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1: existing for a long or longer than usual time or continuously: as a: retained beyond the usual period <a persistent leaf> b: continuing without change in function or structure <persistent gills> c: effective in the open for an appreciable time usually through slow volatilizing <mustard gas is persistent> d: degraded only slowly by the environment <persistent pesticides> e: remaining infective for a relatively long time in a vector after an initial period of incubation <persistent viruses> 2 a: continuing or inclined to persist in a course b: continuing to exist despite interference or treatment <a persistent cough> <has been in a persistent vegetative state for two years>

Such a powerful word….one can think of many things when this word is heard.

But I pose the question – is it a virtue or a curse? Why? Let’s take a look at this word and both sides of the coin.

Persistence can be a great thing – when done in moderation. If you have persistence, you can achieve most anything that you want. Much like a dog with a bone, you will hold onto and not let go until it’s gone (completed) or taken away (canceled). When you approach something with dogged persistence, nothing will matter and nothing will get in your way – you are driven to completion.You may sacrifice sleep. food and relaxation to achieve your goal.

But that is where the curse can come into play. I’ve seen people so persistent on something, that they lose focus on things around them: they forget to eat, sleep or even perform personal hygiene. A good example of this is a drug addict; they are so persistent on getting their next fix, that they quickly lose sight of all things around them. They neglect loved ones and the things in life that one needs, such as food and shelter. They end up living on the streets due to lack of money and a job with which to support themselves.

You have to remember to balance both your goals and what you need to achieve them. There is no point in striving towards something if you so not have the proper support to sustain it. Support can come in the form of motivational support, financial support, or even the commitment to stay with the goal once it has been reached. Persistence can be a really great thing in the hands of someone who can balance it and reach their goals. Are you that person?

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Empathy is the capacity to recognize or understand another’s state of mind or emotion. It is often characterized as the ability to “put oneself into another’s shoes”, or to in some way experience the outlook or emotions of another being within oneself. It may be described metaphorically as an emotional kind of resonance or mirroring.

Empathy isn’t a thing that is present much in this world. We have grown  hardened to the plights of our citizens, family and friends. I think, because we have so many negative things in our world right now (energy crisis, wars in which we don’t belong, poverty, starvation, animal abuse) that we have grown callous and hard about feeling empathy.

At times, we’ve become so hard that we treat people with disdain instead of empathy like we should. How many times, recently, have you walked by a homeless person and felt disdain or even anger at them for being out on the street and perhaps trying to ask you for some change? How many times have you seen someone with a large bandage on them, and avoided them because you didn’t want to “catch” what they had? Even though you didn’t know what “that” was? I thought so….

I briefly touched on the word “Humankind” a few posts back. It’s strange how this word came to be so many years ago, but I feel as if it doesn’t hold any meaning anymore for us as a society. People can be downright mean – there is very little kindness left in the world. Road rage is a prime example, as well as the increased numbers of serial killers, abusers and sexual deviants present in our society today.

In reading of this post, please let it guide you to take a moment, empathize with your counterparts, and show empathy for your brothers and sisters.  We are ALL humankind, after all.

Update: Check out the post by Jonathon Fields that talks about the same concept.

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Humility is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person, someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others. Synonym: humble

Throughout my life, I have worked a plethora of jobs. I have been in retail, on the receiving end of some of the most brutal customers of which one could think. I have been in jobs where just being in the country in which I live was enough for a person to hate me and treat me with disdain. I’ve worked in jobs where I’ve experienced reverse discrimination.

To that end, I’ve always tried to be a humble person; never in my life have I thought myself to be better than anyone else. Everyone has things about them, when compared to others, that may make them stronger in that particular area. But I have never thought myself to be better than everyone else. When I think of those that have walked this Earth, Gandhi, Buddha, Mother Teresa, Princess Diana….I cannot hold a candle to those wonderful, caring individuals.

In the blogosphere, I have had the privilege of meeting some absolutely fantastic individuals. And I can honestly say that they are some of the most humble people that I have met. There have been a scant few that have not been….and I think, if you’ve be reading me for awhile, that you know what happens to those people when they cross my path. They keep right on walking through. I have no time for people with agendas such as those, because my agenda does not include having people like that in my reality. I put forth to the Universe to draw to me people that are like minded, non-judgmental and kind. As I have stated previously on here, you draw that to you which you put out. It’s like a boomerang: if you put out that you are going to live a life with people that are arrogant and superior, the Universe will kindly accommodate your wish. However, if you put out that you wish to be surrounded by people that can only be positive for you, then the Universe will kindly return the energy. Put your best foot forward and there won’t be one kicking you from behind!

Readers, please do not ever forget whence you’ve came. No one on this entire planet has any right to think that they are better than the other, for any reason. Be it Christian vs. Atheist, Indian vs Oriental, or any other combination, we are all of the same race. Humankind.  There is a reason for the word to be of two; Human and Kind. Practice it!

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Pride is a lofty view of one’s self or one’s own. Pride often manifests itself as a high opinion of one’s nation (national pride), ethnicity (ethnic pride), or appearance and abilities (vanity). Pride is considered a negative attribute by most major world religions, but some philosophies consider it positive. The opposite of pride is humility.

When I think of pride, I think of it with mixed emotions. It brings to mind thoughts of people that I have know that have had pride so engrained within themselves that they cannot see the forest for the trees. I also think of the poor souls I have known that have suffered dearly for their lack of pride: suffered to the point of suicide.

There is a phrase that my SO has used to live life: “Love has no pride”. If you think about this, deeply, for a few minutes you’ll see what that phrase it trying to tell you. What it says to me is this: if you are truly in love with someone, no matter what, your pride will never get in the way of that love. One should never be so proud that they cannot relate, apologize or compromise in a relationship. If your pride grips you so strongly that you do not have the ability to do the above-mentioned things, you will have a tough road to hoe when it comes to sustaining a relationship.

Conversely, if you have a low pride quotient, you will have a hard time as well. If you have no pride or self-esteem in yourself, you will be used as a doormat. Pride and self-esteem are necessary in life, for if you do not value yourself, how can you expect others to value you? You have to think highly enough of yourself to realize that you deserve good things in life and that you have every right to have them. Without thinking in this manner, you will not be able to bring to yourself that which you deserve.

Pride is something that has to be in balance in order to enrich your life. Just as anything else in life, too much or too little can be detrimental.

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You've read the series, now get the E-Book! Special EXTRA material not included in the blog series, plus three FREE templates!! Templates included are Time Management Matrix, Goal worksheet, and The Completion Journal. Only $24.99 for the book!


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