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7 Insights for Developing Your Personal Philosophy

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As you can tell on each trek within our Wisdom Notes, our personal philosophy about family is that it is very important to us. We desire to preserve the heritage that has been entrusted to us. We realize that few individuals in today’s fragmented and fast-paced society have this privilege. Just as we are aware of this, on the trails that we will hike today, we will look for additional signposts to discover…

7 Insights for Developing Your Personal Philosophy

Your philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out. This is how to build a meaningful one.

While there are many puzzle pieces for success, without developing a sound philosophy, the other pieces are of little value. So as you go forward on this journey toward success, remember to:

1. Set your sail.

The winds of circumstance blow upon all of us. We all have experienced the winds of disappointment, despair, and heartbreak, but why do people arrive at such different places at the end of the journey? Have we not all sailed upon the same sea?

The major difference isn’t circumstance. It’s the set of your sail (or the way you think). It’s what you do after you have set your sails and the wind decides to change direction. When the winds change, you must change. You have to struggle to your feet and reset the sail in a manner that will steer you in the direction of your own deliberate choice. The set of your sail, or how you think and how you respond, has a far greater capacity to destroy your life than any challenges you face. How quickly you respond to adversity is far more important than adversity itself.

The great challenge of life is to control the process of your own thinking.

2. Learn from success and failure.

The best way to establish a new and powerful personal philosophy is to objectively review the conclusions you’ve drawn about life. Any conclusion you’ve drawn that isn’t working for you could be working against you. The best way to counteract misinformation and wrong data is to input new and accurate information. Gather information from personal experience. If you’re doing something wrong, evaluate what you did wrong and change things.

Seek an objective, outside voice about how you are and what you’re doing. An objective opinion from someone you respect can lead you to early and accurate information about your decision-making process. Listen to the freshness of an outside voice—someone who can see the forest and isn’t lost in the trees.

Observe the successes and failures of other people. If people who failed were to give seminars, it would be helpful. You could see how people mess up and you wouldn’t do what they did. Past failures and errors prompt you to amend current conduct so you don’t replicate the past.

Learn from people who do well. You should be in a constant search for people you admire and respect and whose behavior you can model. It’s far better to deliberately choose the people you will permit to influence you than to allow bad influences to affect you without your conscious choice.

3. Read all you can.

People from all walks of life who’ve had some of the most incredible experiences have taken the time to write of these experiences so you can be instructed and amend your philosophies.

The contributions of other people enable you to reset your sails based upon their experiences. Books offer treasures of information that can change your life, fortune, relationships, health, and career for the better.

For me, one book that has shaped my philosophy is the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. King Solomon, the wisest person to ever live, wrote most of the Proverbs. The book contains words that are rich, practical, and applicable to your everyday life and philosophy.

4. Keep a journal.

A journal is a gathering place for all of your observations and discoveries about life. It’s your own transcript that captures your experiences, ideas, desires, and conclusions about the people and the events that have touched your life. The past, when properly documented, is one of the best guides for making good decisions for the future.

The very act of writing about your life helps you to think more objectively about your actions. Writing tends to slow down the flow of information and gives you time to analyze and ponder the experience. The intense scrutiny of journal writing can enable you to make refinements in your philosophy that are truly life-changing.

5. Observe and listen.

Pay attention during your day and watch what’s going on. Surround yourself with people you respect and admire. Find people whose personalities and achievements stimulate, fascinate, and inspire you, and then strive to assimilate their best qualities into your life. This is called the skill of selecting. Don’t waste your time on the silly and the shallow.

One of the major reasons people don’t do well is because they keep trying to get through the day while a more worthy cause is to get from the day. We must become sensitive enough to observe and ponder what is happening around us. Be alert. Be awake. Often the most extraordinary opportunities are hidden among seemingly insignificant events.

Be a good listener. Find a voice of value and stay for a while. With so many voices vying for your attention, you need to develop the skill of selective listening and only focus on the information that appeals to you. If a voice is not leading to the achievement of your goals, exercise caution in how long you listen.

6. Be disciplined.

Every day is filled with dozens of personal crossroads, moments when you are called upon to make a decision regarding minor as well as major questions. These decisions chart a path to a future destination. With careful mental preparation, you can make wise choices.

The development of a sound philosophy prepares you for making sound decisions. When you eat healthy foods, you experience positive results in a short time. When you start exercising, you feel a new vitality almost immediately. When you begin reading, you experience a growing awareness and a new level of self-confidence.

New disciplines practiced daily produce exciting results. The magic of new disciplines causes you to amend your thinking.

7. Don’t neglect.

Neglect is the major reason people don’t have what they want. If you don’t take care of things in your life, neglect becomes a disease. If you neglect to do good things with your money, you probably neglect to do good things with your time. If you don’t know what’s going on with your health or your bank account, you could be at risk.

Set up new disciplines to change your life. Don’t neglect. Everything is within your reach if you will read books, use journals, practice the disciplines, and wage a new and vigorous battle against neglect.

Be wise as you build your philosophy. Study Proverbs and others that have shown to be wise. Commit yourself to a new journey and say, I’m going to change my life. Once you do, you’ll never look back.

As it is written in Colossians 2:8, “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.”

In our next Wisdom Note, we will explore 7 activities that we should all incorporate into our lives. To receive wisdom and encouragement five days a week, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our podcast.

18 Traits of Strong Personal Leadership

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Let’s head out on the trail for today and look for the traits that we need to infuse into our lives in order to be strong personal leaders. What is personal leadership? It is simply leading yourself. You being the boss of you – strong in character and integrity every minute of every day.

Why do some leaders start strong and finish weak, like Ken Lay, former CEO of Enron, and Linda Carne, former CEO of the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia? Others start weak and end up finishing strong, like Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States.

What’s the difference between the leaders that finish strong and those that don’t? Personal leadership.

A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.

Steven Covey put it this way, “Personal leadership is the process of keeping your vision and values before you and aligning your life to be congruent with them.” Here are those traits or values:

  1. You keep your commitments. You remain steady. You’re not tossed about like a ship on the sea. You’re resolved and resolute in your commitments whether it’s to another or to yourself.
  2. You control your impulses. You don’t give in to knee-jerk reactions or flirt with temptation. You decide ahead of time how you will respond when tempted to be impulsive so that when the moment comes, you respond with integrity.
  3. You are disciplined. You do what needs to be done, even when you don’t feel like it. You stop doing what’s not working and start doing what’s required.
  4. You’re predictable. You consistently do the right thing, even when it’s hard.
  5. You know yourself. Self-awareness is the first step to strong personal leadership. You know where you are strong and where you are weak. You don’t deceive yourself into thinking that you’re anything other than what you are.
  6. You make personal development is a high priority. You continue to learn, develop, and grow. You know that personal development is the key to growth and adding value wherever you are. It keeps you relevant.
  7. You’re strong – body, mind, and spirit. You examine every area of your life. You know that you’re only as strong as the weakest area of your life. So you’re intentional to keep every area strong.
  8. You sign up to do hard things. You take on challenges because they make you better, sharper, stronger, and more focused. And, you think that’s fun.
  9. You can look back in the last year and see how you’ve grown. You’re never the same person that you were even yesterday. You’re always getting better.
  10. You have no secrets…because there is nothing to hide. All that is hidden will one day be brought to light. It’s only a matter of time.
  11. You have a good attitude, even in bad times. A good attitude doesn’t mean you’re not realistic, it means you still have hope for the future. It means you know there is purpose in everything, even if you don’t see it at the moment.
  12. You look for solutions, not problems. You’re constantly working with the cards you’ve been dealt, making them the best hand possible.
  13. You take personal responsibility. You don’t spend any energy making excuses. You spend your energy on admitting your culpability and moving on. You know that the only thing you can control is yourself and by doing so, you can influence change.
  14. Your self-talk is positive yet accurate. You believe in yourself and that you can accomplish your dreams, yet you’re realistic enough to know that you need to work it, not just think it.
  15. You shine the spotlight on others. This shows a special kind of humility and self-confidence that demonstrates strength of character.
  16. You take the time to self-reflect. You take the time to sit still and reflect. You see patterns, connect dots, and discover deeper dimensions of yourself.
  17. You have patience. You know that the path to success isn’t a straight line. You have the patience to stay the course and keep doing the right thing. You know that it will pay off in the end if you don’t give up the fight.
  18. You look for wisdom and seek for understanding. You learn from others. You seek advice and ask for feedback.

Understanding and showing personal leadership is built on integrity and will lead to a rich and satisfying life that we should desire to obtain.

King David wrote in Psalms 119:1, “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.”

King Solomon tells us in Proverbs 2:7, “He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.”

Make sure you’re a strong personal leader and only then will you be in a position to be a strong leader of others. Start strong. Stay strong. Finish strong.

7 Amazing Principles of Eagles

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Let’s head out on the trail for today and consider eagles and what makes them such exceptional creatures. For all of my adult life, I have been a collector of eagle pictures and mountings. I especially love the Bald Eagle. They are so majestic. This also ties to one of my favorite Bible passages, which is Isaiah [40:28]-31,

Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

The eagle is the national bird in the United States and the symbol of almost all conquerors, be it Caesar or Hitler. The reason is the inspiration of the 7 amazing principles of an eagle.

