Excerpts From Great Minds- What Does Twain Mean?

"Courage is the resistance to fear, mastery of fear- not absence of fear."

-Mark Twain.

You can read previous posts on Excerpts From Great Minds here.

Many of us have related being courageous with fearlessness but this quote proves this relationship wrong. Being courageous doesn't necessarily mean that you have no fear but that you recognize your fear. Trying to prove that you have no fear will only make you ignorant of your actual fears.

What's the cause of your fear?

EMPOWER YOUR VISION WITH SKILL

"Be sure that as you scramble up the ladder of success, it is leaning against the right building"

-Stephen Covey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Over time, I've heard some really interesting ways of how people discovered their purpose and how they ended up achieving it as if by magic. One thing I got to discover was that when you know the purpose for which you were created, your life seems to be 'engineered' in that particular direction. Out of these stories, there's one I really like which I would share with you. Sometimes we feel we know what is good for us not knowing that there's a higher power that knows better.

A young man once asked God to reveal to him what he would be in future. After constant prayers, God finally gave him a revelation. In his dream, he saw himself washing clothes. Being that the job of a 'washer man' is not considered a 'noble profession', he rejected the vision and prayed again. The following day, he dreamed again but this time, he was ironing the clothes he washed the previous day. That was the last time he prayed for purpose.
He went on to study Electrical engineering in the University and was really good at repairing machines. Sometime after graduation, a friend realized how skillful he was and gave him a few 'damaged' appliances to repair, one of which was a machine used for cleaning carpets. This young man repaired it fast and decided to sell it, but buyers were not forthcoming. Instead of dumping the machine, his business acumen awoke on his inside and he started a 'DRY CLEANING' business. All he had to do was get more damaged machines from his friend, repair them and use them in his business. Today, he not only washes clothes but suits, carpets, upholstery and more. Oh, and he's rich too.  

The reason why many of us who know our purpose tend not to appreciate it is because we can't see the future in it. Most of the time, visions and revelations are given to us raw; it's left to us to refine it.

One of the best ways to add value to what you do is to become someone of value. The young man in that story didn't want to bring himself down to the level he saw in the dream. Instead, by developing himself and learning something new, he unknowingly brought the purpose up to his level. Not everyone is lucky to discover purpose through dreams or visions but one thing is certain- we all have a purpose for which we're here on earth. It's up to you to determine how you achieve it. You create your own future, so start modeling it now so it becomes a MASTERPIECE later.

How did you discover your purpose? Was it through a vision, reading a book or just interacting with friends? Are there any steps you know in living a fulfilled life? Your comments are welcome.
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Ebooks you might want to check out:
Change Your Mind, Change Your Life
Power, Purpose and Service

You Need A Drive

"I will always prepare so that when my time comes, I will be ready."
-Abraham Lincoln.

According to Physics, a body remains in a state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by a force. That is a law that has been in existence for quite a while now and it's straightforward too. When you stand on a spot and are pushed, you no longer stay on that spot but move a step forward or backward.

I've always regarded that quote by Abe Lincoln as a powerful one. The strange thing is that I had seen the quote countless number of times but I didn't value it until I needed it. A year before I went to the University, I was what you would regard as 'premature'. I didn't know my left from my right and had no idea what I wanted out of life.

Watching my mates go to school while I stayed at home for that whole year was really discouraging but I later realized that it was worth it. It was at this time that I sat down and did a lot of self-examination. I needed a lot of things to take along to the next level and one of them was a drive. That's when that quote above became a really good friend. It applies to everything in life like relationships, death, career, marriage, wealth acquisition, business, academics and so much more. It talks about one thing, which is preparation and it has totally become a part of my life.

Choosing a drive can be tricky, especially if you don't know where you're headed in life. It's just like a cab driver asking for your destination and you say, 'anywhere'. He's not going to waste his fuel on you.

Knowing where you're going would help you choose the right vehicle, be it a car, minivan, chopper or jet. From experience, a drive should be chosen on the following two criteria.

1. It must be internal.
Choosing your spouse, girlfriend or money as your drive would only bring you back to square one in the end. Why? Well, they won't be there forever. They’ll leave you one day and then what happens? You start searching for another one. The good thing about internal drives is that they stay with you until you die or you no longer have use for them. They are not influenced by external occurrences but by your final destination.

2. They should be derived from something you love or enjoy doing.
I found this quote from a book. Reading is a part of me and I'm never compelled or forced to do it. It's just like being inspired or getting a feeling of satisfaction whenever you play the guitar or piano. Having a drive to help others achieve this same feeling would make the route to your destination simple.

It's never too late to get a driving force. The most important thing is getting one and using it's instructions to guide you. Whichever one you chose, just make sure that you're ready to abide by its code of conduct. Feel free to use mine if you wish.

Do you have a drive? What other ways do you think a drive can be acquired? Let's hear your thoughts, your comments are welcome.

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Ebooks you might want to check out:
Internalized Motivation
Change Your Mind, Change Your Life
Power, Purpose and Service