I want to live a good life and I also want to live the good life and while they are definitely related, there is a world of difference between “a” good life and “the” good life.
One describes a life of meaning, purpose, fulfillment and giving back; the spiritual dimension of life if you will. The other relates more toward the physical side of life, perhaps safety/security/love first then comfort/happiness/contentment and achievement/success.
Covey speaks of both personal power and positional power. The first is knowledge, wisdom, self-control, internal achievements that can never be taken away; the second refers to our jobs, degrees, material possession, external things which can vanish in a flash.
Both assist us in becoming our best self and the surest path forward is to work on both concurrently. Furthermore, the strongest first step toward either is cultivating self-awareness, increasing our internal consciousness, for it creates a solid foundation to develop all other aspects of our being.
We can enrich our self-knowledge by journaling, reflecting back upon our days in search of insights and understanding, reading related literature and seeking out friends and companions who give us honest feedback.
Closing Quotes:
“Explore thyself. Herein are demanded the eye and the nerve.” – Henry David Thoreau
“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” – Carl Jung
“I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.” – Billie Jean King
“If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness… you are not going to get very far.” – Daniel Goleman
As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier