It seems for many that comfort and convenience are what’s most important.  In fact, this is so prevalent that unofficially I’m calling it an epidemic.

People throw logic and good sense out the window in their pursuit of what makes them feel good right now.

I don’t have any problem with some comfort and convenience, but oughtn’t it be balanced with some long-term thinking?

The Appropriateness of This Discussion Today

God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.
~ Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

Today is the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  We really owe a lot to the veterans of this great war for the prosperity we enjoy today in America.

Whatever happened to the duty, commitment, sacrifice and service these veterans displayed both during and after the war?  It seems these traits have all become bad words with negative connotations. 

Our grandparents believed they were worth fighting and dying for, but we seem to have lost our grasp on them.  Instead, comfort and convenience seem to rule our lives.

The Evidence That Comfort and Convenience Rule

Just so we are on the same page, please let me point out some evidence that comfort and convenience rule our lives.  The hold they have on us is pretty amazing!

• The United States is a very urbanized nation, with 81% of the population residing in cities and suburbs as of mid-2005 — in contrast, the worldwide urban rate was only 49% (Source: Wikipedia)
• Average credit card debt per household in America was $8,329 at the end of 2008. (Source: Nilson Report, April 2009)
• The U.S. accounts for almost two-thirds of the total spent on fast food worldwide.  We bought $148.6 billion worth of convenience food in 2004 while second-place Japan spent only $13.9 billion.  (Source: Top Fast Food Countries)

We huddle in cities to be close to all the goods and services that make our lives easy.  We borrow money by simply whipping out a piece of plastic so we can buy the luxury items we can’t afford.  We gorge ourselves on fast food making us the most obese country in the world!

These statistics elude to the problem I’m addressing.  However, I think some specific examples are in order to really make this clear.

How Comfort and Convenience Rob Us of The Good Life

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. 
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

I think our obsession with comfort and convenience is killing us and robbing us of the best that life has to offer.  We are tossing away true success so we can feel good for a moment.

We are a throw-away society.  For example, despite our vow to love, honor and cherish until death do us part, 50% of all marriages end in divorce.  Why?  Irreconcilable differences.  In other words, it isn’t comfortable and convenient to remain committed anymore.  Divorce robs us and our children of family.  It seems to offer relief, but in reality it spreads out the pain for years to come in the lives of many.

Let me give you another example.  We are always looking for the easy way out.  When we run up a bunch of debt, we want to declare bankruptcy and start over.  We want to shirk our obligation to pay back what we owe.  Unfortunately, many families that declare bankruptcy don’t change their spending habits and wind up in a financial mess again a few short years later.  This cycle continues and is often passed on to future generations.

Self-discipline and accountability aren’t things most of us want to exercise, but it is what we need in order to live life to its fullest.  I am convinced that there are no shortcuts.  Do we still have the mettle that our grandparents did in the face of overwhelming obstacles?

Those that continue to make comfort and convenience the main aim of their life will end up regretting all the time they’ve wasted.  They will end up alone, penniless and wondering, “Why me?”

The Antidotes to This Epidemic

I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.
~ Pablo Casals

I’d like to shine a new light on these words we don’t seem to like much anymore.  However, they aren’t just words.  They are actions that demonstrate that you really care and as the quote above points out — caring for others is where we find true significance in life.

Here are the antidotes to the epidemic of comfort and convenience:

1.  Duty

Duty is something we are required to do by moral or legal obligation.  For example, it is our duty, particularly once we have children, to stay married and raise our kids in a good home with a mother and a father.  It is our duty to pay back the loans we take out to buy the things we want.  It is our duty as citizens to participate in our government and follow its laws. 

It isn’t always comfortable or convenient, but following through with your obligations is the only way to get the most out of life.  Be an adult and do your duty!

2.  Sacrifice

At times, when you really care for others, you have to give up some things that you want so your loved ones can have what they want or need.  You might need to exercise delayed gratification or you might need to simply let it go.  Either way, you are making a sacrifice.  Our society seems to have totally forgotten what it means to make a sacrifice now for a bigger gain later.

Making a sacrifice goes against our nature in most circumstances.  However, it is well worth the investment.  The payoff is always much sweeter when you sacrifice a little now to reap greater rewards later.

3.  Service

Service is doing something unselfishly for someone else when you don’t have to do it.  A stay-at-home-mom is a great example of service and sacrifice.  She serves the needs of her children even when it is not comfortable or convenient.  She serves them even though they often don’t appreciate it.  She serves them even when it doesn’t appear she is making a difference.

Service is another way to express how much you care for someone or something.  It requires you to step outside yourself and put others first.  Give service a try and learn its rewards.

