sidereal

Quotes:
• The path of the just is as a shining light which shines more and more until the perfect day. They who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. — Judaism
• Forgiveness is like this: a room can be dank because you have closed the windows, you've closed the curtains. But the sun is shining outside, and the air is fresh outside. In order to get that fresh air, you have to get up and open the window and draw the curtains apart. ― Desmond Tutu (1931-2021) South African Anglican bishop & theologian

Definitions: (1) protecting or defending <especially a loved one> from danger, violence, injury, annoyance, or attack; (2) securing or rendering safe; harboring

Derivation: Middle English, “bodyguard”

Quote: If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men. — Saint Francis of Assisi [born Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone] (1181-1226) Italian mystic & lover of animals

Symbols: 1) a roof; 2) a house

Definitions: (1) quick, acute, or penetrating in intellectual perception; clever; shrewd; sharp-minded; (2) showing a keen awareness; attentive; vigilant; alert; (3) extremely sensitive to the needs or wants of others; (4) full of activity or energy; brisk; active; vigorous; (5) attractively dressed or groomed; good-looking; handsome; beautiful; (6) clearly defined; distinct, unobstructed

Quotes:
• Tolerance, compromise, understanding, acceptance, patience - I want those all to be very sharp tools in my shed. — Thomas DeCarlo Callaway Burton [aka CeeLo Green] (1975-) American songwriter & singer
• God answers sharp and sudden on some prayers, and thrusts the thing we have prayed for in our face - a gauntlet with a gift in it. — Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861) English poet

Divine Definitions: (1) Giving freely of Himself; selfless; (2) Desiring the beings of His creation to participate in the joys of the creation to an ever-increasing degree; magnanimous; (3) The great teacher; generous; (4) Contributing everything possible; munificent; (5) Liberal with rewards; altruistic; big-hearted; (6) Serving His children; the ultimate benefactor

Comment: Before God started time, before He created space, He was complete. Nonetheless, He could not deny His fundamental nature. He decided to fashion finite reality because He is a giving Person. When we decide to share the meanings and values of our inner life with Him, we are partaking of that same divine nature.

SHARE
Human Definitions: (1) granting or giving a part of yourself; altruistic; selfless; (2) dividing and distributing in fair portions; apportioning; (3) partaking, using, experiencing, occupying, or enjoying with others; (4) owning in common; (5) being a benefactor

Synonyms: big-hearted, contributing, generous, magnanimous, munificent

Quotes:
• The best partnerships aren't dependent on a mere common goal but on a shared path of equality, desire, and no small amount of passion. — Sarah MacLean (1978-) American author
• If you think a complimentary thought about someone, don’t just think it. Dare to compliment people and pass on compliments to them from others. — Catherine Ponder (1927-) The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity {1962}

Comment: God created the universe because his primary motive is love, and the primary attribute of love is to share.

Definitions: (1) possessing a pleasing appearance; excitingly appealing; glamorous; (2) interesting or thrilling; (3) stimulating; passionate; studly; sultry; sensual <usually physically>; flirtatious

Balancing Qualities: Generosity, Joy, Respect

Familial Qualities: desire, intimacy, sensuality

Too Far: licentious, lustful, promiscuous

Comment: Physical attraction my spark a relationship but a tender soul will sustain it.

Observations:
• There are some big differences between having sex versus making love. Sex is a physical pleasure which can be hedonistic, self-absorbing, and egocentric. Making love is thoughtful, caring, and giving. When you consider your partner’s needs, you experience a greater satisfaction of togetherness.
• Sex will occasionally result in procreation.

Color: red

Definition: demonstrating helpful, beneficial, or friendly conduct; giving assistance or advantage to an individual or the community; thoughtful

Balancing Qualities: To balance confidence and humility practice giving service.

People Who Exemplify This Quality: Martin Luther King (1929-1968) American preacher & peacemaker

Proverb:
When I do not know who I am I serve you.
When I know who I am I am you. — Hinduism

Aphorism: Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words. — Unknown

Quotes:
• Do what needs to be done for yourself as if you were doing it for a dear friend. — Gerard “Jerry” Vincent Hubert Downs (1949-) American photographer & writer
• I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found out how to serve. — Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) Franco-German theologian

Inspiration: They who know the laws of God are liberal minded. If you know the Eternal, even though your body perish, your soul shall survive in spirit service. — Taoism

Comment:
Near versus Far
Service can be direct - person-to-person. Ot it can serve a wide variety of people, near and far. Entertainers for example distribute their talent for everyone’s enjoyment. Writers serve their readers. If someone makes a tool it is up to the one who uses it to do something with it.

