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Defining OurselvesBy Steve Jeffery
For this reason I offer the following contribution in the hope that it may, in some small way, help to lift the veil for others who may be seeking a fresh start in life… I was 20 years old, had just returned from Vietnam, was married and about to transition into civilian life. I had no idea what I was going to do, what was out ‘there’ or where to start. I knew that I first had to understand who I was; try to define ‘me’ as an individual; that until I did, I would not be able to move forward. Simply, you can’t plan a journey if you don’t know where you are. What I discovered was profound. I began by taking a critical look at myself and found that I was filled with negative emotions; emotions and experiences I had absorbed as a result of my life to that time; child-hood, family, Vietnam war, betrayal, continual bombardment by negative media; powerful emotions such as resentment, self-pity, even hatred, which were clouding my thoughts and judgment, holding me prisoner, blinding me to the wonderful opportunities and happiness that life had to offer. I learned from a close friend, that if I was going to move forward successfully and build my life into something of value, I must first ’forgive’; genuine forgiveness, from the heart, with every fibre of my being…I learned that forgiveness has nothing to do with religion, with mercy or reconciliation. It does not excuse anything. It does not mean that you will ever trust the one you forgive and nor does it mean that you will forget, but it will bring you peace, clarity of thought and enable you to move on with your life. I discovered that once I forgave myself and others, the roadblocks cleared, the floodgates opened and my life became a positive experience. With a fresh perspective and a clear mind I began listening to Earl Nightingale’s five minute radio messages, which inspired me to begin my ‘voyage of discovery‘ and explore life without fear of failure. Success to me has been and continues to be the journey rather than the destination; identifying and exploring opportunities; challenging my potential while always holding fast to my values. We are each unique individuals, no two the same, which suggests that there should be a different definition of success for each of us. I learned that before we can plan a new direction and define our success, in whatever form that may take, we must first define ourselves. Be kind to yourself and enjoy the journey. We pass this way but once. I welcome your thoughts and invite you to share your insights. Steve Proudly brought to you by The Nightingale Institute. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. _________________________ A Message from the Military Network team Take advantage of our great range of veteran services on Military Network:
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Copyright © 2012 Earl Nightingale Military Network - All Rights Reserved |
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To many people, life is a complex kaleidoscope of seemingly unrelated entities and relationships. It is difficult to break your cycle and set a new direction if you don’t know what you don’t know. I can state that, because that’s exactly where I was at an early phase in my own life.
