Recommit to Virtue: Part 9 of 10 - Gratitude or Wrath

The mistake that Arun Gandhi added to his grandfather's original seven is rights without responsibility. Arun Gandhi’s insight in developing an eighth error of humanity revealed that each of the proceeding seven blunders began with what many would consider a human right. The eighth human error added the dimension of the responsibilities that accompany rights. In our self-absorbed society, rights are perceived and wrathfully demanded as an entitlement that is void of all personal responsibility. Each right is a freedom, but if used irresponsibly, will be lost. The synergy of rights can elevate us if balanced by a simple attitude of gratitude which nullifies the entitlement mentality because we accept accountability and responsibility for these privileges. In expressing thanks for all things we recognize the contribution of others to our own well-being and personal peace.



Changing Lives One Word and One Touch at a Time

One of the greatest gifts we can offer a child is a feeling of security and safety.  How we communicate this plays a huge role in the child’s development of self worth.  I’ve been told that the majority of effective communication is non-verbal.  In other words my expressions, my tone of voice, my body position, and my movements all convey a profound message of their own.    Information that is read and interpreted by the listener either validates the words spoken, or stands in opposition to them.  All words must be confirmed by the body language or else doubt, misunderstanding, and hurt can result.   Words, both written and uttered, document the formal message, but they do not validate it.  The resulting conflict, from radically different messages, both verbal and non-verbal, confuse the process.  Just as words with multiple interpretations and varying cultural constraints can confound the communication, non-verbal messages compound the setting even more.