“Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.” — H.L. Mencken

“Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.” — Robert Frost

“Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.” –Bertrand Russell

“The important thing was to love rather than to be loved.” — W. Somerset Maugham

Virginia Satyr, noted American author and pscyhotherapist, provided this response to a 15-year-old girl’s question, “How can I prepare myself for a fulfilling life?”

I am me. In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. There are people who have some parts like me but no one adds up exactly like me. Therefore, everything that comes out of me is authentically mine because I alone choose it.

I own everything about me – my body, including everything it does; my mind, including all my thoughts and ideas; my eyes, including the images of all they behold; my feelings, whatever they might be – anger, joy, frustration, love, disappointment, excitement; my mouth and all the words that come out of it – polite, sweet and rough, correct or incorrect; my voice, loud and soft; all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own all my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.

Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me in all my parts. I can love me and be friendly with me in all my parts; I can then make it possible for all of me to work in my best interests. I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know. But as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for the solutions to the puzzles and for ways to find out more about me. However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time, is me. This is authentic and represents where I am at that moment in time.

When I review later how I looked and sounded, what I said and did, and how I thought and felt, some parts may turn out to be unfitting. I can discard that which is unfitting, keep that which proved fitting, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me. I own me and therefore I can engineer me.

I am me and I am okay.

“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” — Carl Sandburg

“First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.” — Thomas a Kempis

“Self-love is not opposed to the love of other people. You cannot really love yourself and do yourself a favor without doing people a favor, and vise versa.” – Dr. Karl A. Menninger

“Pride, like laudanum and other poisonous medicines, is beneficial in small, though injurious in large quantities. No man who is not pleased with himself, even in a personal sense, can please others.” — Frederick Saunders

One of the highest compliments an individual can receive is to be called a person of character — a class act! Thomas Leonard’s Class Act 100 assessment is designed to help you understand where you are along this path and to give you ideas for areas worth developing. While there are 100 points in total, I will post one section of the assessment: 10 statements under a specific category.

Hot to use this assessment. As you read each statement, circle 1, 2 or 3. A “1″ means the statement is SOMETIMES true. A “2″ means the statement is OFTEN true. A “3″ means the statement is ALWAYS true.

A. HONOR

1 2 3 Fair. I do only what’s right and just.
1 2 3 Conviction. I clearly know what I believe in and I am steadfast.
1 2 3 Courage. I have ample inner strength.
1 2 3 Truthful. I have not lied in at least a year nor have I been deceptive in any of my dealings.
1 2 3 Moral. I live my life to my moral code.
1 2 3 Loyal. I stand by my family, friends and others to whom I am committed.
1 2 3 Accountable. I keep my word 99% of the time.
1 2 3 Responsible. I can always be counted on to meet agreed-upon expectations.
1 2 3 Committed. My actions demonstrate my commitment, which is obvious to others.
1 2 3 Diligent. I do not waver until the ribbon is tied on whatever I am involved with.

_____ Score (30 max)

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From The Class Act 100 Program developed by Thomas J. Leonard and Coach U, Inc. Modified by LMK.

If you are at all familiar with Louise Hay, then you know the wonderful work she’s done relating our illnesses to the underlying fears and negative emotions. Once she’s identified the fear to the illness, she then devised ‘new thought patterns’ around the underlying problem to help us reversing the impact of the illness. From time to time, I’ll share some of her wisdom.

Instead of doing random illnesses, I plan to use the Spinal Misalignments as a guide, as the whole body and the array of possible issues is covered here.

What: Vertebrae 4T
Location: Mid-Back Region, Thoracic Spine

Areas Covered:
Gall bladder, common duct.

Physical Effects:
Gall bladder conditions, jaundice, shingles

Probably Cause:
Bitterness. A need to make others wrong. Condemnation.

New Thought Pattern:
I give myself the gift of forgiveness and we are both free.
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Source: Louise L. Hay, Heal your body, Hay House, Inc. (c) 1982.

1. Take a step, any step. Paralysis can set in when we spend too long agonizing over what to do next. The key is to take an action and listen for any positive or negative feedback — remembering that the absence of feedback is itself feedback. You can then use this informationto adjust your course if necessary.

2. Try stress ballooning. Imagine loading your worries in the basket of a hot-air balloon. In your mind’s eye untie the ropes that hold down the balloon and watch it rise. Your problems become more remote as the balloon disappears into the clouds.

3. Absorb virtue from others, simply by perceiving their virtue. By consciously identifying the good points in someone else’s character, you give life to that trait within yourself.

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Source:
1001 Ways to Relax by Mike George

As you strengthen your Personal Foundation, you’ll find yourself having a lot more time, energy and space in your life. What to do with this? Start fully expressing yourself by setting goals based on your true values.

WHEN A PERSON ORIENTS AROUND THEIR VALUES

• Goal setting is easier and goals reached more quickly.
• Their life purpose/vision comes to them clearly.
• Fewer distractions occur; life is simple, but rich.

WHAT HAPPENS UNTIL ONE DOES THIS

• Frustrated in goals area; lacking strong reference point in life.
• Goals, wants, ideas keep changing.

THE 10 STEPS TO FULLY EXPRESSING YOUR VALUES

❑ Identify your core or rolemodel values by answering the following question: What three qualities do you want to role model for others? [This is the simplest way I know to clarify our core values. For an example, my three qualities are respect, compassion and wholeness. ]
❑ “Get” that you are your values and that expressing these values is what will have you feel fulfilled in life.
❑ “Get” that goals are more fun when linked to your values.
❑ Set 1 goal to match each role model value identified above.
❑ Let go of goals which can’t be linked to one of your rolemodel values (unless they strengthen your Personal Foundation).
❑ Begin working on each of these goals immediately.
❑ Reach each of these goals.
❑ Identify your #1 Value: Your Key Value.
❑ Raise a Personal Standard through-the-roof in order to help you more fully orient around your key value.
❑ Discover your Life Purpose as expressed by your #1 Value.

____ Number of checked boxes (10 max)

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From The Personal Foundation 100-Point Assessment developed by Thomas J. Leonard and Coach U, Inc. Modified by LMK.