Live and lead your life by example. When we lead by example, we take responsibility for our life, without casting blame on other people, because of where we find ourselves. And although we're not always initially responsible for where we find ourselves, we must be responsible for leading our life and by showing example to others. The past isn't an excuse for the way we choose to behave.
We can't live the way we always used to if it isn't healthy! We can't always put the blame on having crappy parents or just plain bad luck.
We get dealt the cards that we do and it's up to us how we choose to deal with them. Growing up I never really had people in my life who showed me what to do in my life to be a decent human being and do the right things.
I learned how to survive and always felt like I just existed rather than really living. I watched a show last night where after a heart attack, the guy told his friend to go out and live, because she really wasn't living, due to the loss of her son in a car accident.
Bad things happen to good people, which is something I have to accept whether I like it or not. I have watched countless people have everything in life to live for, but still flush it all down the toilet because they didn't get what they wanted. I pretty much did the same thing myself after my first crush put me into the friend zone, since she didn't love me the way I loved her.
The reality is that this does happen and it isn't the end of the world. Life isn't always fair or even very pleasant, but that doesn't mean we give up on living. What matters is how we deal with it. We can either choose to deal with life and work with what we have, or sit around doing the backstroke in our pity pot.
I always seemed to attract the worst kind of people, as friends and partners, which makes sense when I was acting like such a victim in my life! People can pick up on this like animals, smell fear so it's not surprising that I was always being taken advantage of.
If you keep making the same mistakes, you're pretty much considered a 'volunteer' of you know better than to keep doing the same things! I would like to be considered a power of example for those like myself, who deal with severe mental health issues and don't always know how to move on!
Thanks Randy. Yes we all have good intentions and want to move on and speaking from my own experience it's not that easy to do. It's made much harder, when the people around you make it more difficult for us to change and be that good example you talk about in your response.
By living a more peaceful and uncluttered life, I believe we can start leading our life by example. One by changing our life so that we're more at peace with ourselves and secondly, by seizing opportunities to go out there and make a difference, not only for us and our families, but to others too.
When we lead by example others see it, regardless of whether they choose to acknowledge it. If they don't choose to acknowledge it, it's often because they've become a victim themselves and are not usually in a place where they're happy to acknowledge some else's success.
Great post and reply, Randy. Being an example, is all about how we behave and treat others and the buck stops with us.
As Randy says, we can blame this and that, but at the end of the day this is down to us and us alone. We have to make the best with the hand were dealt and that's the thing we do have the ability to change and the choice whether we stay where we are or to do something about it.
Things like taking responsibility, being truthful, listening to others and looking after ourselves are all fundamental to us taking a step back and being a good example. The past is where it belongs, behind us and we mustn't let our futures be dictated by it.
Thanks yes, I agree. It's our biggest struggle, but important if we are going to cut out a life for ourselves, based around all the things you talk about in your second paragraph.
When I think of being an example, I have my children in mind. I would like to be an example for them. I want them to see that despite of all the struggles I have faced in life, I continue to go forward and it's okay to cry while doing so.
I would like for them to learn from me how to be a good person; to respect everyone with respect regardless of what race, condition or background they are.
Thanks Maria, such beautiful words. I have always believed children tend to understand more than they let on and will eventually emulate what we show them. Children do come through with the understanding, even if it takes time for that to happen.
I think you're a prime example of leading by example Maria, definitely. Given what you deal with, you do so with fortitude and strength and do so in such a pleasant manner. That is a perfect example of being an example.
I am sure when your children become fully fledged adults, they will see and know exactly what you did for them. Even if children don't say, they know.