Maria Shriver once wrote a speech for her godson's graduation. It was so well received by the students and their parents that she ended up making the speech into a book, which my mother gave to me when I graduated from HS in 2004. I remembered it being a really awesome thought provoking speech, but I forgot until today just how important and pertinent it really was and still is. Recently, I just re bought the book to give as a graduation present to my friend. But before I give it to him of course I had to reread it myself! So, tonight I reread the book that impacted me 6 years prior and still even more so strikes a chord with me today. I'd like to share with you some of my favorite parts:
"What do you want to be famous for? When you try to answer that question, please set your sights high-because you can be famous for doing something great in this world, something that matters, something that makes life better.
You can use your fame to inspire people and give them HOPE. I think now more than ever we need famous people with integrity, character, and vision-people who want to lead, who want to change the world and make it more peaceful, HOPEFUL, and compassionate place, a place where more people feel accepted and valued for who they are."
"Allow me to challenge you to think about ... what you believe. Look at what you believe, in order to find out who you will become. In truth, that's the most important question we can all ask ourselves throughout our lives: "What do I believe-and what do I want to be? Answering that question is crucial, because what you believe is the foundation upon which you build yourself as you continue to grow."
"What is my truth?..."
"We're supposed to grow and evolve. We have to give ourselves the permission and freedom to stay open to change...I'm talking about letting life's experiences affect you and mature you. I'm talking about going down deep and finding out where you're at and where you need to go next."
Those are just a few of my favorite quotes from the book. I think the reason why I really love her book is because it just encompasses my life philosophy of really knowing who you are, what you're about, what you really believe in, what makes you tick, your feelings, your strengths, your weaknesses, etc. That's what I want my next tattoo to be "Know Thyself" and "Be Thyself" It's so important to understand Who you are, because it spreads all over into every other aspect of your life. And if you don't like one of your habits, your attitude, your flaws, etc. it's not the end all and be all. You have time to change yourself! That's probably one of the best things I've learned this past year: That I have a choice about who I am, how I act, and what I believe. Life doesn't control me. I control my life. I know most of these words are not mine in this post, but they've changed my life in a pretty profound way. I hope I can do the same for somebody else. Do yourself a favor and pick up "Just Who Will You Be" By Maria Shriver.
Peace and love!
Showing posts with label know thyself. Show all posts
Showing posts with label know thyself. Show all posts
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Temperament Test
Just before I stumbled across a temperament test on line and decided to take a few minutes to fill it out. I've taken many tests like it before, so I pretty much already knew what the results were going to be. I'm not going to say that I was surprised by my results, but I would go as far as to saying that it was definitely something that I was very happy to hear. I found it to be seriously encouraging. I'm finding that I'm running into more and more encouraging "signs" that I'm on the right path, and I can't even begin to explain in words how invigorating it feels. I'm definitely feeling more and more empowered that little Alice Haight can influence and create big positives changes in this world. If you don't think so, that's okay, you don't have to. I'm almost 100% convinced that I'm going to do great things in this world. As long as I have the help and support of my family, friends, my church, my job, my education, my networks, my activism, and most of all my God. Without Him I would have no life and not talents, so therefore I am thankful for his gifts and hope to use them to the best of my ability for the good of others.
"You may say that I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will be as one" (John Lennon "Imagine") I couldn't help myself I just love the Beatles, especially John. He was pretty out there, but his heart was in the right place and I admire him for that. And I also just learned that John had the same temperament as me! How cool is that?
Okay, so I know you're all dying to know what they said so here's the results:
Custom Keirsey Temperament Report for: Alice Haight
Your Keirsey Temperament Sorter Results indicates that your personality type is that of the Rationals...
Rationals are the problem solving temperament, particularly if the problem has to do with the many complex systems that make up the world around us. Rationals might tackle problems in organic systems such as plants and animals, or in mechanical systems such as railroads and computers, or in social systems such as families and companies and governments. But whatever systems fire their curiosity, Rationals will analyze them to understand how they work, so they can figure out how to make them work better.
In working with problems, Rationals try to find solutions that have application in the real world, but they are even more interested in the abstract concepts involved, the fundamental principles or natural laws that underlie the particular case. And they are completely pragmatic about their ways and means of achieving their ends. Rationals don't care about being politically correct. They are interested in the most efficient solutions possible, and will listen to anyone who has something useful to teach them, while disregarding any authority or customary procedure that wastes time and resources.
Rationals have an insatiable hunger to accomplish their goals and will work tirelessly on any project they have set their mind to. They are rigorously logical and fiercely independent in their thinking -- are indeed skeptical of all ideas, even their own -- and they believe they can overcome any obstacle with their will power. Often they are seen as cold and distant, but this is really the absorbed concentration they give to whatever problem they're working on. Whether designing a skyscraper or an experiment, developing a theory or a prototype technology, building an aircraft, a corporation, or a strategic alliance, Rationals value intelligence, in themselves and others, and they pride themselves on the ingenuity they bring to their problem solving.
