I have a confession to make. There are really, at least, four of me. Don't panic, I am not schizophrenic, nor do I suffer from a multiple personality disorder. I just understand that there are four very important and distinct parts of me that make me whole. I have learned that if I ignore any of these "me's" then my life easily becomes out of whack.
Each of these Andrew's follows a unique and separate set of aspirations. They do not conflict with each other, but they really don't over lap either. These pursuits, when given proper attention and alignment, combine to make me whole. In order for me to be the best Andrew, I need to pay attention to each these parts because together they make up my core. If any one of them is neglected, I become unbalanced and incomplete.
The Four "Me's"
It is easy for me to define each of these Andrew's. I am clear about the role each one plays in creating harmony in my life. They are the four facets that bring me the most joy and happiness. I believe that you will find what makes you whole to be quite similar. I use a four word phrase to help anchor me to each one. The phrase is: – "Heart, Might, Mind & Strength".
Heart
The Heart Andrew is focused on the important relationships of my life. This part of me is constantly focused on becoming a better husband, father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend.
I have noticed that sometimes the people closest to me, are only close in proximity. It takes work to keep these relationships intimate and meaningful. I want to show my love each day in genuine and authentic ways, but I often struggle to define exactly what that means. So I ask myself, "what makes love real?" This question ignites in me the powers of possibility and passion. It helps me commit to keeping love alive in all of my important relationships. Another question that I ask myself frequently is "Who do I love and how do they know I love them?" This helps me take action where action is needed.
Might
The Mighty Andrew is focused on developing spiritual intelligence. The French philosopher Teilhard de Chardin once wrote, "we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience." My focus on the spiritual me keeps me connected with who I really am and helps me to see things as they really are. It helps me to create purpose and meaning out of my existence here on this planet.
There are certain spiritual exercises that I perform regularly to develop my spiritual intelligence. I serve others, I forgive others (including and most importantly myself), I love others, I show gratitude, I pray often, and I regularly meditate and ponder over enlightened writings. All of these activities inspire me to better understand my own divine nature. The question this Andrew often asks me is "What is my life calling me to become?"
Mind
The Mind Focused Andrew is constantly learning to understand career aspirations, academic undertakings and the continual development of my individual talents. I am amazed at how my capacity to learn and grow is effected by this focus. Some think that when we get to a certain point in life we are unable to learn as we did before. I find it to be just the opposite because all of my previous learnings have helped me to become wise and better able to understand what is going on around me.
For me, life is more meaningful when I am discovering new and exciting ways of becoming who I really want to be. This Andrew inspires me to take my learning to the next level and to share what I learn with my circle of influence. The most inspiring question for this Andrew is, "what do I want to learn today?" When I ask myself this question I always see where I want to go.
Strength
The Strength Andrew firmly believes that physical activity builds life-giving vitality. The combination of physical fitness and a positive outlook generates an amazing power to grow whole instead of growing old. I am not afraid of realizing that I can not do some of the things I "use to could" do, because I am constantly finding new activities to develop physical, emotional and mental strength. There is so much to do, that I do not feel the loss when I can no longer do one of the many things the previous me enjoyed doing.
I like to do hard things so this Andrew often asks, "when was the last time I outdid myself?" If it has been a while, I like to then ask, "what is stopping me from finding a way to do it again today?"
The Authentic Me
All of these Andrew's, when combined, help me to be The Authentic Me. I couldn't be who I really am without these parts of me. In order to be my best, I must constantly create the space for each of these Andrew's to grow and develop. It takes a lot of work, but it is worth it. The focus I put in each of these areas pays amazing dividends and creates the energy and enthusiasm I have for life.
Some questions you may want to ask yourself might be -
Who Am I?
Who do I want to become?
Please consider the following: You have spent your whole life becoming who you are today, was it worth it? I want you to examine your life, your behavior and how you spend your time so you can become the best you. Of course, I want to help you in your pursuit. If there is anything I can do, then please let me know. In the meantime…
Live Today! Love Today!
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