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Reflection and Action: There is no security without meeting challenges
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Published: May 21, 2008
Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action. -- James Levin
It was Sunday afternoon, time to sit on the deck, smoke a cigar, listen to the birds chirp, admire the flowers and watch the rain fall before preparing for a busy week ahead. Now was a time to take a deep breath and reflect -- something that Jim Rohn, a recognized inspirational speaker, leader and business philosopher, says is important to do in his two-CD recording The Art of Exceptional Living. According to Rohn, "What you have at the moment you have attracted by the person you have become." It is not what happens to you that matters; things happen to people all the time, he says. What you do about what happens is what really matters.
Rohn was broke at 25 with, as he describes it, nothing in the bank, pennies in his pocket, a wife and two young children. Six years later he became a millionaire. He had attracted what he had now become as a result of a man he met who changed his life. "The best thing he gave me was the benefit of his philosophy," says Rohn. "A philosophy about how to be wealthy and how to be happy."
He probably understood this thought expressed by an author and anthropologist, Nena O'Neil: "If we do not rise to the challenge of our unique capacity to shape our lives, to seek the kinds of growth that we find individually fulfilling, then we can have no security: we will live in a world of shame, in which our selves are determined by the will of others, in which we will be constantly buffeted and increasingly isolated by the changes round us."
Imagine what might happen if you took the time to reflect, that is, to go back over what has happened during a specific period of time, such as a day, week, month or year. That one small step could make a difference in your thinking and your actions.
Rohn's definitions of failure and success are simple and to the point: Failure is a few errors in judgment repeated every day. "Accumulated disaster," he points out. Success, on the other hand, is a few simple disciplines practiced every day. The key, he says, is to eliminate the errors and replace them with disciplined practice. You should get from the day, Rohn says, the sights, sounds and experiences that will serve you in the future. You should capture your day. Feel it. Taste it. See it. Capture it again.
So, I took his advice during my quiet time on the deck. Looking back over the week, I thought about an inspirational audio book I am listening to, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace … One School at a Time, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. The title of the book comes from a Baltistan proverb: The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time, you are an honored guest. The third time you become family. The story is about Mortenson's failure to climb K2, the world's second tallest mountain, and how he was sheltered and nursed back to health for seven weeks by a small Pakistani village. What you can take away from this inspirational story of his efforts to address poverty, educate girls and overcome cultural divides is this: One person can make a difference. Today, more than 50 schools have been built across Pakistan and Afghanistan.
I had listened to it after having dinner with a group from the Wake Forest University Divinity School after church, and having the opportunity to meet Bishop Vashti McKenzie, in town to speak to the school's graduating divinity class. She is the first female bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.). I remember the laughter as we shared stories, the fellowship between familiar and unfamiliar faces, and the food. It was interesting to hear her talk about the cultural differences that impact preaching in Africa, where she was initially assigned. A preacher does not have the time to set the context, gradually leading into the message of a sermon. One must get to the heart of the message, right away, to keep the audience's attention, she says. Understanding and appreciating differences is critical when communicating, whether preaching in Africa or talking to another person across the dinner table.
The day before had included attending a refresher session for Dale Carnegie trainers. The group, all experienced trainers, was encouraged to lead course participants to a "place they don't want to go" but need to; to help them realize their vision and accomplish their goals. It was challenging and rewarding to be pushed out of the comfort zone to get better. Having experience doesn't mean you can't continue to improve.
Taking a moment to reflect helped me realize the benefits gained from those activities and experiences. Looking back can also help you move forward and build on your success. So, take a moment today and reflect. Let life touch you; as Rohn says, your emotions need to be educated as well as your intellect.
■ Nigel Alston is a Dale Carnegie trainer and motivational speaker. He can be reached at nalston1@triad.rr.com.
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