Simple and Profoundly True

Summary

The web content discusses the importance of self-awareness and personal growth, emphasizing that thoughts influence words, actions, habits, character, and ultimately destiny.

Abstract

The article "Simple and Profoundly True" reflects on a set of guiding principles that highlight the interconnectedness of one's mental, verbal, and physical actions, leading to the formation of character and destiny. It suggests that by being mindful of our thoughts, we can shape our words, deeds, and habits, which in turn sculpt our character and determine our destiny. The author, who has shared these words with many students, acknowledges the challenge of consistently living by these principles. The article emphasizes the need for awareness, correction, and practice to align thoughts with desired outcomes and to cultivate good habits that reflect a person's true character. It also touches on the relational aspect of life, suggesting that personal development is not only an individual journey but also affects one's interactions with others and the world.

Opinions

The author believes that the words they have encountered hold a timeless and universal wisdom, regardless of their origin.
There is an emphasis on the importance of filtering thoughts to ensure they are positive, as they are the foundation of all subsequent actions.
The article suggests that self-reflection, particularly at night, is crucial for evaluating one's actions and making necessary amends.
It posits that habits, whether good or bad, are formed through repetition, and that conscious effort is required to develop good habits.
The author defines a person of character as someone whose actions consistently align with their beliefs and who lives with integrity.
The article implies that the journey of personal growth is both individual and communal, affecting one's relationship with both the created world and the creator.

Guiding words to live by

Image by Rhonda Carrier

Some years ago I came across the following words. The words resonated with me as soon as I read them. I use them to guide my own life and I have shared them with hundreds of students during my years as a school teacher and administrator. The words have been at times attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclites, Lao Tsu, and many others. I believe some versions of the words were passed down through the ages to capture the hearts of whoever is ready to receive them.

Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your Words

Be careful of your Words, for your Words become your Deeds

Be careful of your Deeds, for your Deeds become your Habits

Be careful of your Habits, for your Habits become your Character

Be careful of your Character, for your Character becomes your Destiny.

What resonated with me was the powerful truth in the words. They are simply, profoundly, and intuitively true. They are also difficult to consistently follow and live by. Trying to live by them requires awareness, correction, and practice. Taking the first step to accepting them as truth and trying to live by them is the big beginning.

If we assume that we desire the good in ourselves and others, it follows that our thoughts should mirror the outcome and be good as well. Our minds can pick up all sorts of folly, gossip, or misinformation to dwell on. We need a filtering sense of awareness and discernment to help us focus on the good. In practical terms, this means we have to learn to deny ourselves the thoughts we know lead to no good. Sure, some imposters will always slip through, but in time, as we sharpen awareness and discernment, our minds will learn to recognize and attract the good. Be careful of your thoughts.

Most, if not all of our actions are born, either directly or indirectly in our conscious or subconscious minds. How we think will translate into how we act. We may consciously be able to fake our actions for a while, but eventually, we cannot help but live out the way we think. We need to watch and examine our actions to ensure they are good. Here is where a nightly reflection helps. Go through the day and identify any of our actions that are suspect. Did they intentionally hurt, abuse, or misrepresent? Why did we do that? (What were we thinking?) Do we need to make amends? How can we avoid the negative action and do better the next time? Be careful of your actions.

When certain actions are regularly repeated, they develop into habits. We need to repeatedly practice good actions. No faking or falseness is implied here. The assumption is we want to do the good, but have not fully got there yet. So, if we want to be kind people, we need to practice kindness. If we want to be good listeners, we need to practice listening. If we want to be patient, we need to practice patience. With enough practice, these actions will develop into habits — good habits. Do you know how to differentiate a good habit from a bad habit? A bad habit is very easy to acquire but difficult to lose. A good habit is very difficult to acquire but easy to lose. Be careful of your habits.

A person of character is someone who has developed a deep faith in something and who chooses and endeavors to live for and according to that something. Character is the “heart” or the “deepest center of who one truly is.” Our characters are formed by our good habits, good actions, and good thoughts. A person of character is an integrated person. They say what they mean and they do what they say. Character is lost when there is no longer congruency between thought, word, and deed. Be careful of your character.

Who we become depends on how careful we have been with our character. While the journey is personal and intentional, it operates in the communal and spiritual. Life is relational. That is precisely why we care about who we are and become — to better relate to creation and creator.