Reverence

                 

 Chapter 19

Reverence

Construction Stage 2.3   Anchoring Concrete/Steel Piles to Bedrock

SAL Model Stage 2.3   Reverence

 

Self-action leaders are REVERENT. 

Reverence is defined as both a noun: to possess or feel deep respect for someone or something; and a verb: to regard or treat with deep respect (1).

Reverence is a byproduct or outgrowth of humility

It exists as both an attitude (noun) and a behavior (verb).

While humility is analogous to drilling down to bedrock and driving piles deep underground to meet it, reverence is akin to anchoring those steel and concrete piles to that bedrock. Likewise, reverent thoughts, speech, actions, attitudes, and beliefs exemplify, personify, and solidify your humility. In this sense, reverence is the place where humility meets and merges with Universal Law.  

Just as a building company must exercise reverence for the natural laws of geology, meteorology, and physics, YOU must develop reverence for True Principles, Universal Laws, your Source, your fellow man, the planet you call Home, and your own potential for Existential Growth and Self-Transcendence up the SAL Hierarchy.  

Reverent self-action leaders are particularly aware of the inherent worth of all human bodies, hearts, minds, and souls. in the words of William Godwin: There is a reverence we owe to everything in human shape.

 "There is a reverence we owe to everything in human shape."

—William Godwin

Reverent self-action leaders further respect the Earth upon which humankind resides. So, while they always prioritize the well-being of human beings over inanimate objects, they also do their part to take care of the Earth and ensure its health and welfare for future generations.

Reverent self-action leaders respect institutions and authority figures in those institutions, insofar as the institutions and their authority figures are just and good. In cases where they are not just and good, reverent people are civil, ethical, fair-minded, honorable, just, peaceful, and respectful in their proactive efforts to bring about positive change.

Reverent self-action leaders also respect those persons from the past who lived—and in some cases died—to bring about the blessings, inventions, liberties, opportunities, and prosperity that they enjoy in the present—and will yet enjoy in the future.

The reverent recognize the great truth contained in Winston Churchill's timeless aphorism: If the present tries to sit in judgment of the past, it will lose the future.

 "If the present tries to sit in judgment of the past, 

it will lose the future."

—Winston Churchill

Reverent self-action leaders admire the commitment, discipline, hard work, and integrity of those on higher levels of Existential Growth. They readily discern the metaphysical essence of those on higher levels and are attracted to the positive aura, light, and wisdom that emanates from these persons. They seek out advice and counsel from these persons and then implement it into their own lives. 

Reverent self-action leaders advocate for, champion, and actively promote all positive and constructive virtues such as kindness, compassion, devotion, dignity, forgiveness, honor, humanity, integrity, moderation, and love.

Likewise, they discourage, decry, and actively denounce all negative and destructive vices such as: decadence, dishonesty, gluttony, greed, hedonism, jealousy, lust, narcissism, nihilism, and violence.

Reverent self-action leaders are also clean, orderly individuals who are respectful of their own things and the possessions of others. They avoid dirty jokes, gossip, profanity, and other sleazy communications. They have a profound respect for other human beings and go out of their way to affirm their worth and treat others with kindness, dignity, and respect. 

You will never catch a truly reverent person purposely littering, defacing or destroying the property of others, or intentionally hurting another person in body, mind, heart, or spirit.

Clean in their habitation and hygiene and refined in their conduct and decorum, the reverent have the capacity to be both meek and strong, gentle and courageous—simultaneously. 

In short, self-action leaders are REVERENT.

Or, in the words of a legendary Country Music song: humble and kind.

 "Always be humble and kind."

—Tim McGraw (vocalist)

Lori McKenna (lyricist)

SAL Master Challenge

EXERCISE  #18

1. Think of the last time you failed to show REVERENCE to someone or something. Describe this situation and reflect upon what you might do differently next time.  

2. What are some specific attitudes and behaviors you could exhibit in the future to be a more reverent person in your family, school, workplace, community, state, or nation?

3. Think of a REVERENT person you admire, but have never told them so. Contact TWO (2) such persons today, or before the end of the week. Express your admiration for them, thank them for their examples of reverence, and ask them for suggestions on how you might become a more reverent person yourself.    

I have completed the SAL Master Challenge EXERCISE #18

Your initials:__________         AP initials:__________

—Dr. JJ

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 454th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 251st consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 453 FF Blog Articles 

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES  

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

Click HERE to access the FULL TEXT of Dr. JJ's Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection

Click HERE for a complete listing of Self-Action Leadership Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Fitness, Heath, & Wellness Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Biographical & Historical Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Current Events, Cultural, Philosophical, & Miscellaneous Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Dr. JJ's Autobiographical Articles

.........................

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Chapter 19 Notes

1.  New Oxford American Dictionary (electronic version for MAC OS).

Honesty

               

 Chapter 17

Honesty

Construction Stage 2.1   Conducting Geological Surveys

SAL Model Stage 2.1   Honesty

 

A construction company must have accurate information about the soil, water table, and other geological variables when selecting a building site and developing blueprints for a structure's foundation. If you are to build a successful future as a self-action leader, you must likewise have accurate information about reality as it affects your personal life and the world-at-large.

