Ever heard phrases like theses?
Smart as a fox
Too smart for your own good
Too smart for your own britches
Smarty pants
If you’re so smart, then why don’t you…
When you consider the subtleties of each phrase, there can
be slightly different meanings, but all share a consistent thread. They all insinuate something negative rather
than positive.
Yes, being smart has its advantages in some ways. For example, it helps to be smart if you’re
going to study quantum physics or similar disciplines. So, it can’t be all bad, right?
Of course not! Smart
has its place in the world. However, if
you place it above everything else that’s when it becomes a problem. The above phrases definitely can come into
play.
So, what’s my point?
Well, it’s not about how smart you are.
It is more about how complete you are as a person.
Yes, leverage your “smarts” as appropriate but your
challenge is to value the following characteristics above it and you will have
a more fulfilling life.
PEOPLE
First, and absolutely foremost, establish and build strong
personal relationships with other people.
It’s the people in your life that give you your ultimate purpose. Who cares how smart you are if you don’t have
positive, powerful personal relationships where you can use it to help them!
UNDERSTAND
Next, understand
what your passionate interests are.
It
is through your passion for things that you will realize your true
potential. Without passion your
potential is limited because your effort toward achieving that potential will
be weak.
Passion puts power in your life.
REFLECT
Reflect on the
lessons of your past is the next characteristic of more importance than being
smart. A major point to make regarding
this characteristic is the idea is to reflect not dwell on your past.
If you look forward the lessons from your past can be
valuable in helping you be more effective in your future. However, there is no future if you only live
in your past!
EXPLORE
Another characteristic more valuable than being smart is
being willing to explore the
knowledge-base of your world.
Your level
of knowledge cannot remain static or your life will be stuck in outdated
information.
Think about it…why do you get frequent operating system
updates from your computer’s manufacturer?
Of course, the answer is, if you didn’t update, your computer would be running
based on old knowledge and sooner or later wouldn’t function in the modern
world.
JUDGING
Judging people
prematurely based on your biased perspective is never smart.
My bet is you have met someone in the past
and your quick reaction was to judge them negatively in some way. Then, with time you realized they weren’t as
bad as you first thought!
Maybe they even became one of your best friends or a trusted
advisor! Be smart…” walk a mile in their
shoes” and then begin to make your judgments about them.
OPERATE
Operate your life
with efficiency and effectiveness.
It
makes all aspects of your life much easier when you do right things at the
right time in the right way and with the right results.
- In everything you do, know why you are doing it.
- Prioritize the things you need to do so you can get them done on a timely basis.
- Don’t’ take shortcuts to getting things done unless you can still get them done the right way the first time.
- Know exactly the outcome you want from doing each thing you want to do before you do it.
YOUNG
Finally, remain young
at heart and in your mind by staying engaged throughout your life with
people, places, and things. See old
friends and make new friends frequently and persistently.
Take advantage of the wonders of the world and see places
you’ve never seen. Stay current with how
everything is changing in the world by remaining curious and interested.
Do all the above things and you will experience not only the
acronym that they create but true and lasting PURE JOY.
Now that would be much more valuable than being just
smart!
What, other than being smart, gives you
pure joy? What can you do to encourage
more of it in your life?
Please share your thoughts by commenting below.
And…please forward this information to others by following the social
media share link at the top or bottom of this post.
Thank
you.
Comments
Post a Comment