In previous issues of Computer Times, we printed a 26-month series from the book titled Get The MOST from Yourself, by Dr. Terry Kibiloski. This is the 14th article of that series.
Creating a Healthy Spirit – Part 2
The human system is similar to the personal computer system, with three major parts – the body (hardware), the mind (software), and the spirit, or soul, (user).
We are spirits having a human experience!
To maintain the human system it’s important to understand:
- Body specialists (doctors) help maintain our human body.
- Mind specialists (psychologists) help maintain our human mind.
- Spirit, or soul, specialists (priests, ministers, rabbis, etc.) teach us how to effectively use our body and mind. The ideal teacher is the Creator of our body and mind.
If you can understand the similarity between the computer system and the human system, you are on your way to getting the MOST from yourself. Let’s now look at some important principles.
- As the computer operator uses the hardware and software to have a computing experience, our spirit uses the body and mind to have a human experience
- Our overall health depends upon a harmonious relationship between our body, mind and spirit
- Our human system seeks harmony and ease, not dis-ease
- We are spirits having a human experience.
Last month, we focused on having a healthy spirit. This month, we continue that discussion.
When a nest prevents us from flying like an eagle, it can breed bitterness and blame. These negative feelings can only be defeated with unconditional love and forgiveness. But, this is only possible if you have the willingness to change.
You can know everything there is to know about flying like an eagle through life. You can attend every self-improvement seminar in your area, listen to every audio tape and read every book on the subject. But, if you are not willing to change your thinking from bitterness and blame to love and forgiveness, you will never get the MOST from yourself. You will be like a person who reads every diet book, watches every fitness video, and buys every weight loss plan on the market, but is not willing to change the way they eat and exercise. To get the MOST from yourself, you need to be willing to change the way you think.
As I said earlier, it is sad to see people who want desperately to improve their life, but are so filled with blame and bitterness for someone in their past that they find it impossible to fly into the future. As one young lady commented to me, “I can’t stop thinking about what this person did to me. I feel so betrayed. I feel so used.” The sad reality is this person from her past only victimized her for an instant, yet she continued to victimize herself each and every day for years. She was truly her own worst enemy.
Thus, it is important to fill your mind with thoughts of love and forgiveness. You need to let go of the past (your nest) and fly into the future. Bitterness and blame will only burn up precious energy and waste precious time. If you are having trouble flying like an eagle, look closely for blame and bitterness in your life, and replace them with love and forgiveness. Only then will you truly be able to fly.
Earlier, I mentioned I have a picture of an eagle on my office wall that says “Eagles don’t flock – you have to find them one at a time.” While I believe that statement to be true, I once experienced a large gathering of eagles at Sullivan College’s summer graduation ceremony, which was held in the Alumni Chapel at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. As a member of the faculty, I sat in the choir loft, directly behind the guest speaker, with a great view of the new graduates and their families, who filled the seats, the aisles, and the surrounding balcony of this charming, historic chapel. I wish you could have shared my experience.
If you recall, a few traits of human eagles are:
- Eagles are optimists
- Eagles know success comes from following their own vision
- Eagles soar high above the daily obstacles of life
- Eagles follow higher dreams
- Eagles don’t look for success, they bring success to everything they do
At a recent Sullivan College graduation, the Alumni Chapel at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary was filled with eagles. It was a humbling experience to see graduates of all races and financial position, some with physical handicaps, walk up to accept their well deserved awards, diplomas and degrees. Their smiles and eyes were gleaming with excitement and enthusiasm. Their families were bursting with pride, so much so that occasionally they could no longer hold in their pride and, over the silent dignity of the ceremony, you heard shouts like “you did it Amy,” or “way to go son,” or just a burst of cheering.
As mentioned earlier, you can tell an eagle by frequent bursts of smiling. At that graduation ceremony, there were frequent bursts of smiling everywhere. For at least a moment, everyone in that chapel – graduates, parents, brothers, sisters, spouses, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends knew what it felt like to be an eagle.
As employers, co-workers, and friends, it is our job to nurture those young eagles, to help them keep their dreams alive. But first we must be good eagles ourselves. So, fly above the obstacles of life, follow your highest dreams, bring success to everything you do, then mix in a good dose of love for everyone you meet, and soon you will begin to experience frequent bursts of smiling and know what it’s like to be an eagle.
PORTRAIT OF AN EAGLE
On Saturday, July 31, 1993, I received a phone call notifying me that a truly wonderful eagle had followed her highest dream, and soared far beyond this human experience. Her name is Lucy, and she died peacefully in her sleep at 75 years of age. Lucy is an amazing eagle who brought success, love and kindness to every situation. Early in life, she attended a vocational school to learn how to cook and sew. Her chosen profession was housewife and mom. She was very active in her church and her community. Her gift to the world is four children, fifteen grandchildren, and six great grandchildren, all filled with the same love and kindness for which she was so well known. I personally miss Lucy (my mother) very much and continue to wish her well on her new adventure beyond this human experience.
At my mother’s funeral, I found it significant that nothing was said about her material possessions, or her financial gifts given to so many good causes. Instead, the comments were focused on her love and kindness. When it’s all been said and done, the legacy which lasts long after you are gone seems not to be your material possessions or generosity, but your love and kindness. We can see this clearly in social and religious leaders throughout history. The greatest contributions, those that have lasted beyond armies and governments, have been made through love and kindness.
What sort of legacy will you leave? Forgotten treasures or enduring love and kindness?
Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND.
Much more next month . . . Get the Most from Yourself – Chapter 14
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