How do we become Stupid?

by Ron Jenson

“How STUPID” was the comment my wife and I simultaneously uttered last night while watching the news report of Republican congressman Chris Lee resigning after his shirtless Craigslist post.

The reporter said, “Republican politician resigns after woman’s web search reveals ‘fit fun classy guy’ posing as divorcee to be in fact married with a son.”

You probably know the story by now. Our response of “how stupid” resulted from the disconnect. After all, how could a powerful, second-term US Congressman do something so wreckless and, yes, stupid?

He has a wife and son and was a rising star in the Republican Party, but he tanked. Why?

My sense is that he became stupid like most of us do … slowly but surely.  Here is what seems to be the evolution of this kind of stupidity.

  1. Success and recognition of our accomplishments.
  2. Beginning to believe our own press.
  3. A lack of attention to and/or unwillingness to address character flaws and inappropriate and unhealthy internal motivations.
  4. Pressures of leadership and life.
  5. Refusal to develop self-discipline and good habits.
  6. A sense of inadequacy and unfulfillment.
  7. Development of a facade or public front.
  8. A growing lack of support and personal accountability.
  9. Increasing split between the private and public life.
  10. Self-sabotaging behavior.
  11. Increasingly risky activities.
  12. Crashing publicly.
  13. Disgrace and dishonor.

That’s my take on how we become stupid. We all have the capacity to end up there. That’s why we so desperately need friends who support us and hold our feet to the fire, internal spiritual resources, a focus on inner life and integrity (same in public as we are in private), and the humility to admit when we mess up (as we all do).

By the way, my wife and I are both filled with sorrow for him (hey we’re all seriously flawed), his family, the US Congress and the millions of people touched by yet another sad situation. But this forced me to ask how can this kind of thing happens?

What do you think? Did I get this right? What would you add or edit? Let’s think about this together.

How to Create Margin in Your Overly Busy Life

by Ron Jenson

Michael Hyatt, one of my favorite bloggers hits the nail on the head here.

Do you agree? Disagree?

Share your insights!

http://michaelhyatt.com/how-to-create-margin-in-your-overly-busy-life.html

WHAT WILL MATTER…a perspective on 2011

by Ron Jenson

I recently read a blog with piece from the Josephson Institute of Ethics on living for what counts. I like this. What would you add or change here?

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.
So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won’t matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built;
Not what you got, but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew,
but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.

What will matter is not your memories,
but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.

“What Will Matter“. Michael Josephson, one of the nation’s leading ethicists, is the founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics.

Elizabeth Edwards Lasting Legacy

by Ron Jenson

By this time I’m sure you have heard that Elizabeth Edwards has passed away. After a life of great victories and some great challenges she leaves a lasting legacy of optimism, leadership, loyalty and living life at full tilt.

My friend Catherine passed on this quotation from Elizabeth that touched both of us. “The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful.”

These words remind me of Psalm 90 when we are told to “remember and number our days.”

So why don’t you take the rest of 2010 and imagine that you had ONLY 2011 left to live. Yes, on January 1, 2011 you are ought of here, gone, exist on this earth no more.

So, how will you live differently?  Answer these questions and let me know your thoughts?

1. How will you spend your time differently beginning to day?
2. What critical relationships will you concentrate on?
3. How will you spiritual life be affected?
4. What lasting legacy will you focus on in the last year of your life?

RealClearPolitics – The Great American Funk – Important Read

by Ron Jenson

If you are frustrated and down over the recessionary times in America, take a few minutes and read this article! It’s a winner.
What do you think – agree or disagree?

Make this family holiday the BEST of times!

by Ron Jenson

Remember the areas of life balance are faith, fitness, family, friends, finances, firm, fun, favor.

Today I want to address the whole area of family. It’s a great time to be doing this because we’re entering the holiday season and will probably be spending time with family members and for some of us these will be the best of times and for others the worst of times!

So let’s make this the best of times by focusing on our own thankfulness for others. I want you to reflect on those qualities that you most appreciate about your family and then find a way to communicate your gratitude in a specific way to each one of your family members during the season.

And hey share with us what you learn.

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →