You have to travel through what you have to travel through in order to get where you are going.  In order to become the person you wish to become you have to go through what you have to go through.  That is your mountain that you cannot lower.  Presumably you are now a better person for having gone through life’s struggles so far.  If not, you have missed opportunities to learn, grow, and get stronger. Each step of the climb offers just that, lessons.  You cannot learn from those lessons if you focus on the pain rather than being open to asking yourself what can I learn from this.  Everything happens for a reason.  The challenge is to understand that reason and what it is offering us.  We have to be available to understand the lessons.    As always taking the “I” out is required.  Otherwise you are prone to focus on the pain in the state of  a victim. 

The purpose of life is a life of purpose. It may be unclear as to what our specific role in this world is. Yet one thing is certain, it is to become our best. The very best human being we are destined be. As we constantly reach for that goal we find more and more possibilities and opportunities open up for us. "The reward for doing is the opportunity to do more" Dr. Jonas Salk.  Our specific role may also become clearer.

A way of keeping us on our path is through receiving positive reinforcement. If we stop and ask ourselves before everything we say or do, "Will this make me proud", it will keep us on the right path.  If we stop and ask ourselves this after everything we say or do, we will be rewarded every time the answer is yes.

What would make you proud? What are the tests?

1.              Does it meet the highest moral and ethical standards?  

2.  What is the goal of this action or statement? Is it consistent with my overall goal or dream?

3.              Did I do my very best at that point in time?

4.      If it involved others, was it done with kindness and compassion?  Was it done without putting yourself above or ahead of them? 

5.      Did I remember to leave the "I" out?

In other words, did it Make You Proud? Did it bring you closer to being the person you wish to become? 

We should apply these tests before all that we do or say, until it becomes second nature. Until it becomes second nature, we should ask ourselves after an action or statement, "Did it Make Me Proud?' Imagine how you will feel as the answer becomes yes more and more of the time.  Imagine that others will notice and that will inspire them to do the same. We all need heroes, but it starts with ourselves.  Always remember that "Make Yourself Proud" means silently through deeds. Imagine how slowly at first, and then with increasing momentum the world will become a better place. As you get closer to your dream, you will inspire others, who will inspire others, "etcetera, etcetera, etcetera" the King in the King and I.

That is the purpose of this site. Here you will see stories (some true, some fiction), quotes, tools, thoughts, drills and exercises to keep you inspired, focused, reminded, positive, and Make You Proud. Stay tuned. To paraphrase the title of a great oldie by the Del Vikings, Come Grow With Me!