Month: July 2023

“The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.”
– Martin Luther King.

I have had a really lovely relaxed holiday over the past few weeks. In that time, I saw some fantastic dramatic scenery in Cornwall here in the UK and some stunning beaches. This time away brought to mind a story about rocks, pebbles and sand. It is a great reminder of what is important in life.

Rocks, Pebbles and Sand

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items in front of him. When class began, he wordlessly picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about two inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles, poured them into the jar and lightly shook it. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed. He asked his students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things—your family, your partner, your health, your children—anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed. The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale. The pebbles represent things like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else—the small stuff”.

“If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly most important. Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the rubbish. In your own life, be sure to take care of the rocks first—the things that really matter. Remember, the rest is only pebbles and sand”.

But then…A student then took the jar which the other students and the professor agreed was full, and proceeded to pour in a glass of beer. Of course, the beer filled the remaining spaces within the jar making the jar truly full.

The alternative moral of this tale is: – no matter how full your life is, there is always room for BEER!

This week why not pause for a few moments to pause and reflect. During your reflection time, have a think about if there is any action you need to take to make more time for the “rocks” in your life? Are there changes you need to make to your daily schedule?

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk

“Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.” Og Mandino

When we’re in an inspired state, life just seems to flow effortlessly. It helps us to come up with creative solutions to challenges and enables us to feel good and confident. As a result, we may step out of our comfort zone and try some new things and approaches.

Have you ever considered what your sources of inspiration are?

A major source of inspiration for me is seeing ordinary people achieve extraordinary things. I get inspired when people perform random acts of kindness and show selflessness.  Also, people making a real positive difference in the world through their actions and use of their natural talents provides me with inspiration.

There have been many ordinary people who have achieved extraordinary things. They committed to making the world a better and fairer place and in doing so left a lasting positive legacy. Some examples are Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr and Gandhi.

All of them were driven by a cause and stayed true to their convictions. They were all authentic and unafraid to be themselves. This simple act inspired others to do the same. They didn’t have easy lives and the way they overcame challenges and adversity is in itself inspirational.

We don’t have to be famous or get headlines to be inspirational. The people who regularly do work in their local communities to improve the life experiences of those who live there are inspiring. They make their part of their world a better place and often they do so with little reward apart from personal satisfaction.

We can all be an inspiration to others and give back to our communities no matter what our standing is in the world. When we give unconditionally with good intention, we don’t have an understanding of the potential positive impact our actions can have. It creates positive and good feelings to do this.

There are a variety of things and everyday activities that can provide a feeling of inspiration.

Here are a few things that came to mind when I was writing this piece:

• Time spent by the sea and lakes or walking in mountains or forests.
• People coping with physical disability and maintaining a positive outlook.
• Programmes showing people who designed and built their own house.
• Documentaries on how people have developed their business or created their success.
• Biographies by people that have overcome challenges and adversity before reaching their goals.
• Inspirational quotes and writings.
• People taking a risk and producing something original.
• Music
• Amazing sporting performances.
• Film and theatre productions.
• Beautiful sunsets.
• Art, including pictures and paintings of dramatic scenery particularly the sea, cliffs and mountains.
• Flowers in bloom and other scenes from nature such as the colour of the leaves on the trees in autumn.
• People who have the courage to be themselves, to be different and not follow the crowd.

 
We all have different sources of inspiration and in the busyness of life it’s important that we spend some time focusing on the things that provide some inspiration for us. Life is short and it’s vital that we dedicate sufficient time engaging in activities that inspire and relax us and provide us with a feeling of contentment.

This week, take a few moments to reflect and consider what inspires you and whether you are spending sufficient time on things that you love to do.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk