“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Helen Keller
The BELIEFS and VALUES of America as summarized in-
The Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
“Authentic values are those by which a life can be lived, which can form a people that produces
great deeds and thoughts.”
“It is not the truth of their thought that distinguished them, but its capacity to generate culture.
A value is only a value if it is life-preserving and life-enhancing.”
“Producing values and believing in them are acts of the will.
Lack of will, not lack of understanding, becomes the crucial defect.”
“What a people bows before tells us what it is.”
Allan Bloom, “The Closing of the American Mind”
In the past two posts you had an opportunity to clarify your personal Beliefs and Values. Now it is time summarize those Beliefs and Values into your own personal Declaration of Life.
99.) Write a brief and compelling summary of your primary Beliefs and Values that will provide you a Foundation for Leading a Life of Significance. This statement will summarize what “matters most” to you and let anyone who reads it know the essence of who you are as a person and what you value. It will help you boil life down to your core Beliefs and Values and be a sign post to continually guide you back to putting First Things, First.
This may take several attempts. Just keep working toward expressing yourself in such a way that you are inspired and devoted to live out your Declaration of Life.
Ask yourself the following questions as a final check of your Declaration of Life to make sure it is YOUR declaration and that you are fully committed to living for these Beliefs and by these values regardless of the cost.
Are these your Beliefs and Values or someone else’s?
Are you willing to go public with these Beliefs and Values?
Are you willing to be held accountable to live for these Beliefs and Values?
Are you willing to surrender your feelings and circumstances to these Beliefs and Values?
If you live your life according to these Beliefs and Values will you have…
…left this world a better place?
…lived a life that matters?
…will you find satisfaction and fulfillment?
…will you have lived a life of significance?
Finalize your Declaration of Life and-
1. Frame a Copy and Hang it in Your Office
2. Share your Declaration with the Most Important People in Your Life
3. Now commit to and live in accordance to Your Personal Declaration of Life and enjoy the impact and rewards of Leading a Life of Significance.
“If it’s not worth fighting for, it’s certainly not worth living for.”
“There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.” Napoleon Hill
