Eleven days ago you explored Dale Carnegie’s six ways to make people like you. You discovered during that lesson that your efforts to make people like you are in vain if you are not sincere. Today you will have another chance to practice compassion toward others.
There are so many ways to measure success, but one of the most enduring examples is your interaction with those around you. You must develop a real interest in others. It’s a waste of time to go through the motions. You have to mean it. Look around you today and follow that old rule of treating others as you would like to be treated. Today you will come into contact with a number of people. Each one of them has their own story, their own obstacles, and their own triumphs. What can you do to treat them well? How can you make their day better?
Practice helping others without expecting anything in return. Do not underestimate the difference you make when you do something nice for someone who can do absolutely nothing for you in return. Every positive action you take on behalf of others builds your power and influence. You are creating an atmosphere of respect and love, and that is an incredibly rich environment for success.
Your assignment today is to give all your attention to others. Treat those around you as if they are unique and very special to you, because they are. Do not even entertain the thought of what you might get in return.
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Are you a good observer? It is a crucial tool for success, but it comes in several parts. You must observe what is going on around you, but you also need to have an appreciation for what your five senses pick up.
When was the last time you noticed the color purple in a field? Have you recently stopped to savor the smell of a hot meal before diving in? What does your lover’s hand feel like when you hold it in your own? Can you appreciate the fascinating melody of children laughing, or does the sound simply annoy you? Do you relish the hot, strong taste of your first cup of coffee in the morning?
Your assignment today has three parts:
1. Stop.
2. Notice.
3. Appreciate.
Stop for a moment. Stop running through your life as if it is a race, and the first one to the finish line wins. Next, look around and use your five senses to take in your environment. Finally, appreciate everything you notice. You are part of a very intricate and wonderful world. Find some gratitude in your heart for the gifts that surround you.
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Today’s quote is the first in a series that will delve deeper into aspects of personal responsibility. If you look a little closer, you will find it is a circular guide to living a successful life.
Let’s break it down. The first part of the quote is think what you feel. That has to do with authenticity. Think about what you truly feel about your life. Are you living the life you want to live? Are you allowing your true feelings to surface, or are you masking them in some way?
The second part of the circle is say what you think. This section deals with honesty. Do you say what you think? Or do you spend a lot of time trying to figure out and say what people want to hear? Where do you score on the honesty meter?
The third portion of the circle is do what you say. It is imperative to have integrity in your life. Can you be counted on? Do you follow up on what you say you will do, or do you usually find excuses to get out of a promise?
The final part that brings the quote full circle is feel what you do. Practice mindfulness in all areas of your life. Do you experience life, or are you numb to what goes on around you and how you influence the world?
Your assignment today is to write down this quote on a sticky note or a piece of paper and keep it with you at all times. Take it out and ponder it whenever you get a chance. It will become a cornerstone for your work the next few days.
