Consider the Source

Lives based on having are less free than lives based either on doing or being. — William James (1842-1910) Philosopher

Peace,
Jim

          FREETHINKING

Balancing Quality: cooperative

Familial Qualities: independent, individualistic

          NONJUDGMENTAL

Definition: avoiding judgments based on one’s personal or especially moral standards

Quotes:
In judging others, folks will work overtime for no pay. — Charles Edwin Carruthers

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have done. — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) American Poet

Reflection: Judgment is essential to survival. But there are variations of judgment. A person who demands an empirical proof for all reality is closing down reason. Did ultraviolet and infrared exist before the instruments were available to detect them? If one must have proof, they are doomed to wait until someone else with the faith to look beyond the norm focuses the lens for them to see.

A person who insists their version of reality is the only one, and demands others step into their mold, is closing the door to the possibilities and truths other realities offer.

Comments:
• Judgment from others is almost always resented (even if correct) unless you completely trust them and give them permission to judge you.

• Another person or society can only be judged justly using their own set of rules and moral standards. Conversely, if you judge yourself by their standards, you reduce the value of your experience.

Advice:
• Use your judgment to protect yourself from dangers.

• Open your heart to judge yourself with penetrating honesty and tender mercy. It is a nervy act.

Consider the Source

— Interview with Bill Moyers, Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) Mythologist

May the Spirit of the Holidays fill you with the Commitment to move forward with your dreams.

Peace,
Jim

          SPIRITED

Too Far: tempestuous

          COMMITTED

Synonyms: entrusted, confided, consigned, relegated

Quotes:
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

Consider the Source

Prestige is usually a quality bestowed on one by others. But it begins with self-respect. If you are living up to your highest ideals, you will be worthy of the respect of others. Technically one must have a reasonably wide repertoire of qualities and they must be in harmony, then others will recognize you as worthy of this honor.

Peace,
Jim

          PRESTIGIOUS

          TECHNICAL

Balancing Quality: intuitive

Observation:
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

Consider the Source

— John Neville Figgis (1866-1919) Philosopher

This week’s qualities can be taken too far thus you need other qualities to be added to your repertoire in order to keep them in check. What to add to Permissive? How about reasonable? What to add to Red-blooded? How about wisdom? What would you include?

Peace,
Jim

          RED-BLOODED

          PERMISSIVE

Consider the Source

The ideals which have lighted me on my way, and time after time given me courage to face life cheerfully, have been truth, goodness, and beauty. — Albert Einstein (1879-1955) Physicist

‘Tis the season. The hecticness of the holidays require and result in an interesting pair of qualities. In order to get through them we need to buck up our Fortitude and glaze it all with Cheerfulness.

Best wishes,
Jim

          CHEERFUL

Synonyms: blithe, bonny, buoyant, glad, happy, lively, pleasant, sprightly, sunny

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

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

Color: yellow

          FORTITUDE

Comment: It is by facing stress, conflict, difficulty, and problems that you acquire the qualities of strength, fortitude, and bravery.

Consider the Source

These are the things I learned in kindergarten. Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life. Learn some, and think some, and draw, and plan, and sing, and dance, and play, and work some every day. — Elementary Solutions, Robert Fulghum (1937-) Author

Peace,
Jim

          ALERT

Symbol: an arrowhead (American Indian)

          ECUMENICAL

Comment: This quality is often misunderstood as proselytizing your religion to others. When it is used that way, the other person feels like they are being forced into accepting something which they have not digested yet. The more positive view is to first respect, if not understand, the other’s current grasp of reality, and then offer yours with the hope they can glean some good from it. Reflecting on their corner of reality will also most likely give you some new piece of information to add to your own growing picture. No one has all of the answers. There is always room for improvement.

Consider the Source

To be what we are and to become what we are capable of becoming is the only end of life. — Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Author

Many of us believe the future holds new and wondrous things, clearer ideas, and more profound understanding of ideals. Some think it will be more of the same in a different form. If your vision is Farsighted, you may be able to share your more Captivating dream and make a better future.

Peace,
Jim

          FARSIGHTED

Quotes:
A pilot who sees into the distance will not let his ship capsize. — Amenemope (c. 1100 bc) The Wisdom of Amenemope 26:15-16

Symbol: a telescope

          CAPTIVATING

Synonyms: bewitching, enchanting, entrancing

Consider the Source

I will do my best to be honest; to be fair; to help where I am needed; to be cheerful; to be friendly and considerate; to be a sister to other Girl Scouts; to respect authority; to use resources wisely; to protect and improve the world around me and to show respect for myself and others through my words and actions. — The Girl Scouts’ Law, 1915

What should we use our energy for? We are Eager to acquire many things. This is fine, but we would be better served with a more complex and Versatile approach — also desire to give, to learn, and to love & be loved.

Peace,
Jim

          EAGER

Definition: (1) keen or enthusiastic desire <especially to be helpful>; (2) interested in supporting others; (3) longing with anticipation; expectant

Derivation: Latin, “keen,” “sharp”

Synonyms: earnest, fervent, fervid, intense, vehement, zealous

Quote: Expect your every need to be met, expect the answer to every problem, expect abundance on every level, expect to grow spiritually. — Eileen Caddy (1917-2006) English, Co-founder of Findhorn

VERSATILE

Definitions: (1) competent in many things; (2) turning with ease from one thing to another; many-sided; (3) having or capable of many uses or applications

Quote: In the long run, fancier [in nature] lasts longer since versatility is a virtue. — William H. Calvin (1913 – ) The River That Runs Uphill

Consider the Source

To be what we are and to become what we are capable of becoming is the only end of life. — Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Author

Many of us believe the future holds new and wondrous things, clearer ideas, and more profound understanding of ideals. Some think it will be more of the same in a different form. If your vision is Farsighted, you may be able to share your more Captivating dream and make a better future.

Peace,
Jim

          FARSIGHTED

Quotes:
A pilot who sees into the distance will not let his ship capsize. — Amenemope (c. 1100 bc) The Wisdom of Amenemope 26:15-16

Symbol: a telescope

          CAPTIVATING

Synonyms: bewitching, enchanting, entrancing

Consider the Source