PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Reason

Noun
1. a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.: the reason for declaring war.
2. a statement presented in justification or explanation of a belief or action.
3. the mental powers concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences.
4. sound judgment; good sense.
5. normal or sound powers of mind; sanity.
6. Logic. a premise of an argument.
7. Philosophy.
a. the faculty or power of acquiring intellectual knowledge, either by direct understanding of first principles or by argument.
b. the power of intelligent and dispassionate thought, or of conduct influenced by such thought.
c. Kantianism. the faculty by which the ideas of pure reason are created.

Verb (used without object)
8. to think or argue in a logical manner.
9. to form conclusions, judgments, or inferences from facts or premises.
10. to urge reasons which should determine belief or action.

Verb (used with object)
11. to think through logically, as a problem (often fol. by out).
12. to conclude or infer.
13. to convince, persuade, etc., by reasoning.
14. to support with reasons.

Idioms
15. bring (someone) to reason, to induce a change of opinion in (someone) through presentation of arguments; convince: The mother tried to bring her rebellious daughter to reason.
16. by reason of, on account of; because of: He was consulted about the problem by reason of his long experience.
17. in or within reason, in accord with reason; justifiable; proper: She tried to keep her demands in reason.
18. stand to reason, to be clear, obvious, or logical: With such an upbringing it stands to reason that the child will be spoiled.
19. with reason, with justification; properly: The government is concerned about the latest crisis, and with reason.

Synonyms:
1. purpose, end, aim, object, objective. Reason, cause, motive are terms for a circumstance (or circumstances) which brings about or explains certain results. A reason is an explanation of a situation or circumstance which made certain results seem possible or appropriate: The reason for the robbery was the victim's display of his money. The cause is the way in which the circumstances produce the effect, that is, make a specific action seem necessary or desirable: The cause was the robber's extreme need of money. A motive is the hope, desire, or other force which starts the action (or an action) in an attempt to produce specific results: The motive was to get money to buy food for his family. 2. excuse, rationalization. 3. understanding, intellect, mind, intelligence. 10. persuade.




Knowledge

"He who knows not and knows not he knows not: he is a fool - shun him.
He who knows not and knows he knows not: he is simple - teach him.
He who knows and knows not he knows: he is asleep - wake him.
He who knows and knows he knows: he is wise - follow him."

Author: Proverb


Understanding

One of the most important things in my life is to understand something. I know there are reasons for everything that happens. There are reasons for everything I do. One thing that I have yet to understand is why I am able to do things that hurt the people I truly love. I know that I truly loved my wife and yet I was guilty of actions that really hurt her. Same with my children, I know that I truly loved them and yet I did things that hurt them.

God and forgiveness

I want to believe that there is a God. I believe that he is the only one that can truly forgive me for things that I can not forgive myself. I believe that I have to forgive myself before anyone else can forgive me. In order to have forgiveness I must ask to be forgiven. If I am forgiven that does not make the thing I am forgiven for go away.


Investing in myself

I. Personal growth through investment in myself.

A. Discard invalid, conditioned beliefs.
1. Drop self imposed barriers.

B. Change the way I think.
1. Change restrictive, negative ways of thinking.
2. Adopt constructive, positive concepts.

C. Change the way I act.

D. Change my habits.

E. Change my attitudes.

F. All lasting and meaningful change starts on the inside and works its way out.

II. Self Discipline.

A. Control of my desires.

B. Control of my mind.
1. Resist the temptation to fool myself.
a. What is right and what is wrong.

C. Thinking differently.
1. Identify thoughts or beliefs that limit me.
2. Learn to think outside my limitations.

D. Scotomas - (diminished sight: a permanent or temporary area of diminished sight in the field of vision ) Lockouts or blind spots.
1. Keeps me from seeing the truth.
a. Partial truths, partial beliefs, false beliefs.
2. Preconceived way I see things.
3. Habitual way I do things.
a. See what I expect to see.
b. Hear what I expect to hear.
c. Think what I expect to think.
d. Say what I expect to say.
e. Do what I expect to do.
4. Unaware that I have scotomas.
5. Prevent me from finding solutions.
6. Block me from seeing the problem.

E. Determine my own behavior.
1. Be my own person.
2. Be my own authority.
3. Open up my own capabilities.
4. Release my creativity.
5. Unleash my potential.

F. Affirmations - statements of belief.
1. Subconscious mind.
a. Accept what I affirm.
b. Works to carry out my affirmations.
c. Positive as well as negative.
2. Break through the barriers that limit me.
a. Barriers placed by myself.
b. Barriers placed on me by others.