9. CONVICTIONS WITHOUT COMPROMISING

 9. CONVICTIONS WITHOUT COMPROMISING

(To take some genuine stands with consideration of everything and not compromising truth)

1. Defining the Standards

Having an everlasting Joy:

It’s easier to get happiness by being with someone whom we are interested in or being in some place or situation that is more likely. But when there is something that is not so interesting or likely, there will be a disturbance that forbids us to be joyful. If we maintain good work every time and everywhere with everyone then there will be a lasting joy. Also when we avoid the foolish questions and strivings that are for temporary gratification, we would be able to have lasting joy in our hearts and minds.

Holding the Great meekness:

When we find out the mistakes of someone around us, we easily accuse or embarrass them, or genuinely correct them. But we should be ready to accept the mistakes at first and make corrections not repeat them, and then only it would be appropriate to correct others. Also then only we would be able to do it without accusing or embarrassing. We should obey the authorities and be humble in expressing things, though they might not be good enough in knowledge and acceptance, as we are under their authority.

Helping without hardness:

If there is any dispute with someone, a person should first settle it before doing anything good or great, otherwise, there is no sense in it.  When the fulfillment of the responsibilities is just for completion of the task, and without the heart of being useful, then it wouldn’t make an impact effectively. We should even agree to the Adversary when there is something right. We should practice giving to those who ask us, with whatever is possible. Also, Love those who persecute us and curse us. Also, we should practice helping others, not to be praised but just for the welfare of the other. We shouldn’t judge others based on our own experiences or interactions with that person.

Let worry not overcome:

There are great lessons for our lives when we observe the beings in the entire universe. When certain beings wake up or start their day, there is no clear idea or plan and everything may seem to be empty, still when they start moving forward by having faith in unseen things they can find the beauty of their lives and even the human beings who perfectly plan would not be so satisfied, in comparison to those creatures in the universe. We could observe the cocks to the crows, grasses to the trees, and ants to the elephants, which don’t strive and plan so much, but still, its need for the day is met, without worrying.

Hating the false promises:

We should always keep our word, whether it is told to a small child or a most esteemed person. When we say yes to someone it should be yes always and when we say no to someone, it should be no always, and we need not promise and we need not prove ourselves to be right when we are upright and straightforward. False promises should never be made, especially by those who are in the leadership position to gain something or to attain progress in something. The false promises collapse and cause a lot of confusion.

Activity: Assessing the different companies/ flavors of chips

All the participants may form a group of 5-8 members with some grouping activity. Every group should select a leader among themselves. Each group is given chips /tablets/some other material from different companies. The groups need to evaluate the material that is given to them by carefully analyzing based on the different criteria and formulating the best standards for making the product best by all means.

2. Standing for the Truth

Walk in the Light:

We should not partake in the darkness of someone but should have concern towards those who are in the dark to know and walk in the light. We should be truthful to ourselves and others by accepting our limitations when questioned and when we realize that we should have handled or dealt with something in a better way. We should never compromise what is light just because many walk in the darkness.

Walk in the truth:

A good leader should always be truthful and fulfill all his sayings. He should not be changing his words or actions according to the situation or people, without a valuable reason. The leader should be always reasonable in his beliefs, thoughts, and actions for them to have a strong basis for the truth. A good leader should also help the crew to understand the truth and follow what is right and reasonable, for the well-being of the group.

Walk upright without lying:

There are great deviations in the world we live in. Even the laws of the countries are not the same in each country, because of the biased decisions and thoughts based on rationality without standard consideration of everything. It’s difficult to be righteous as it is possible to find some fault out of everything, though it is not a fault itself. We may also lose the temper and passion to be upright as it is very costly to be, but still, it's highly valuable and makes a difference at some point.

Walk in the Love:

Above everything, if there is one thing that could change or transform a person, that is the genuine love that is offered. Love abides in the truth and those who do not follow the truth, cannot love the other person with a genuine heart and unconditionally but with only some expectation. A good leader should walk in love and should always stand for what is true and help others to understand it possibly for their well-being.

Activity: Truth or Lie

One of the participants shall be called out or volunteer. They have to tell 3 statements in which two statements should be true and one statement should be false. All others in the group should find the statement that is not right. It can be continued till all or some of the participants share. 

3. Holding valuable convictions

Fleeing from the Temptations:

Every one of us is surrounded by a fallen and corrupted environment in which there is greater cheating and mischief, though not explicit but unseen. Because we are not one hundred percent genuine, we have our stumbling areas to improve. There are certain things that we can stand firm and fight back and there are certain things which will consume us if we try to overcome it and against such things, we ought to flee and be careful not to fall into it.