Symbol: the buffalo

Definition: (1) marked by peaceful repose or quietude; (2) possessing a tranquil, placid mind; undisturbed in one’s soul; ataraxia <the lucid state of robust equanimity>

Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. — Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) American theologian

Quote: Mirth is like a flash of lightning, that breaks through a gloom of clouds, and glitters for a moment; cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity. — Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English essayist & poet

Comment: If you are caught up in the hustle and hassle of an active life, you will long for serenity and relaxation. The next vacation or retirement seems so far away. But you can always take an inner trip to your center where all peace exists.

Symbol: a calm sea

Definitions: (1) showing, having, or caused by earnestness or deep thought; sober or solemn; (2) meaning what one says or does; not joking or trifling; sincere; (3) concerned or dealing with important matters; grave; problem solving with a focused intensity; weighty; (4) requiring careful consideration in matters involving difficulty, effort, or costly action

Balancing Qualities: Flexible, Lighthearted, Playful

Quote: Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood. — Fred McFeely Rogers (1928-2003) American Educator & Minister

Definitions: (1) possessing an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident; (2) the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for; (3) having good fortune; lucky

Derivation: Also known as “accidental sagacity,” a faculty possessed by the heroes in the Persian classic The Three Princes of Serendip {1557}. The word serendipity was coined in 1754 in the English-speaking world by Horace Walpole (1717-1797) English writer, art historian, & politician
     Note: Since we can cultivate any quality, then the “accidental” part of this definition can be expected and anticipated with intuition or insight.

Quote: Success is three parts hard work and one part serendipity; this serendipity is a direct result of the other three parts of hard work. — Ken Poirot (?1965-) American financial advisor

Definitions: (1) derived from, based on, or perceived by the senses; (2) easily affected by or appealing to the senses; (3) keenly appreciative of beauty, refinement, or luxury; (4) enjoying the pleasures of sensation

Too Far: licentious (lacking moral restraints)

Quote: My mind withdrew its thoughts from experience, extracting itself from the contradictory throng of sensuous images, that it might find out what that light was wherein it was bathed ... And thus, with the flash of one hurried glance, it attained to the vision of That Which Is. — Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo (354–430) Roman Empire theologian & philosopher

Colors: pink, violet

Definitions: (1) showing tender emotion; having delicate feelings toward music, poetry, or drama; sensitive to the feelings <especially pain> of others; (2) moved by sensible emotional idealism; acting from feelings balanced by practical and utilitarian motives

Balancing Qualities: Reasonable, Rugged

Too Far: maudlin

Music: “Sentimental Journey” {1944}
Gonna take a sentimental journey
Gonna set my heart at ease …
Sentimental journey home
— Music: Lester Raymond “Les” Brown (1912–2001) American jazz musician
— Benjamin Hozer [aka Ben Homer] (1917-1975) American songwriter
— Moses David “Bud” Green (1897–1981) American lyricist

Quote: Love is the only reality and it is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation. — Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali polymath [eight disciplines]

Symbols: 1) teardrops; 2) zinnia flowers

Definitions: (1) responsive to the views of others; (2) tender or compassionate toward the feelings of others; (3) endowed with sensation; perceptive through the senses

Too Far: critical, temperamental, thin-skinned

Quotes:
• It is usually the imagination that is wounded first, rather than the heart; it being much more sensitive. — Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American author
• Some like to think that a keen appreciation of art can actually make us better people - more just, more moral, more sensitive, more understanding. Perhaps that is true. — Paul Benjamin Auster (1947-) American writer & film director
     Note: If the art one is appreciating was created by Ma Nature, it certainly is true.

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Definitions: (1) possessing good judgment or common sense; containing reasonable intelligence; wise; (2) capable of being perceived by the senses; capable of exciting physical sensation; (3) having appreciation or understanding; cognizant; emotionally or intellectually conscious; aware (4) no-nonsense <practical and serious, interested in doing what is necessary

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Quote: A match may start a fire, but once the fire is burning, putting out the match won’t stop it. The problem is no longer the match. It’s the fire. — Michael Crichton (1942-2008) The Terminal Man {1972}

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Comment:
In order for us to allow a new thought to penetrate our minds it must make sense. In other words, it has to pass through our filter systems.
     See also: Believable, Conscious, Objectivity

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Everyone has six basic filters.
1. Learning – solidified by study and reaffirmation
     a) Childhood instruction
     b) Tradition, Custom
     c) Group affiliation, e.g., school, church, patriotism, team, hero worship
2. Logic – may be personal or social
3. Experience – different for everyone
4. Belief – primarily structured religious belief, but also takes other forms
5. Faith – knows the truth when it is encountered. There are often contradictions with the other filters but the truth still registers.
6. Habit – A combination of all filters solidified by action.

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There is a second set of filters. They are physical, mental, or emotional inhibitors.
1. Intelligence – a lack of the ability to understand.
2. Ignorance – a lack of information.
3. Maturity – a lack of experience
4. Chemical Balance – diet, drugs, pollution
5. Language – The information may be available but in a language you do not understand.
6. Distance – The information may be available but too far away from you to be obtained.
7. Health – a permanent or temporary condition...

Definitions: (1) a proper concern for one’s own desires with those of others; (2) disregard for one’s own interests; unselfishly generous

Balancing Quality: Service-minded

Compatible Qualities: With faith, discipline, and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve. — Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948) Founder of Pakistan

Comment: True heroes are also self-forgetful and self-effacing. While doing some service, with love, for someone else, your mind and heart are focused on the good you hope the other to receive. The very thought of getting something in return lessens the value.

Quotes:
• You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you. — John Wooden (1910-2010) American basketball coach
• Always do good to others. Be selfless. Mentally remove everything and be free. This is divine life. This is the direct way to salvation. — Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963) Indian Hindu spiritual guru

Definitions: (1) able to maintain oneself without outside aid; capable of providing for one’s own needs; self-realizing; (2) having confidence in one’s own resources or powers

Balancing Qualities: Open-hearted, Open-minded

Too Far: The snow itself is lonely or, if you prefer, self-sufficient. There is no other time when the whole world seems composed of one thing and one thing only. — Joseph Wood Krutch (1893–1970) American author & naturalist

Comment: One of God’s sweetest (and hardest) gifts is the freewill to believe we are self-sufficient, individually and collectively. Yet that freedom may prevent the selfish person from realizing there is a conduit to the Infinite designed only to enhance our appreciation, creativity, and freedom.

How to Live This Quality Today: Wash the dishes. Sweep the floor. Vacuum the rug.

Definition: a proper respect for oneself or for one’s own character and reputation; self-knowing; self-understanding; appreciating one’s own self-worth

Balancing Qualities: Humility, Willfulness
     Note: Lack of, or loss of, self-respect results in inaction due to the diminution of will - or selfish action due to lack of respect for others.

Too Far: There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. 'Good pride' represents our dignity and self-respect. 'Bad pride' is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance. — John Calvin Maxwell (1947-) American author & pastor

Quote: Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners. — Laurence Sterne (1713-1768) Irish-born English author

Reflection: Would that there were an award for people who come to understand the concept of enough. Good enough. Successful enough. Thin enough. Rich enough. Socially responsible enough. When you have self-respect, you have enough. — Gail Sheehy (1936–2020) American author & lecturer

Advice: Idleness diminishes self-respect. Therefore, stay busy with something constructive you love to do, or have a duty to do. Then turn that duty into an act of love. Self-respect begins with knowing what is worthy of respect; and is gained by loving and serving that value in others.

Definition: in control of one’s emotions or reactions <especially when under pressure and stress>; having presence of mind; composed in manner; calm; poised

Too Far: isolated

Quote: Human security recognizes the importance of individuals and that the key to ensuring growth in developing countries is to foster individual talent and abilities, build self-reliance, and put people in a position to make a broader contribution to society. Growth must be inclusive, and no one must be left behind. — Shinzo Abe (1954–2022) Japanese Prime Minister

Symbol: the cloak

Definitions: (1) succeeding in life essentially unaided; (2) made by one’s own efforts

Quotes:
• Manufactured objects testify to who made them; they describe values. — Sir Jonathan “Jony” Paul Ive (1967-) British & American designer
• Being self-made means never making an excuse as to why you can't take steps toward whatever your goal is. — Ermias Joseph Asghedom [aka: Nipsey Hussle] (1985–2019) American rapper

Definitions: (1) having control or rule over oneself; autonomous; self-reliant; (2) characterizes a state, community, or region that is governed by its own people; democratic

Quotes:
• Art is a path on which we honor our world. As bearers of this honor, we artists do not need to simply render our world as we see it but as we might ourselves redesign it. As artists, one of our privileges is to invent. — Robert Glenn (1936-2014) Canadian painter
• That State is best which governs least. — Thomas Jefferson (1742-1826) American Statesman, 3rd President of the Unites States
     Note: This is only true if the majority of individuals are morally self-governing.