1. Eagles fly alone at a high altitude.

They are not with sparrows or other smaller birds like geese. Birds of a feather flock together. No other bird goes to the height of the eagle. Even with eagles, other than their lifetime mate, it is rare to see them in a flock of other eagles.

Eagles fly with eagles.

Eagles can focus up to 3 miles from the air. When an eagle sites prey, even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.

2. Eagles have a powerful vision.

Eagles can focus up to 3 miles from the air. When an eagle sights prey, even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.

If you have a vision and remain focused, no matter what the obstacle, you will succeed.

3. Eagles do not eat dead things.

Eagles always feed on fresh prey. They do not indulge in that which is rotten or spoiled. Vultures eat dead animals but not eagles.

Steer clear of outdated and old information. Study well and always remain fresh in your knowledge.

Don’t let rotten attitudes, mindsets, or people pollute your life.

4. The eagle is the only bird that loves the storm.

When clouds gather, eagles get excited. The eagle uses the winds of the storm to rise and is pushed up higher. Once it finds the winds of the storm, the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar above the clouds to glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings. In the meantime, all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees. We can use the storms of our lives (obstacles, trouble, etc.) to rise to greater heights.

Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.

5. The eagle tests before it trusts.

Eagles mate for life, so when a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate, she flies down to earth with the male pursuing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male still pursuing her. Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases until he reaches it and has to catch it before it falls to the ground, then bring it back to the female eagle. The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude pursued by the male until she perceives it high enough, and then she drops the twig for the male to chase. This may go on for hours with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig, which shows commitment. Then and only then, will she allow him to mate with her!

Whether in private life or in business, one should test the commitment of people intended for partnership.

6. Eagles prepare for training.

When about to lay eggs, the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff or tree where no predators can reach. The male flies to earth and at first picks thorns and lays them as the foundation for the nest on the crevice of the cliff. Then he flies to earth again to collect twigs, which he lays in the intended nest. Then he picks thorns and lays them on top of the twigs. On top of that, he lays soft grass covering the thorns. Finally, the male will find strips of cloth to put on the grass. When this first layering is complete, the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns, grass, and cloth and lays them on top of the thorns, then he uses soft feathers to complete the nest.

The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders. Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. When the baby eaglets become old enough and it is time to leave the nest, the soft layers are removed so that it will become uncomfortable for them to remain long-term.

The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper. Even in their seemingly bad actions, they have good intentions for us.

7. Eagles mate for life and return to the same nest.

Once a suitable mate is chosen, eagles will generally mate for life. If one of the eagles dies, the surviving mate will choose another one that is suitable. Generally, the pair will return to the same nest each year, repairing, enlarging, and improving its design.

Once we have chosen a suitable mate and companion, we should remain faithful for life. Our families and homes should be a solid base that we can return to.

Within our Wisdom Note today, we have learned some amazing principles from eagles that we can apply and follow each day. Whenever you see an eagle in the future, remember these principles.

4 Things You Can Learn from a Child

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Let’s head out on the trail for today and learn 4 things we can learn from a child.

Due to job changes with our oldest son and his wife, we have had the privilege of investing about 7 weeks with their son Kip over the past couple of months. Adding a very curious 7-year-old to our daily routine, along with 4 of his cousins who live close coming over occasionally, we are reminded once again how much we can still learn from children.

Being an adult can be difficult. You need to be genuinely disciplined, which requires that you develop the ability to take action. You don’t need to be too hasty or frantic, but you also don’t want to waste much time. Don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by things or events that may never take place. You should look at life simplistically without being simple-minded. You can only control yourself and a few situations, so there is no sense fretting over the rest.

As we consider our trail today, let’s keep in mind the innocence of children and the words of Jesus in Mark 10:13-16, “One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’ Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.”

This is a major consideration for adults. Be like children and remember there are four ways to be more like a child no matter how old you get…

1. Curiosity

Be curious; embrace childish curiosity. What will kids do if they want to know something bad enough? You’re right. They will bug you. Kids can ask a million questions. You think they’re through, and then they’ve got another million. They will keep plaguing you. They can drive you right to the brink.

Kids use their curiosity to learn. Have you ever noticed that while adults are stepping on ants, children are studying them? A child’s curiosity is what helps them to reach, learn, and grow.

2. Excitement

Learn to get excited like a child. There is nothing that has more magic than childish excitement – so excited that you hate to go to bed at night, that you can’t wait to get up in the morning, that you’re about to explode…How can anyone resist that kind of childish magic?

