Chapter 13 - WHAT MATTERS MOST:
THE HIGHEST VIRTUES OF LIFE
I want to powerfully drive your focus, attention, and development of your inner-self towards the priceless value of discovering, developing, and growing within you, the most extraordinary human-spirit qualities available to any of us.
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These virtues (components of your soul) will guarantee you
a happy and fulfilled life.
Humility
Humility is “the state or quality of being humble; freedom from pride and arrogance; lowliness of mind; a modest estimate of one’s worth; a sense of one’s own worthiness through imperfection; self-abasement; an act of submission or courtesy.” (Webster dictionary)
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Humility is the state of being free from self-promotion or aggrandizement. The root word comes from the Latin ‘humus.’
It is related to the idea of ‘humid’ or ‘low, close to the earth, as in ‘the dew on the ground.’
Humility is the sense of absolute security within, which leads one to live in complete safety, never in fear of any threats, needless of getting defensive and detached from easy provocation.
Humility crushes cockiness,
superiority, big-headedness, egotism, self-importance, boasting, and snobbishness.
Justice
Justice is “the concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, fairness, religion and/or equity. Justice is the result of the fair and proper administration of law. It is the quality of being just; in conformity to truth and reality in expressing opinions and in conduct; honesty; fidelity; impartiality or just treatment; fair representation of facts respecting merit or demerit.” (uslegal.com)
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This mindset constantly prevails in the soul that seeks what is right, fair, and
best in a particular situation as it affects an individual, a society, or a country at large.
It is the solid standing of one seeking equality of the outcome of any dealing,
a favorable conclusion needed to establish tranquility, especially for
those injured.
Justice celebrates over mistreatment, abuse, wrongdoing, violation, disgrace, infamy, and exploitation.
Patience
Patience is “the quality of being patient,
as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation and the like; an ability to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay; quiet,
steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence.” (dictionary.com)
Have you ever heard the common vernacular expression that “patience
is a virtue?” Of course, it is!
This is the stance of those who have the conviction that whatever the current trouble may be, whatever the hold-up, whatever the hardship, whatever the pain, whatever the unnecessary stalling, “this too shall pass!”
I recognize that many times it may seem as though there is no light at the end of
the tunnel. It appears to the desperate mind that “there is no way out this road ahead that stops at a dead-end wall.”
Not so with the patient virtuoso!
This substantial certainty keeps the chin up with a forecast in check that knows that, without doubt, very soon, trouble will be over.
Patience finishes off irritation, impatience, exasperation, annoyance, edginess, snappiness, and intolerance.
Mercy
Mercy is “the compassionate treatment
of those in distress, especially when it
is within one’s power to punish or harm them. It derives from the medieval Latin ‘merced’ or ‘merces’ which means ‘price paid.’ It has the connotation of forgiveness, benevolence. In the legal sense, it often refers to compassionate behavior from a person in power, such
as when a judge shows clemency, leniency or mercy during a sentencing.” (compassion.com)
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Mercy is the oil of love, the soothing cream of life, the ready hand to help at any time.
This is the focus of one who is aware that often, pain arises in the lives
of others —close allies, friends, family members, even strangers or enemies— and that this attribute is quick to execute a sure remedy that pursues alleviation of the aggravation.
Mercy defeats inhumanity, cold-heartedness, lack of compassion, harshness, insensitivity, bad fortune,
and savagery.
Love
Love is the greatest of all virtues of life. Love “means above anything else, benevolence and gentleness towards what is failed, disgraced, broken, unappealing, angry, and foul in other people and in ourselves. It is directing sympathy in the most unexpected direction at what is messed up, lost
and we might hate, recent and be frightened of.” (theschooloflife.com)
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Love is first unconditional, selfless, giving, and not expecting anything in return.
It is not self-seeking, nor does it boast.
It is a tender affection between brothers, the attribute that characterizes a friendship, the nurturing that represents
a mother with her newborn baby.
Love is the oxygen of life.
Love conquers hatred, bitterness, hate, envy, grudge, hostility, and revenge.
Self-control
Self-control is “the ability to be in command of one’s behavior (overt, covert, emotional or physical) and to restraint or inhibit one’s impulses. In circumstances
in which short-term gain is pitted against long-term gain, self-control is the ability
to opt for the long-term outcome.
Choice of the short-term outcome
is called impulsiveness.” (American Psychological Association dictionary)
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This habit is the regulator directly tied in the conscious mind that always whispers, sometimes yelling internally as to ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ ‘wait,’ ‘do it,’ or ‘don’t do it.’
The trigger always springs up within your thinking but is seen in the material world in clear actions. As in a motor vehicle, it seems as though self-control is the breaks of life that slow down and stops any danger ahead on the road of life.
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Self-control pounds over indecision, agitation, aggression, rashness, lack of restraint, capriciousness, and irritability.
“The growth and development of people
is the highest calling of leadership.” Henry Ford
Get empowered financially. Grow in every possible way to make your life
a life that you love. And grow in the highest virtues of life to lead yourself first towards sure success and then lead others as they follow you in their success.