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Definition: a confidence and satisfaction in oneself; self-acceptance; self-respect

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Balancing Quality: Humility

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Too Far: arrogant, egotistical

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Quote:
~ Self-esteem is crucial for healthy families.
~ When you’re playing with your kids, love just happens.
~ Self-esteem is the most important building block for emotional health and happiness.
~ People who feel good about themselves tend to take good care of themselves and treat others with respect. — Dr. Louise Hart (1921-2020) The Winning Family: Increasing Self-esteem in Your Children and Yourself {1993}

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Reflection: Notice the questions you ask yourself. Notice the motives which move you. Will I be accepted? How do I make people like me? There is a range of what you can do in answer to these questions. Should I be nice to others because they will like me? Should I be kind to others because it is the right thing to do no matter what they think about me?
     Are you giving to get because you feel inadequate? Or have you transcended that need and are giving for the joy of giving? If you have a healthy sense of self-esteem, you will be more likely to act without ulterior motives. You will be motivated by love rather than fear.
     We compensate for what we think is our lack, trying to fill the hole in our soul. Since we are potential infinite beings, there will always be a yearning for perfection. This can be experienced as a lack or accepted as a fact. Once you get to acceptance, then you can use the fact as you would any other fact – as a building block.
     Reduce the number and kind of internal mechanisms allowing you to believe you are unworthy and undeserving. We are all just growing. Mistakes are part of the process.

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Comment: A characteristic of self-esteem is the ability to be...

Definitions: (1) having within oneself all necessary qualities; self-possessed; self-collected; (2) functioning independently; self-sufficient; (3) formal and reserved in manner

Quotes:
• The power for creating a better future is contained in the present moment: You create a good future by creating a good present. — Eckhart Tolle [born Ulrich Leonard Tölle] (1948-) German-English writer
• The best artist has that thought alone which is contained within the marble shell. The sculptor's hand can only break the spell To free the figures slumbering in the stone.  — Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564) Italian sculptor, painter, & architect

Definition: regarding oneself as valid; self-affirming; understanding or believing in oneself

Compatible Qualities: self-forgetful, self-forgiving

Too Far: self-absorbed

Quote: Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance. — Casandra Brené Brown (1965-) American author & professor

Reflection:
We define ourselves by five criteria:
     • What we can do (especially the things we do well).
     • What we aspire to do.
     • What we will try.
     • What we cannot do.
     • What we will not do.

Advice: Love yourself as you are. Faults and problems need not be dwelt upon. Instead give yourself credit for your list of positive qualities and accomplishments. Move forward with positive intention. Moving away from the negative is not as productive as moving toward the positive.

Definitions: (1) suitable, fitting, or becoming <especially with reference to conventional standards of conduct or good taste>; decent; decorous; (2) having a pleasing or proper appearance; fair; handsome

Synonyms: appropriate, congruous

Quote: The Pharisees made their way up alongside Jesus and said: "Teacher, you should rebuke your disciples and exhort them to behave more seemly." Jesus answered: "It is only fitting that these children should welcome the Son of Peace, whom the chief priests have rejected. It would be useless to stop them lest in their stead these stones by the roadside cry out." (172:3.13) — Jesus of Nazareth (7 BC-30 AD) The Urantia Book {1955}

Definitions: (1) searching for; trying to find; exploring; (2) asking or inquire for <the truth>; desiring to learn or discover knowledge; (3) undertake to get or acquire; (4) aim at an admirable goal; pursuing

Quotes:
• Seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be opened to you. — Jesus of Nazareth (7 BC-30 AD) The Bible, Matthew 7:7–8
• Seek the greater thing, and the lesser will be found therein; ask for the heavenly, and the earthly shall be included. The shadow is certain to follow the substance. (165:5.3) — Jesus of Nazareth (7 BC-30 AD) The Urantia Book {1955}

Advice: Most everyone has emotional buttons that, if pushed, make them crazy. Until you find out what the underlying cause really is, those who are willing to manipulate you will have the means to do so. The immediate solution is to remove yourself, graciously, from their presence so they cannot continue to annoy you. The long-range solution is to remove the buttons.

Color: indigo

Symbol: the journey