PROMISE 7 of THE PROMISE OF 7

A Monthly Newsletter Featuring Bryan Dodge

PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

I’m so excited to be sharing with you my “Promise of 7” each month. There are 7 promises each person can make to build a better life for themselves and those that depend on you. If you have missed any of the past 7 promises, go to my website: DodgeDevelopment.com and all the articles are posted for you to read and share. This month I am addressing the seventh “Promise of 7.”

The Promise of 7” - Promise to live by the three graces: Hope, Grace, & Charity

We tend to view the three ‘graces’ or ‘virtues’ as those in Christian theology, but they are prevalent in some way or form in every religion, and even deeply rooted in Free Masonry.?The goal here is to instill the desire to become a better person; to utilize these three Principal Moral Virtues for the greater good of mankind and one’s fellow man. For the record though, there will be some scriptural references here to depict exactly how to apply these virtues. Speaking of the word “virtue”, the Latin root of the word is “virtus”, which means “strength” or “power.” Growing in virtue is a lifelong task to strengthen your willpower to choose what is best and right, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Faith

I’m mentioning Faith here because it is so intertwined with Hope. Faith is more than a confession of faith.?It is more than merely believing that something is true. Faith is trust. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It’s unconditional belief that something exists, that an event will happen or that a person will do what they say. In spirituality, our faith leads us to live righteously, because we trust that the rewards will be worth it.

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1 Peter 1:6 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perish, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."

“Live your faith.”?It’s a phrase that we hear often in church or from mentors and peers, but it can be difficult to articulate what that really means.?

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves”-Philippians 2:3.?

Living your faith could start with something as simple as being a friend to others, being a good listener and attentive friend to those around you. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to have a serious conversation with a friend, and they can’t be bothered to look up from their phone long enough to engage with you. Choose to be intentional with your relationships and treat others the way you would want to be treated. The Lord has blessed each of us with unique gifts. Sometimes we don’t even realize we have those gifts, but they’ve been given to us for the purpose of living and sharing. Radiate your positivity and always show your gratitude.

Hope

Hope is the belief or faith that we shall succeed; that things will turn out for the best; ‘hope’ meaning that we have a ‘feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. Faith’ and ‘hope’ are symbiotically intertwined.

Hope can be a particularly powerful protector against the dread of a chronic or life-threatening illness. It needn't center on a cure to be useful, though those aspirations are enticing. Rather, a person's hope—even when facing an illness that will likely end their life can be aimed at finding joy or comfort. It can be cultivated and focused on achieving life milestones, such as meeting grandchildren or attending a child's wedding. It can be found in moments of serenity. Hope can be an opportunity for us to process events that seem insurmountable. A massive setback in life, a crushing accident, a vigil held during a relative's last days in the intensive care unit, or even our own final months living with a fatal disease can be times when hope for comfort serves as a pathway from one stage to the next. In daily life, hardships, fears, and frustrations are abundant; we often encounter obstacles that make life difficult; people we don’t like or those who make us feel inferior. But if we have faith in ourselves, our God/Supreme Being, and hope to anchor us to the right path and the way to walk it, we will succeed. Hope is an essential component of our well-being. What can we do when it seems to be in short supply? First, we can start by practicing gratitude. Spending a few minutes each day recounting the positives in one's life—even small ones like noticing a moment of serenity in the sunshine, or the endorphins of a brisk walk around your neighborhood can have enormous impact. Next, we can begin to actively envision realistic ways that our circumstances may improve. Pain and discomfort often subside. Even deep sorrows can pass with time. In all these cases, the action to embrace is to choose to be mindful and deliberate about fostering positivity, even in the face of its absence.

Grace – 10 Ways to Live with Grace

Understand who you are and live authentically - Just be you. All those concerns you have about how you look, act, or what people think don’t matter. When you are truly yourself you will attract the people who will appreciate you for who you really are. And your inner and outer worlds will align, reducing stress and bringing more peace into your life.

Let your heart guide you -Your inner spirit speaks through your heart. God does too. So, use your brain as a tool to gather information, but listen to the guidance of your heart in the end.

Take care of yourself - In order to live you need to take care of your body. Your mind and spirit need support, too. Without self-care your life becomes limited, but with it your possibilities are endless.

Practice kindness and compassion - When you live a loving life, you feel surrounded by love. And, you will be making a difference in the world, whether you feel it or not. Being kindhearted will enhance the well-being of everyone in your life, including you.

Limit drama and embrace peace - Don’t let drama and discord take up space in your life. Limit your exposure to what could be unnecessarily upsetting and focus on what is peaceful, useful, and warms your heart. You will feel much better when you do.

Live simply - Don’t let the things you own, your schedule, or people stuffocate you. When you focus your attention on what you find useful, beautiful, or meaningful and let the rest go, you create a sanctuary in both your heart and home.

Spend time in nature - God can be felt in nature. You don’t have to be a hiker or gardener to connect with it. The wonders of nature can be found most anywhere, even in a weed growing through a crack in a sidewalk. Take time to notice the beautiful natural world around you. Appreciate it, breathe it in, or take a picture to preserve the memory.

Live the truth - Living your truth includes always being honest and doing what you say you will. Dishonesty and broken agreements damage relationships and destroy trust, even if they are with yourself. Speaking and living the truth is one of the most empowering things you can do.

Embrace daily practices - Creating a framework for your days can improve your mood, focus, and connection to your heart. Morning practices might include journaling, reading something uplifting, exercise, meditation, or setting intentions for the day. At night you may want to consider a gratitude practice, relaxation, reading, praying, or something that helps you sleep well.

Live in the present moment — Focusing on your present moment’s limits space in your mind for worrying about the future or feeling bad about the past. Too many of us live in our heads most of the time and don’t notice the small moments of our days that are passing us by. You will be more effective and feel more grounded when you pay attention to what is happening right now.

Charity – 5 Ways Giving Back is So Rewarding

New studies attest to the benefits of giving—not just for the recipients but for the givers’ health and happiness, and for the strength of entire communities.

Research suggests that big benefits come from donating to charities or volunteering your time, like at a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter. Here are some of the ways that giving is good for you and your community.

Giving makes us feel happy - In a 2006 study, Jorge Moll and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health found that when people give to charities, it activates regions of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust, creating a “warm glow” effect. Scientists also believe that altruistic behavior releases endorphins in the brain, producing the positive feeling known as the “helper’s high.”

Giving is good for our health - A wide range of research has linked different forms of generosity to better health. A 1999 study led by Doug Oman of the University of California, Berkeley, found that elderly people who volunteered for two or more organizations were 44 percent less likely to die over a five-year period than were non-volunteers.

Giving promotes cooperation and social connection - When you give, you’re more likely to get back. What’s more, when we give to others, we don’t only make them feel closer to us; we also feel closer to them. “Being kind and generous leads you to perceive others more positively and more charitably.

Giving evokes gratitude - Whether you’re on the giving or receiving end of a gift, that gift can elicit feelings of gratitude—it can be a way of expressing gratitude or instilling gratitude in the recipient. And research has found that gratitude is integral to happiness, health, and social bonds.

Giving is contagious - When we give, we don’t only help the immediate recipient of our gift. We also spur a ripple effect of generosity through our community. So, whether you buy gifts, volunteer your time, or donate money to charity, your giving is much more than just a once-a-year chore.?It may help you build stronger social connections and even jumpstart a cascade of generosity through your community. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself benefiting from a big dose of happiness in the process.

Please forward to anybody you feel might enjoy this newsletter!

Dodge Development | 800-473-1698 | [email protected] | www.dodgedevelopment.com

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