Don't confuse activity with accomplishment...

Many people confuse activity with accomplishment. They are not the same. We all know many active people who seem busy all the time but really don't accomplish anything worthwhile. In fact, most of the time, these people seem to be in crises mode.  They move from one disaster to the other. Successful people follow several principals, which result in a a proactive and focused approach to life. Understanding these basic life principles and following them gives people a sense of control over their lives - even when circumstances seem beyond control.  So, what are "principles" and why don't most of us follow them?  Principles are natural laws that govern human effectiveness.  They aren't tied to any religion or belief system.  They are simply universal laws, similar to gravity.  If you drop an apple, it will fall to the ground.  That is the universal law of gravity.  Here are some universal principles for human effectiveness that are woven into the fabric of every society that ever existed:

• Fairness
• Human Dignity
• Integrity and Honesty
• Service
• Quality and Excellence
• Potential and Growth
• Patience
• Encouragement and Respect

Principles are guidelines for human conduct that are proven to have enduring, permanent value.  Principles are not practices.  Practices will vary from circumstance to circumstance.  Principles are not values. Criminals can share values but they are in violation of the fundamental principles listed above. 

Now that we know what principles are and are not, why is it so hard to align our lives with them?  Because we all have our own perceptions and assumptions that have formed our beliefs, which translates into our own truth about life.  We cling to our beliefs and views like they were our children.  Humans don't get interested in changing their beliefs or behaviors until something happens that makes us want to change. We may have developed our views from our childhood or past experiences.  It really does not matter because the simple fact is, until we align our lives with the effectiveness principles, we will never be as effective as we could be.. What all of this translates into is that what we are communicates far more effectively than what we say or do.

My question to you is, "how many of the principles have you woven into your life?" Look at the principles again. What areas can you improve on?