Needing to explain and justify why we don’t do what we are supposed to do is the ultimate sign of lack of courage, feeble-mindedness, low discipline, and weakness of character. 

We are all weak.

We all have weaknesses.

Weakness is not a character flaw unless we give in permanently.

When we make covenants and commitments and choose to permanently break them,

then we are choosing weakness, and that becomes part of our character.

Hope is an accelerant. When gratitude is practiced, then happiness is created. Add in hope and that is what ignites true joy.

Whenever we hear truth that goes against our current belief system, and especially truth that shows us what we are not doing right or are actually doing wrong, our instant reaction is revolt. We deny. We justify. We make exceptions to the “truth” or rule. 

Yet, this is the first step.

This awareness that we are rejecting truth allows us to begin asking the right questions:

• Why am I revolting?
• Why is it so hard to hear?
• Why do I feel attacked? 

Once we can honestly ask those questions, we can begin to examine, study, ponder, pray, and change. 

Learning together is the most efficient path to mastery. Teaching, Studying, Working together always produces the best results. Sharing knowledge increases expertise.

Expectations are a self-fulfilling prophecy or they can be the opposite, depending on the source of the expectation.. The expectations others place on you can be fuel to prove them wrong, when they come from someone ignorant, because then you want to prove them wrong. If they are smarter or more experienced, then their expectations become what we live up to.

The most powerful and longest-lasting fuel source in the universe is hope.

Thinking you can’t be broken is the mindset that leads to failure.
Thinking you know the answer is the first step to failure.
Thinking your current process or plan or solution is the final and best option is the sure path to failure.

Greatness does not allow excuses or have room for blame. 

Greatness is made by determination, toughness, and creativity. 

The need to fill the well of status acknowledgment or external validation is endless, a bottomless pit that can never be fully accomplished. Once the desire and need for outside affirmation are changed to the pursuit of personal excellence, our internal growth is compounded and our results magnified.