God: what’s most good to us.
Spirituality: what’s greater than us.
Religion: what’s worshiped by us.
We walk with God by living out morally-sound values. We stay spiritual insofar as we keep others, such as family and community, in mind and sacrifice to support them. We remain religious insofar as we celebrate, place our attention upon, and prioritize someone or something consistently.
It’s not about someone believing in God or not. It’s about what someone believes in as most good to him or her.
It’s not about someone refusing to be religious. It’s about what someone worships as his or her religion.
It’s not about someone lacking spirituality. It’s about someone concentrating on serving others instead of worrying too narrowly on himself or herself.
“No man can serve two masters — for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life?” — Matthew 6:24-27
Faith > Fear
Wisdom > Worry
Spirituality > Ego
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When beings die, bodies return to the temperature of their immediate environments. Similar to ice melting in heat and water freezing in extreme cold, nature wins when effort is not produced against its natural push or pull. Without consistently attending and working toward what’s most good, we think negatively and act selfishly.
A personal philosophy revolving around beauty, connection, and truth calls forth appropriate, inspiring, and sustainable behavior.
“Your philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out. Philosophy is how you think about life. It is how you think about health, work, money, family, faith, relationships. Your philosophy determines your attitude; your attitude determines your actions; and your actions determine your results. If you want to change your results, you must change your philosophy. And if you want to change your philosophy, you must gather new ideas. Because ideas, when mixed with emotion, become convictions. Convictions control behavior.
Success is not something you pursue; it is something you attract by the person you become. What you become is largely determined by the philosophy you develop. Minor adjustments in philosophy can create major changes in results.
Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better. Don’t wish for fewer problems; wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge; wish for more wisdom.” — Jim Rohn, Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle
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Desirable results and a healthy lifestyle are downstream from a philosophy inclusive of others, an ambitious attitude, and passionate activities. Nobody attains greatness through mere self-centeredness. It’s important to treat ourselves with respect; it’s more important to become a respectable person who respects others and treats everything respectfully.
Respect: deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, and achievements
One of the captains I admire, Richie McCaw, commands respect through the reverence he has for his closest relationships, his craft, and his team. On the world of rugby’s biggest stage, he shines. His enthusiastic spirituality and religious approach to training and competition inspires others. From the “haka” ritual to his love for flying planes, McCaw honors what’s highest. His respect for the priorities in his life, sustained for decades, has earned him recognition as perhaps the greatest New Zealand All Blacks rugby player to ever wear the jersey. Since the All Blacks are one of the greatest dynasties in the world of sports… this puts McCaw at a pinnacle. I would encourage anyone and everyone to watch the documentary, Chasing Great, which illuminates his philosophy. Full of conviction, McCaw exudes ebullience. His actions galvanize his teammates. His results inspire a country.
In my own life, Jesus is highest. Since I am Catholic, I believe in a value-based hierarchy. Role models and mentors, as well as loved ones and inspiring influences, are below Christ yet above many in regards to those I follow. By keeping my attention, focus, and concentration on those closest to my goals (as opposed to those in my closest proximity), I remain pulled toward God, what’s most good.
Call to Action: Meditate on the questions above, along with this inquiry: which leaders are worth following? Since every great leader is a great follower, write down the people who consistently carry out the characteristics you admire, desire, and respect. Finally, find the courage to become spiritually religious by avoiding what’s easy and earthly, by enhancing personal philosophy, and by attracting success through morally-sound living.
We cannot change what we are not aware of.
Once we are aware of what’s most good to and for us, we prioritize and emphasize those values.
Those values influence who we become.
- MG