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Be The Living Example – Part 2
This post is the second part of a series titled “Be The Living Example”. If you’ve not already done so, we recommend that you first read part one, as it provides a proper introduction to this topic. Please click here to view that post: [Link]
How can I be the living example?
Before you can take any steps toward being the living example, you should first make sure it is something you truly desire to do. Desire is the fire; it is the fuel it takes to propel you forward—toward accomplishing a change in your life. You must ask yourself if this is something you really want and if you’re willing to make the necessary changes and sacrifices to get there. If you’d like to delve into learning more about desire, please check out our post titled “What Do You Desire?”
After you have found the desire to become the living example, the first step is to start watching the words you use. In a previous blog post titled “Watch Your Words,” we discussed how important it is to observe the words the come out of your mouth. Oftentimes people will speak without thinking—or use words that carry negative, limiting and constricting connotations. It’s vital that you become aware of your words, as they have the potential to create your reality. If you’re looking to become the living example, then watching your words is the first place to start.
The next step is to take note of your behavior. If you find yourself trapped in repetitive behavioral patterns, it may be time to make some changes. Are you happy with how you treat other people? Are you happy with how you react in situations where you are uncomfortable? Are you easily shaken, stressed or disturbed? Do you have regrets about how you’ve behaved soon after a situation takes place? These questions are of value, but perhaps the most important question is, do you advise people on how to handle challenging situations, yet you struggle with them yourself? If the answer is yes, you should take some time to think about why you feel qualified to advise others on things you cannot personally accomplish. Being a living contradiction is the antithesis to being the living example—something that should be avoided. If you want to give people advice about something, you must be sure it is something you’ve done, are currently doing, or will do in the very near future.
Learning how to be present is a very helpful step towards becoming the living example. Thinking about the past and worrying about the future detract from your ability to live fully in the present moment. Many people struggle with this. Regret about the past or rumination about the future can weigh heavily on a person’s thoughts and emotions. One of our most important blogs goes into detail about being present; it’s titled “The Power Of The Present Moment”. We suggest you take the time to read through it.
We do hope you found this post to be useful. It’s important to note that life is full of surprises, so striving to always be the living example can be difficult at times. We want to stress that it is the effort that matters the most. You might find it difficult at times to live in alignment with your words, but you should always strive to do so, regardless of whether you sometimes fall short.