4.  Fortitude

Fortitude is having the mental and emotional strength to face difficult, dangerous and adverse circumstances courageously.  It is persisting in an effort even when the going gets very tough.  It takes fortitude to pay off debt, win wars, raise kids and succeed at marriage.  Fortitude is a necessary ingredient for living life to the fullest.

The perseverance expressed through fortitude is what built this country and made it great.  Our way of life was fought for on the battlefield and at home by people with amazing fortitude.  We need to tap into this well again to experience the best life possible.

Comfort and Convenience Are Not The Best Things in Life

Comfort and convenience are not all they are cracked up to be!  They become masters that lead you down paths that promise riches, but fail to deliver.  Look around you right now.  Are you a slave to comfort and convenience?  Do you need to embrace duty, sacrifice, service and fortitude? 

Making a difference in the lives of those around you and abroad will add a much needed dimension to your life that will create significance and meaning.  This is the real road to living life to the fullest!

Are you a slave to comfort and convenience?

Photo by cliff1066™

Quotes with timeless advice on striving for excellence

Wisdom writers from all over the world and throughout time have expounded on the importance of excellence in life.  Here’s how we can apply their advice to living life the fullest.

1.  Make excellence your habit in all you do

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~ Aristotle

Are you in the habit of striving for excellence?  Where have you set the bar for yourself?  We often let ourselves slip into a rut of producing inferior or insignificant outcomes.  This is common, but dangerous. 

In a time when many organization are cutting back on personnel, it is more important than ever to prove you are a difference maker.  If you aren’t putting your best foot forward to push the organization toward its goals, then why should they keep you around?

2.  Make your actions speak louder than your words

“A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
~ Confucius

Exceptional performance is what counts.  Look at your output.  Is what you are producing making a difference?  Are you meeting your goals?  We can talk about high and lofty ideas all day long, but are we making the right effort to get the excellent results desired? 

Less talk and more action is often what it takes to achieve excellence.  No one likes a braggart, especially one that has little to show for what they’ve done.

3.  Make your life count for something

“Life’s like a play; it’s not the length but the excellence of the acting that matters” ~ Seneca

Isn’t it interesting how some people live very short lives, but have an incredible impact on those around them?  Look at someone like Randy Pausch who didn’t even live to be 50 years old, but what an incredible difference he made in the lives of so many! 

That’s because Randy had high standards and lived everyday to its fullest even before he knew his life was going to be cut short.

Are you investing your life in something significant?  It doesn’t need to be something that will make you famous or rich or even  well-liked, but whatever it is it should be something that you can devote your whole heart to and be excellent at.  Make your life count!

4.  Make a commitment and stick to it

“No man ever reached to excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation”  ~ Horace

Excellence isn’t easy although a few make it look like it is.  These few have spent countless hours practicing and sharpening their skills until they can perform very difficult tasks almost effortlessly.  They devote every waking moment to becoming the very best in their field.  They make incredible sacrifices all in the name of excellence.

We often want to be that Olympic athlete standing on the podium receiving the Gold Medal, but we usually aren’t willing to go through the process necessary to get there.  The Gold Medal athlete worked, studied and endured innumerable bumps and bruises to achieve their moment of glory.  What are you willing to put forth in your quest for excellence?

5.  Make yourself stand out from the crowd

“Excellent things are rare.” ~ Plato

The person that truly devotes themselves to excellence is rare.  That’s why they are so valuable and adored by us.  That’s why they make the big bucks and deserve it.  For whatever reasons, few choose the path of excellence in their life.  For those that do, the life itself is its own reward.

Become that rare person that is dedicated to doing their very best and then push yourself even further.  Believe that excellence is the only standard worth pursuing and you will reap the dividends of a rich and full life!

Striving for excellence will be a sacrifice worth making!

Excellence will never let you down.  You will always be able to hold your head high knowing that you did everything you could.  People will notice.  It will pay off.  Excellence is not a quick fix or get rich quick scheme, although you will likely realize the benefits sooner than you think because most of the world is stuck in mediocrity.  Striving for excellence is a sure way to make yourself stand out!

Photo by little_frank

Being deployed during the holidays is a big sacrifice

I’ve been in their position before when I served in the Air Force.  Therefore, I deeply empathize with their situation.

In 1993, after the first Gulf War, I spent Christmas and New Year’s in Saudi Arabia protecting the “no fly zone” over Iraq.  Fortunately, at the time, I didn’t have children.  However, it was still difficult being away from my wife and extended family for the holidays.

I have a friend that is in Iraq now.  He left his wife and daughter a few months ago.  He will be deployed for 12 to 15 months.  That’s a huge sacrifice! 

Soldiers from every country make big sacrifices.  It doesn’t matter if they are deployed overseas or not.  Serving in the military is not usually easy, but showing support is!

It is very easy to show support and make a soldier’s day!

