I used to read quotes on a regular basis. I signed up for something on the internet, I have no recollection of what it was exactly, but I started receiving an email with the “Quote of the Day.” I liked them and read them regularly. I stopped receiving them for a little over a year and today I got one! Anxious to see what it said I opened it, and behold:

Great quote, right? But do you see the problem with this little nugget of hope other than the terrible image they laid it over? How do you actually combat feelings of jealousy? You cannot just stop being something, jealous in this particular case, if you are not practicing to be the antithesis of it. Today I read this quote and I didn’t just agree with it. I studied it with the hope of finding something applicable from it, and concluded.

Today, lets practice confidence. Put time into thinking about your strengths, and building them. Be aware of your weaknesses but don’t put so much value on them. It’s not our weaknesses that improve the world around us, it’s our strengths.

25 Killer Actions to Boost Your Self-Confidence

“…only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” -Benjamin Franklin

“Trying to become virtuous merely by excluding vice, however, is as unrealistic as trying to cultivate roses solely by eliminating weeds.” -Donald DeMarco

If virtue is what enables are freedom of self-governance it must not be taken for granted. We need to understand virtues, acquire, and develop them, but where do virtues come from?

This question has been asked by history’s greatest theologians and philosophers. Aristotle used the word hexis to describe moral virtue. Moral virtue is derived from action. Virtues can be passed down from family and cultures if children are taught to habitually embrace them.

How much do we really know about virtues and how often do we seek to understand and practice them?

Often times I find myself trying to derive new ways of increasing my income and I feel greedy. I think of starting a business, creating side jobs, investing, and getting additional certifications. You name it, I’ve thought it, and probably researched it too. Is wanting to do better in the world for my family and myself greed? The definition of greed is an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. By this definition wanting more for myself, my own selfish gain, is greed, but wanting it for my family is not. I have dreams to send my son to college, and for my fiancé and I to retire financially secure so we won’t be a burden on our children’s families. So I’m selfish. I want things for myself and at times I can be greedy, but how does one combat greed?

When I think about my life and greed, I think about how generous God is. He gives His children more than they could possibly ask for. Without God my life would not exist. The simple pleasures of having a family, raising my son, enjoying the outdoors, and laughing with friends and family, none of it would exist without God. I’m in  good health, and am capable of doing anything I set my mind too. I have skills sets, innate talents and natural abilities that make me uniquely me and God calls me, as He does everybody, to make the most of what He’s created us to already be; to make the most of our talents, passions, and dreams. Living up to my highest standard does not make me or anyone else selfish or greedy, as long as I remember the generous God that has empowered me to do so. When I remember His many and generous gifts such as empowerment, hope, love, life, and fidelity I can in turn pass them on to others. The opposite of greed is generosity. Today be marked by giving.