Seven Deadly Sins: Politics Without Principle

"If there is no principle, there is no true north, nothing you can depend upon. The focus on the personality ethic is the instant creation of an image that sells well in the social and economic marketplace.

You see politicians spending millions of dollars to create an image, even though it's superficial, lacking substance, in order to get votes and gain office. And when it works, it leads to a political system operating independently of the natural laws that should govern - - that are built into the Declaration of Independence : "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness . . . . "

In other words, they are describing self-evident, external, observable, natural, unarguable, self-evident laws: "We hold these Truths to be self-evident." The key to a healthy society is to get the social will, the value system, aligned with correct principles. You then have the compass needle pointing to true north - true north representing the external or the natural law - and the indicator says that is what we are building our value system on : they are aligned.

But if you get a sick social will behind the political will that is independent of principle, you could have a very sick organization or society with distorted values. For instance, the professed mission and shared values of criminals who rape, rob and plunder might sound very much like many corporate mission statements, using such words as "teamwork," "cooperation," "loyalty," "profitability," "innovation," and "creativity." The problem is that their value system is not based on a natural law.

Figuratively, inside many corporations with lofty mission statements, many people are being mugged in broad daylight in front of witnesses. Or they are being robbed of self-esteem, money, or position without due process. And if there is no social will behind the principles of due process, and if you can't get due process, you have to go to the jury of your peers and engage in counterculture sabotage.

In the movie The Ten Commandments, Moses says to the pharaoh, "We are to be governed by God's law, not by you." In effect he's saying, "We will not be governed by a person unless that person embodies the law." In the best societies and organizations, natural laws and principles govern - that's the Constitution - and even the top people must bow to the principle. No one is above it."

http://www.mkgandhi.org/mgmnt.htm

Don't Get Mad - Fight Off Fury - Marie Claire Mag Staff

"Learn how to find instant calm in the most maddening moments."

Below will inspire you to control your passions within due bounds. Not only good for your well being and blood pressure, keeps you less stressed and young!

"RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINES

Anger is often associated with frustration – and there's nothing more frustrating than computer malfunctions and automated answering services. But hassles are part of life, explains psychologist Sarah Edelman, who says it's pointless to expect life will always be fair or run like clockwork. She warns that anger can escalate your preception of a situation, so avoid using words like "always" and "never", as in, "My computer never works."

TRAFFIC TANTRUMS

You're stuck in traffic and running late, so what should you do? When you feel yourself getting angry, change the CD or radio station, advises John Kotroni, from Alchemy Psychology Services. This physical act symbolises a mental shift away from anger, and will distract you. Still boiling? If you're at a standstill in traffic, try this desensitisation task: flick on the wipers and, keeping your head still, follow the blades with your eyes for a few seconds. This will divert your attention and snap you out of your rage.

PEOPLE PROBLEMS

It may have started as a reasonable discussion, but before you know it, you're in full fury. Kotroni says when you're angry, your cerebral cortex becomes so overwhelmed by emotion that you can't think rationally. So at the first signs of anger - raised heartbeat, sweaty palms - focus on your breathing or clench your hands 20 times to override your anger response. Alternatively, choose a "trigger word" (or song) that will remind you to callm down when you become enraged."

Most times I defer worrying or avoid it altogether. Rationally thinking, there is no point in worrying... you won't get to that appointment faster or solve your woes quicker. Positive action will solve your problems and don't expect your problem to "go away" - most of the time they won't. Either treat them as a non-problem or take them head on.

Another thing is driving faster will most likely save you a mere five minutes, but think of the negatives: you might get into an accident that either would cause your life, limbs or worse you might injure or kill someome else - that is a very high price to pay in your lifetime, unless you die first! Driving slow but sure and safely will get you in your destination in one piece plus whoever elese is with you - most likely a loved one. Don' t gamble with your life much less with the lives of your loved ones - just not worth it.

By the way, article above lifted from here.

Happy People Take Responsibility

"Kallen" Photo by Rea with her new Canon IXUS 860IS.

"Do we focus only on the traits that make our enemies so unlikeable?

Accentuating the positive qualities of those who trouble us is a good

way to deal with resentment, and to transform our dislikes into love."

"If you want happy relationships, you have to take responsibility.

Even if you figure it is your parents fault that you got a bad start [to] in life, decide that it is up to you to do something now.

If you had a string of rotten teachers, and you can't count or spell, take responsibility.

If you work with a bunch of people who are driving you crazy it is up to you to stay happy.

If you don't fix your life, who will? It is so easy to fall into the trap of blaming others.

NOBODY CAN MAKE YOU MISERABLE WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION.

No matter what someone says or does, you decide how you will respond. If your boss fires you, or someone says you're bad or your sister says you are too fat, they haven't made you unhappy. They simply given you choices of how to respond!

As soon as we admit that we're choosing, and that it's up to us - the sooner we begin to live fully and happy! Not blaming also means taking responsibility for our actions.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU SHOULD DECIDE HOW YOU FEEL.

One aspect of dealing with people effectively is not letting them get you down!! Misery is contagious.

In a nutshell. Happy and successful people succeed in spite of difficulties. Not in the absence of difficulties! So, always choose how you feel, and you will do well in many of your circumstances."

Received from our Activity Lodge Yahoo Groups, Bro Cesar Mata our chaplain.

The Pencil Parable - Author Unknown

"In the beginning, the Pencil Maker spoke to the pencil saying,

"There are five things you need to know before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and you will become the best pencil you can be."

First: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone's hand.

Second: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but this is required if you are to become a better pencil.

Third: You have the ability to correct any mistakes you might make.

Fourth: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.

Fifth: No matter what the condition, you must continue to write. You must always leave a clear, legible mark no matter how difficult the situation.

The pencil understood, promising to remember, and went into the box fully understanding its Maker's purpose.

Everyone is like a pencil..."

I received via email the above as a Power Point Presentation slide (much better with graphics, I must admit). If you want to download and see this as PPS, click here.

Miss Me - But Let Me Go (Author Unknown)

"When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free.

Miss Me a Little - But Not Too Long
And not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that we once shared
Miss Me - But Let Me Go

For this is a journey that we must all take
And each must go alone
It's all a part of a master's plan
A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds
Miss Me - But Let Me Go"

A brother of a friend lost his young wife to cancer.
Not so inspiring but gives us strength.

"I am devastated by the loss of my beautiful wife, Charline.
This is also a tough time for our children.
She was an exceptionally friendly and loving person.
Charline will be very fondly remembered by all of us.

She has touched our lives and hearts by her example of great courage

that death need not be feared for there is always the Lord waiting for us in heaven.

Let us all gain strength in her... " Jay

Today is a beautiful day... author & illustrator unknown

I have read this email a while back. I received it again today, with some illustrations and additions. Again there's no author assigned to this email except for the sender, Kuyang Vitax. Also I've "retitled" as above, enjoy!

"A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way."

What he had written was: "Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it."

Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?

Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.

Invite others towards good with wisdom. Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.

Great men say, "Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness! In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience."

The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling!
And even more beautiful is knowing that you are the reason behind!"

Dale Carnegie

“One of the most tragic things I know about human nature

is that all of us tend to put off living.

We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon

– instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.”

Dale Carnegie

As a young teenager I remember reading his classic book: How to Win Friends and Influence People. I don't know why I did read it... maybe I was a voracious reader and somehow the title inspired me. Or maybe I was looking for friends and at the same influence my parents into giving me more allowance. It had made an indelible impression on me regarding the importance of interpersonal relationships, as well as the stature of the author; one of the firsts who wrote self-help books at the time. Thanks Mr Carnegie!