A very simple and easy way for us to help is by simply showing our support.  It doesn’t take much, but it will be greatly appreciated.

For Americans, I encourage you to take a few minutes right now and visit America Supports You.  If you are from another country, I hope you will find a similar site and so the same.

On the America Supports You site, you can send a message of support to a soldier.  It doesn’t cost you a dime and it will literally make their day!

You can also find links to other groups that support U.S. troops.  Here are just a few of the other ways that you can be of assistance:

• Donate Frequent Flyer Miles
• Help for the Wounded
• Military Family Support
• Phone Cards
• Send Care Packages
• Tragedy Assistance

As you can see, there are tons of ways to show your support.  I hope you will find something here that feels right to you.  I can assure you it will not go unnoticed!

Photo by Army.mil

There is always room for improvement in our lives and James Allen knew exactly how to live life to the fullest.  Whatever it is you want from life, you will find that Allen can teach you how to achieve it. 

Here are some of the things from the book that stand out to me.

"A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts."

This is a humbling statement.  It forces us to take responsibility for our condition in life.  After all, we are responsible for what we think. 

Therefore, whatever we lack in character that holds us back from achieving the life we desire is our own fault.  It is our fault because we choose our thoughts that govern our actions.  Again, this is humbling because most of us haven’t achieved all that we want.  However, it is also encouraging because it reminds us we are in control.  There is hope!

Allen points out that there is a cause and effect relationship between what we think and the external condition of our life.  If we think the right thoughts, then we will eventually produce the results we desire.

"A man’s mind is likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must and will, bring forth."

I really like the mental picture this paints.  Creating the right thoughts is like taking care of a garden.  The soil will produce regardless of what we do.  Tended correctly, it will produce fruit.  Unmanaged, weeds will overrun the garden.  Our mind operates the same way.

So often, we expect to change our thoughts and habits immediately.  This is not the way it works.  You have to cultivate the right thoughts over a lifetime.  The sooner you begin, the bigger harvest you will reap. 

We don’t plant seeds and then expect to see fruit spring forth the next day.  In gardening, we know that it takes time and effort over a growing season before we are going to see any results.  We know that we will have to water, weed, and nurture the plants if we want them to survive. 

It is the same with our thoughts.  Right thinking doesn’t occur overnight.  It takes time to cultivate the right thoughts.  We shouldn’t give up or get frustrated with ourselves when we make mistakes.  Instead, we should learn from our mistakes, correct our thinking, and persistently continue pursuing the life we desire.

"Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are."

Look around yourself right now.  The circumstances of your life are a good indication of who you really are deep inside. 

This might not be 100% true because you may be passing through an unfortunate season of life right now, but if you look over the course of your life, the predominant  circumstances are an accurate reflection of your inner well-being. 

If there is an external effect in your life that you do not like, then look inward for the cause in your heart.  Your circumstances spring forth from the thoughts you cling to.  Letting go of the vice or weakness in your thinking will allow you to change the result you are getting.  You have to change your thinking to change your behavior.

Let me paraphrase an example from the book.  Let’s say a rich person is suffering from a painful disease because they eat too much and are overweight.  They are willing to pay for the best doctors and medicines available to help them lose weight.  However, they won’t stop eating unhealthy foods.  Such a person is unlikely to resolve their situation because they are unwilling to change their thinking on the one point necessary to truly improve their health.

We often cling to the very thoughts that are producing the results we wish to overcome.

"There can be no progress, no achievement without sacrifice, and a man’s worldly success will be in the measure that he sacrifices his confused animal thoughts, and fixes his mind on the development of his plans, and the strengthening of this resolution and self-reliance."

The only thing holding us back from our full potential in life is the weaknesses in our own thinking.  The more we work to correct our thinking, the better our life will become.

Allen didn’t believe that just by thinking about something or wishing for it that you would achieve it.  No, he was much more practical than that.  He knew that it would take sacrifice and planning.

You need a specific purpose to fix your thoughts upon.  Whatever it is in your life that you desire to achieve, set your mind on it.  Seek to learn as much truth about the subject of your desire as possible.  Lay out definite plans toward your goal.  Realize that no one is going to hand you what you want on a silver platter. 

You are going to have to train your mind and body by eliminating fear and doubt and by building yourself up in commitment and confidence.  You have to exercise self-control and determination to get what you want.

"He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he he would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly much sacrifice greatly."

This is the final thought that I’ll leave with you.  Living a full and successful life really does come down to how much you want it. 

Success isn’t about fate or luck or circumstances.  It is about sacrifice, will, persistence, and determination.  It is about getting your thoughts and actions right in your life.  Remember, the thought that "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he", will change your life if you embrace it and live it!

Photo by ninjapoodles