Fortitude Fridays #24

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Quote to Ponder:

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.

- Margaret Thatcher

​Success might not come easily and you may need to persistently tackle difficulties, even if initial attempts are not immediately fruitful. This does not mean you have failed.

​Keep fighting the battles, this is how you will win the war.

 

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Question to Think About:

What is one thing that every human should get to experience in their life?

At its core, the question delves into the essence of personal experiences that bring joy, fulfillment, and a sense of accomplishment. Often, responses are grounded in firsthand encounters, yet the underlying reasons behind these choices might remain unexplored.

Ultimately, this question acts as a mirror to our experiences and values, revealing a deeper understanding of what truly matters. By delving beyond the initial response and probing into the underlying motivations, you can unearth the core values that shape their choices.

So, when engaging with this question, embrace the opportunity to venture beyond the surface level. Uncover the "why" that drives your chosen experience, and unearth the values that are intricately woven into its fabric. From this point of insight, you can actively seek ways to nurture these feelings and principles in various aspects of your life, cultivating a more meaningful and purposeful existence.

My Answer: Seeing the stars out in the wilderness. I have been fortunate to be able to sleep under the stars in the middle of Utah, miles from any town or city, and also sit beneath them from the dense mountain forests of the Adirondack Park. There is no light pollution, and being able to see the stars, planets and Milky Way clearly and in their full glory are some of my most prized memories. The quiet beauty and contemplation that comes from something so immense and ancient reminds me that I am here on earth for just a moment, inspiring me to live ferociously while I am here.

 

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Book to Check Out:

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Published in 1998, “The 48 Laws of Power” offers insights and strategies for understanding and acquiring power in various social and professional contexts. The book is divided into 48 chapters, each outlining a distinct law of power. Each law is accompanied by historical examples and explanations of how they can be applied to achieve power in various contexts, offering valuable insights into human behavior and power dynamics.

This book came recommended to me via Audible (not sponsored) based on my history of devouring books centered around human behavior. While sifting through several reviews, I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the book’s elevated rating, especially considering the presence of a multitude of scathing critiques. Fueled by my inherent curiosity about human behavior, and intrigued by the mystery of a literary work capable of eliciting such intense reader reactions, I took the plunge.

To my surprise, I discovered the book to be genuinely captivating, and I dare say, I enjoyed it. Ultimately, I found Greene’s presentation of the subject compelling and informative, but I can see why some have declared it a manual for manipulation.

DISCLAIMER: It’s important to note that “The 48 Laws of Power” is not a moral guide, and some of the tactics it presents can be seen as manipulative or even unethical. Readers should exercise discernment when applying the laws and consider their personal values and the ethical implications of their actions.

Key Takeaway: “The 48 Laws of Power” offers insights into power dynamics, manipulation tactics, strategic thinking, and human behavior. It underscores the importance of adaptability, networking, and reputation management, while cautioning against blind trust. Balancing ethics with realism and learning from history are the key lessons.

 

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Tactic to Try: Create a Personal Creed for Living Purposefully

Recently, I had an awesome conversation with an individual I hold in high regard. Our discussion revolved around daily accomplishments and gauging the attainment of success. Eventually, we delved into the methods of measuring personal accomplishments and determining the triumph of daily endeavors. Their yardstick for evaluation rested upon a personal creed they had formulated, gauging the alignment of their daily actions with its principles. The daily outcomes of a win or loss are directly judged against adherence to this creed.

This exchange triggered a cascade of thoughts about personal creeds. While we all possess internal values that steer our conduct and decisions, the notion of judging our days against these principles appeared to hold considerable merit. How frequently do we encounter days that initially appear satisfactory, only to have our contentment eroded upon stumbling across social media, subsequently subjecting ourselves to detrimental self-comparisons? Likewise, how often have we believed we navigated a work-related situation to the best of our abilities, only to have a colleague deconstruct our approach?

Regrettably, external influences often wield disproportionate power in shaping our perception of personal achievement. The pervasive impact of society, media, institutions, family, partners, colleagues, and friends, among others, can skew our self-assessment. However, the establishment of personalized guidelines can serve as an anchor, enabling us to uphold our intrinsic mission and act as the ultimate authority when external perspectives blur our vision.

This is where creating your personal creed comes to the rescue.

A personal creed serves as a compass, guiding your actions, decisions, and growth. It aligns you with your core values and provides a framework for living purposefully. Notable individuals and fictional characters throughout history have embraced creeds to shape their lives:

• Gandhi’s Principles: Mahatma Gandhi’s creed emphasized nonviolence, truth, and self-discipline.
• Nelson Mandela’s Vision: Mandela’s creed was rooted in equality, freedom, and resilience during adversity.
• Jedi Code from Star Wars: The Jedi’s creed centers on self-control, compassion, and justice.
• Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mocking Bird: Finch was known for his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and empathy.

Here’s how it works:

Creating a personal creed involves reflecting on your values, beliefs, and principles to craft a set of guiding statements that align with your aspirations and help shape your behavior and decisions. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create your own personal creed:

1. Reflect on Values: Contemplate your values, strengths, and aspirations. Ask: What principles truly matter to me?
2. Define Core Values: Identify your core values, like integrity, kindness, faith, growth, or authenticity. The sky’s the limit.
3. Draft Statements: Write concise statements reflecting your values. For example: “I seek and embrace challenges to grow stronger mentally and physically." “I will show kindness and empathy to others, regardless of their circumstances.”
4. Positivity and Aspiration: Frame your creed positively, focusing on who you aim to become.
5. Organize and Prioritize: Arrange statements logically to form a coherent structure.
6. Refine Your Creed: Review and simplify your statements for clarity and precision.
7. Personalize Your Creed: Ensure it resonates with your unique identity and aspirations.
8. Internalize Through Memorization: Commit your creed to memory to infuse it into your daily thinking.

Once you have created your personal creed you can employ it to evaluate daily success:

1. Start with Intentions: Each day, remind yourself of your creed to set your intentions.
2. Decision Filter: Refer to your creed when making choices to ensure alignment.
3. Reflect in the Evening: Evaluate your actions against your creed each evening.
4. Celebrate Alignment: Acknowledge moments when you successfully embodied your creed.
5. Learn from Discrepancies: If actions misalign, learn from them for growth.
6. Weekly Review: Reflect weekly on your adherence to your creed for self-improvement.
7. Adapt and Evolve: Update your creed to match evolving values over time.

Bringing it home:

Remember that creating a personal creed is a deeply individual process. It’s not something you need to rush; take the time you need to craft a creed that truly reflects who you are and who you want to be. Your personal creed empowers you to navigate life’s complexities with intention. It cultivates authenticity, strengthens resilience, directs decisions, and fuels growth.

Embrace your creed to forge a purpose-driven journey free from outside influences. It is invaluable for various reasons, offering an internal guiding structure for your thoughts, actions, and choices in life. The authority begins and ends with you alone.

Do this and you will become unstoppable.

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Thanks for reading and I hope you have an adventurous weekend! Until next week...

You got this,