Forgiving and feeding the haters:

A leader should not be just favorable to the people who are having good terms with him. But a good leader should be willing to do good even for those who act against him due to ignorance or jealousy or because of any other reason. Also, a good leader should meet the basic needs and should not hesitate to feed even those who hate him. It makes him great and helps the offenders and haters to repent from their mistakes.

Firm in the Convictions:

There are always constant changes around us, even in the rules and laws that existed for generations because of the change in perspective and innovations. But a good leader should also be strong in the convictions that are the core values and principles, a deviation which would cause a disaster in the long run, though temporarily gratify a larger group.

Flexible in the Learning & Usefulness:

Everything need not be happening as per the plans and expectations, there will be surely changing situations because of the environment or the people around us. A good leader should be flexible to learn from failures or mistakes and also he would be flexible to learn new things, even those that don’t interest him personally just for being useful to others. A good leader looks at everything as an opportunity and not as a hindrance.

Activity: Case Study

Dani was a young and dynamic person. He is a very talented and very kind person, with respect towards everyone. Once Dani’s boss ordered him to do mischief and take some drugs during a party. Dani was very kind and respectful, but at the same time, he made a strong decision not to obey the wrong instructions of his boss. Dani’s boss was threatening and insisting on doing what he had ordered. Dani was perplexed.

a.       What is the nature of Dani? Why he is perplexed?

b.      What would you decide to do, if you were in Dani’s situation?

 

4. Fulfilling commitments

Meekness and Gentleness in Actions:

There are always chances for us to get pride when we have a lot of talents and when we have a lot of responsibilities for ourselves. A good leader should be careful to suppress the pride and wear upon meekness and gentleness. When the attitude is set right, there is a strong commitment to stay humble and gentle to be friendly with everyone not just in the words we speak but in all the actions we do.

Accepting the suffering for a purpose:

Everyone will not be receiving appreciation and encouragement for the good things they do. Sometimes the appreciation and encouragement will be only for the wrong things or the things that most of us do, irrespective of whether it is right or wrong. But a good leader should always be strong for the values and keep up what is right. A good leader shall not care about what most people do, but what most people need to do, not affecting others, and for everyone to be joyful. 

Fighting the Good Fight to Reach:

It is not easy to achieve our goals without working towards them and if we achieve our goals without working for them or using shortcuts, it is not worth and it will not be pleasing as time passes. A good leader should have goals for themself as well as for the crew, he works with. Also, a good leader strives hard to achieve goals, by never giving up and fighting a good fight to reach the heights, though there might be sufferings and obstacles.

Acquiring the Crown of Joy in fulfilling things:

When we work towards something, we ought to receive the reward in return for it. A good leader always works towards something for the welfare of the people around them, and not for a reward, but he is always eligible for it. A good leader sets up his attitude right and he always acquires the crown of joy in the fulfillment and the impact that is made, even if it is one person, rather than getting a reward that is worth a billion or trillion. 

5. Passing on Precious Principles

Exhort with what is right:

A good leader should always provide the instructions and regulations for the crew to set themselves right and follow what is right. Sometimes the result would be pleasing and seems to be perfect but the path that is followed and the decisions that are made would have affected someone in some way. The leader must always exhort others who are following, with what is appropriate and right.

Quickly act upon what is promised:

It’s easier to give promises and gain the interest or favor of someone, but the favor might not be lasting and valid unless the promises are fulfilled. Also, as time progresses we will gain more responsibilities and we tend to forget the promises and start concentrating on something else. A good leader should also be thoughtful about the promises that are given and would try to best to fulfill the promises promptly.

Patience and Perseverance:

Sometimes some things will not work out as expected or as planned. It needs some patience to think of and work out some alternatives. Also, we might have to consistently work on it, to achieve the desired result, though there might be an undesirable result when tried thousand times. A good leader should always be patient and persevere and insist others be patient and perseverant.

Helping the successor to be useful double fold:

There is a tendency to be jealous if the other person becomes better and more efficient than us, especially when it is someone very close to us. A good leader consciously fights evil intentions and jealousy and even tries to help the other person, whether he is very much known or unknown to become better and the best continuously, by giving his best. A good leader equips, empowers, and entrusts the things that he has gained from others without any favoritism or selfish gain, but for the common good.