Rationals are very scarce, comprising as little as 7 to 10 percent of the population. But because of their drive to unlock the secrets of nature, and to develop new technologies, they have done much to shape our world.
Rationals at Work
As a Rational, you seek to acquire and apply expertise. You thrive in an autonomous and intellectually stimulating workplace, working alongside other competent people, pursuing knowledge or creating systems. Your core need to follow the driving force of your own intelligence leads to particular career challenges. For example, recognition of your expertise may lead to your being put "in charge" of other people, as a manager, when you might prefer to remain immersed in projects of your own.
You are fascinated with developing strategic plans for others to use. In your preferred environment, you work behind the scenes while someone else takes the active leadership role. Often, you are driven to step in as leader when you become impatient with the way a project is going. In your ideal job, you independently analyze systems and make recommendations about how objectives will best be reached; someone else does the work of delegating work, motivating people, or enforcing work duties. You want challenge in your work and become frustrated when asked to merely follow routines, especially if those routines are inefficient.
To conclude, remember how I keep finding weird signs and assurances? Well, I have another one. I am going to have two weeks off of work in July so that I can volunteer at a Christian Camp. Since I'm going to have so much time off I have also been considering finally getting my "Know Thyself" tattoo in the original Latin right before i leave. How amazingly perfect is it that I came across a temperament test that describes my personality and I want a tattoo that says "Know thyself?" Come on, you just can't make this stuff up! Be blessed, stay cool, and keep rocking in the free world...
P.S. Have you paid it forward lately? Don't think I forgot!
"You may say that I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will be as one" (John Lennon "Imagine") I couldn't help myself I just love the Beatles, especially John. He was pretty out there, but his heart was in the right place and I admire him for that. And I also just learned that John had the same temperament as me! How cool is that?
Okay, so I know you're all dying to know what they said so here's the results:
Custom Keirsey Temperament Report for: Alice Haight
Your Keirsey Temperament Sorter Results indicates that your personality type is that of the Rationals...
Rationals are the problem solving temperament, particularly if the problem has to do with the many complex systems that make up the world around us. Rationals might tackle problems in organic systems such as plants and animals, or in mechanical systems such as railroads and computers, or in social systems such as families and companies and governments. But whatever systems fire their curiosity, Rationals will analyze them to understand how they work, so they can figure out how to make them work better.
In working with problems, Rationals try to find solutions that have application in the real world, but they are even more interested in the abstract concepts involved, the fundamental principles or natural laws that underlie the particular case. And they are completely pragmatic about their ways and means of achieving their ends. Rationals don't care about being politically correct. They are interested in the most efficient solutions possible, and will listen to anyone who has something useful to teach them, while disregarding any authority or customary procedure that wastes time and resources.
Rationals have an insatiable hunger to accomplish their goals and will work tirelessly on any project they have set their mind to. They are rigorously logical and fiercely independent in their thinking -- are indeed skeptical of all ideas, even their own -- and they believe they can overcome any obstacle with their will power. Often they are seen as cold and distant, but this is really the absorbed concentration they give to whatever problem they're working on. Whether designing a skyscraper or an experiment, developing a theory or a prototype technology, building an aircraft, a corporation, or a strategic alliance, Rationals value intelligence, in themselves and others, and they pride themselves on the ingenuity they bring to their problem solving.
Rationals are very scarce, comprising as little as 7 to 10 percent of the population. But because of their drive to unlock the secrets of nature, and to develop new technologies, they have done much to shape our world.
Rationals at Work
As a Rational, you seek to acquire and apply expertise. You thrive in an autonomous and intellectually stimulating workplace, working alongside other competent people, pursuing knowledge or creating systems. Your core need to follow the driving force of your own intelligence leads to particular career challenges. For example, recognition of your expertise may lead to your being put "in charge" of other people, as a manager, when you might prefer to remain immersed in projects of your own.
You are fascinated with developing strategic plans for others to use. In your preferred environment, you work behind the scenes while someone else takes the active leadership role. Often, you are driven to step in as leader when you become impatient with the way a project is going. In your ideal job, you independently analyze systems and make recommendations about how objectives will best be reached; someone else does the work of delegating work, motivating people, or enforcing work duties. You want challenge in your work and become frustrated when asked to merely follow routines, especially if those routines are inefficient.
To conclude, remember how I keep finding weird signs and assurances? Well, I have another one. I am going to have two weeks off of work in July so that I can volunteer at a Christian Camp. Since I'm going to have so much time off I have also been considering finally getting my "Know Thyself" tattoo in the original Latin right before i leave. How amazingly perfect is it that I came across a temperament test that describes my personality and I want a tattoo that says "Know thyself?" Come on, you just can't make this stuff up! Be blessed, stay cool, and keep rocking in the free world...
P.S. Have you paid it forward lately? Don't think I forgot!
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