Honesty is an absolute prerequisite to authentic Existential Growth. It serves as the foundation for all mutually beneficial and satisfying relationships as well as all lasting personal and professional success. Any product or relationship forged in deceit, fabrication, or falsity is like a "mansion built upon the sand." (1)

Such a relationship or product will eventually falter, fall, and fail.  

Building an integrity-based character begins with being honest with yourself. Self-honesty is all about making a complete commitment to objective reality—regardless of what you might think or feel about that reality.

In the contextually ironic, but ultimately sound advice of Polonius to his son, Laertes: 

This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man. (2)

          —Shakespeare

Honesty then extends to truth-telling and transparency with others. But always remember that it begins with being transparent and up-front with yourself; the former naturally precedes the latter.

Existential Growth is predicated on an absolute dedication to truth and reality. In the long-run, no other success in your life or career can compensate for a lack of integrity or a failure to see things as they really are.  

History is full of people who achieved remarkable things, yet lived—and died—in ignominy because they lacked integrity in their personal and/or professional lives and relationships. Their duplicity, debauchery (or both) ends up marking their legacy as much as, if not more so, than their talents and accomplishments.

It is a perpetual and perennial moral and existential tragedy. 

But it is a trap that you—as a self-action leader—can choose to avoid through the faithful practice of SAL and the ongoing aid of Serendipity.  

Self-action leaders understand the ultimate foolishness and futility of living in any way other than according to principles of truth, trust, and trustworthiness. 

They clearly comprehend that witty truism of Abraham Lincoln's: You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

"You can fool some of the people all of the time,

and all of the people some of the time;

but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."

—Abraham Lincoln

Far too many people in this world hold the erroneous belief that deceit, deception, manipulation, et cetera, is okay as long as you can get away with it. This paradigm is flawed because you never entirely get away with it. While you may "pull the wool" over the eyes of some—or even all—of the people in a given instance, YOU will always know the truth YOURSELF, and that knowledge will cause your integrity to atrophy and, if not remedied, to eventually die. 

When your integrity atrophies, it negatively impacts your self-confidence and personal esteem. No matter how hard you try to keep the truth hidden—and no matter how effectively you keep others in the dark—YOU will always know the truth, and one way or another you will eventually get caught—either by others, or by your own self-condemnation and personal collapse.

As Emerson once put it: Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Twain and Franklin echoed similar sentiments regarding honesty.

"Nothing is at last sacred but the

integrity of your own mind."

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

"If you tell the truth, you don't

have to remember anything."

—Mark Twain

"Honesty is the best policy."

—Benjamin Franklin

Thus, self-action leaders are continually committed to the TRUTH of every circumstance, situation, thing, and variable—and for two very specific and important reasons. 

FIRST, because they comprehend the long-term foolishness and futility of any other practice or route. Truth telling is simply the easiest way to live in the long-run. 

And SECOND, because they come to appreciate and love the truth so much that they cherish each and every opportunity to adhere to, honor, or rededicate themselves thereto.

It is the only sure pathway to Inner Peace.

SAL Master Challenge

EXERCISE  #16

1.  Think about someone you have not been honest with in the past. Go to that person, confess to and apologize for your dishonesty, communicate your intention and commitment to be honest in the future, and ask for their forgiveness. Then, to the extent you are able, repay or repair any damage that your dishonesty may have incurred. Do this TODAY, or at some point in the course of the next seven (7) days.

2.  If you have already been practicing circumspect honesty in your life and no confession is presently necessary, then write a journal entry about what you are doing to avoid and prevent dishonest words and actions in the future.  

3.  Is there something about which you are not being honest with YOURSELF? 

If so, reflect in your journal about why you have been choosing to engage in this and/or other self-deceptions. What are you hiding from or afraid of? What negative long-term consequences might materialize if you continue down your pathway of self-deception. What positive long-term benefits might evolve if you began telling the truth to yourself and others TODAY? 

I have completed the SAL Master Challenge EXERCISE #16

Your initials:__________         AP initials:__________

—Dr. JJ

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 450th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 249th consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 449 FF Blog Articles 

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES  

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

Click HERE to access the FULL TEXT of Dr. JJ's Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection

Click HERE for a complete listing of Self-Action Leadership Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Fitness, Heath, & Wellness Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Biographical & Historical Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Current Events, Cultural, Philosophical, & Miscellaneous Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Dr. JJ's Autobiographical Articles

.........................

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

If you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to bookmark this blog to access a new FREE article every Wednesday.

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks

Chapter 17 Notes

1.  A reference to the first line of Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s poem, Upon the Sand, which reads: "All love that has not friendship for its base, Is like a mansion built upon the sand.”

2.  Shakespeare's Hamlet: The Prince of Denmark. Act I, Scene III, Lines 84-86.