Now, once in a while, I meet someone who says, “Well, I’m a little too mature for all that childish excitement.” Isn’t that pitiful? You’ve got to weep for these kinds of people. All I’ve got to say is, “If you’re too old to get excited, you’re too old.” Don’t let yourself get that old.

3. Faith

Faith is childish. How else would you describe it? Some people say, “Let’s be adult about it.” Oh, no, no. Adults too often have a tendency to be overly skeptical. Some adults even have a tendency to be cynical.

Adults say, “I am too logical to believe there is a God, who created everything – there is too much scientific proof to the contrary.” See, that’s what an adult would say, but kids aren’t that way. They look at the world and everything around them and say, “How could there not be a God, who created all things, from the tiniest bug to the tallest mountains. From the smallest snowflake to the stars that span the sky, how could you consider these without knowing that there is a great God that created all things, including me!”

Adults have the tendency to fall into the category of Romans 1:18 where the Apostle Paul writes, “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” Children will believe Romans [1:19]-20, “They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

4. Trust

Trust is a childish virtue, but it has great merit. Have you heard the expression “sleep like a baby”? That’s it. Childish trust. We need to have that same trust in God. When we do, we have no need to fear anything in life. As Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

Curiosity, excitement, faith, and trust. That is a powerful combination to bring (back) into our lives. Let me ask you the question, “Can you become like a child again?” If you implant curiosity, excitement, faith, and trust in your life, you will see the world through new eyes. If you do these regardless of your physical age, you will be forever young.

5 Refreshing Benefits of Rest

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Let’s head out on the trail for today and learn why rest is so beneficial.

I have to admit that this is one area where I still have difficulties. I am driven and disciplined, and I realize that I push too far and hard at times. Slowing down can be scary when you’re used to running on the world’s treadmill. At times, I have avoided rest because subconsciously I am fearful of what I will discover. The fear of missing out is also a very real factor. There is always so much to do, and it feels like there is so little time to accomplish the tasks at hand. I do realize that it is all a choice, though.

There is no need to be afraid. God loves us and wants His best for us. 1 John 4:18 tells us, “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”

Rest is something we are designed to do. God has both a purpose and a plan for it, so maybe it would be helpful to consider some of the benefits of rest.

1. Rest re-orients our thinking patterns.

When we are weary and fatigued, it’s the perfect time for the enemy to sow his lies and weave a blanket of discouragement we want to curl up under.

Rest brings our thinking into focus and allows us to clearly see what God says about what we are facing, in His word and through His past faithfulness.

Rest brings the reality of God’s strength and provision into view. We need to remind ourselves that He is the victor. We need truth so we can wield it against the enemy’s taunts. Rest enables us to see the devil as he really is: a liar, cheat, accuser, and more.

2. Rest refreshes us.

Like a sip of cold water to the thirsty, we’ll never know how much we need rest until we put our feet up. Worry and striving will fade away when we allow God to be our source for all things. When we give our mind and heart some wiggle room, we discover peace and the strength to open our hands to release the burdens that weigh us down.

I know I need to take to heart the words of Christ in Matthew 11:28-29, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'”

3. Rest recharges our batteries.

We can simply be worn out. Stress, worry, busyness, over-commitment—all of this wears us down. We need to recharge, and only resting can accomplish that. There comes a time when we have to just say, “That’s it. I am taking the time to rest.”

Times of rest are never wasted. God is God. He is at work even when we sleep. Resting allows for us to admit we need His strength.

4. Rest helps us to refocus.

Fatigue skews our outlook until we are staring in the face of the Deadly-D’s:

  • Doubt
  • Discouragement
  • Defeat
  • Despair

Rest helps us to adjust our focus so we can see our situation more clearly. We gain perspective as we are quiet in God’s presence, immersed in His word and surrendered to His care.

5. Rest revives.

Once we succumb to the weariness, our response to things to do or places to go is apathy. We don’t have the energy—our margin is worn thin and we would rather hibernate.

Rest revives us with the energy that we lack so that we can flourish and get excited about life again. We discover that our creativity returns as well as the spring in our step.

God’s instructions can revive us as we are reminded in Psalms 19:7, “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.”

How have you benefited by resting?

I’d love to hear about times when you simply decided enough is enough. Do you rest willingly or are you reluctant to surrender? Time out to rest accomplishes far more than we realize.

The benefits of rest are often explained away when we are running a hundred miles an hour and have the world chasing us. But, when we rest, we allow God to capture us in His embrace and give us just what we need to run the rest of the race with the strength He provides.

Let me ask you the question…Do you need to rest? What changes will you make in your life to make sure that you take the time to rest?