Six Harsh Truths That Will Make You A Better Person

[blithe spirit]

http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-harsh-truths-that-will-make-you-bette...

This article starts with a little exercise....

“I want you to try something: Name five impressive things about yourself. Write them down or just shout them out loud to the room. But here's the catch -- you're not allowed to list anything you are (i.e., I'm a nice guy, I'm honest), but instead can only list things that you do (i.e., I just won a national chess tournament, I make the best chili in Massachusetts). If you found that difficult, well, this is for you, and you are going to fucking hate hearing it. “

 

The premise in this article is that if  you don’t go about the task of seeing to others’ needs by learning a unique set of skills,  the world will reject you, no matter how kind, giving and polite you are. You will be poor, you will be alone, you will be left out in the cold.  It’s great that you have all these wonderful traits but you have put them to use in some way to benefit others  in order to have a happier and more successful life.

6. The World Only Cares About What It Can Get From You

5. The Hippies Were Wrong

4. What You Produce Does Not Have To Make Money, But It Does Have To Benefit People

3. You Hate Yourself Because You Don’t Do Anything

2. What You Are Inside Only Matters Because Of What It Makes You Do

1. Everything Inside You Will Fight Improvement

 

I remember a saying from when I was younger…. Actions speak louder than words.

Anyway I found this article an interesting take on self-improvement.

[Lifesighs]

Yes, makes sense to realize it does take action, I don't know if I agree with the whole article because at this point in my life I don't care much what the world wants from me. I'm not sure what #5 means by the Hippies were wrong...I was never a hippie so I don't get that.

I have put my traits to use during my lifetime, am satisfied and happy. I still do as much as I want to participate. I also don't think making good chili or winning a chess tournament are things to be all that excited about as far as achievement or a satisfying life, better than being a total couch potato.

Interesting article to think about blithe spirit. Inner qualities will still drive actions in my opinion.

[T2Friends]

 It is a kind of a hard scap kind of way of putting it,  but I think there is some truth in there.  Bottom line, it is all well and good to say you are a good person, but how do your action actually demonstrate that.  I can come up with a few things to put on my list.  Some of them would certainly "sound" trivial, like making award winning chilli, but that doesn't mean that it is trivial, at least not to the people in my life  that benefit from my particular version of "award winning chilli".  lol  

I think about that saying all the time, "Actions speak louder than words",  I also think "Putting your money where your mouth is"  follows the same theme.  

[frenchy]

well i don't know about the rest of the guys here but i'm still willin to give all the women here free breast exams..  

[ProblemAgain]

[blithe spirit]

I find this article interesting because the take is different...sort of a tough love kind of thing.

I think the "hippies are wrong" reference is the idea that we all have intrinsic value simply because we exsist...and maybe that's true but we have to be able to translate that value into something within ourselves that allows us to try to function in the world.... different from the idea that we are entitled just because. 

There is this curent of it's all about "me,me me" that works against our own self interests. There has to be balance...give a little to get a little.

Stuff to think about....

[frenchy]

ok now you're forcin me to be serious too .. i got what the guy was tryin to say .. i think the glen gary glen ross was a stretch tho .. because in order to close a sale it takes two people .. unless you're some kinda svenguli that can use mind manipulation and make people fall under your spell you ain't gonna sell ice to the eskimo's .. you have to have somethin that people either want or need and last but not least can afford .. you ain't gonna sell a rolls royce to a guy workin at walmart stockin shelves .. i don't care how good you are .. and then there is the simple truth that some people are not salesmen .. is it learned or are you born with it ?? i dunno .. thats the old nature or nurture thing .. there's the old sayin that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink .. but a salesman will make him drink .. how ?? he'll give that horse salt .. but no matter how much salt you give a horse he won't drink if the throth is empty .. you still have to have somethin in there .. far as the hippies bein wrong , yes and no .. nothin wrong with some peace love and understandin but you still have to contribute somethin to this world .. altho tryin to stop the war and promote world peace is indeed a positive thing at some point a job is still needed to pay your own way . so i get his point we should all be contributin members of society .. the world is this big interconnected web of things and services we can all do for each other .. i get it .. but what lifey said is pertinent too .. you worked all your life and made your contributions to society and are now retired and don't feel the need to make anything or serve anyone anymore .. and she's also right .. so to sum up the guy has a point but .. one size don't fit all .. there's all different levels of either salesmanship, creativity ,service or just plain hard labor like mowin somebodies lawn .. 

[blithe spirit]

LOL...awwww...you didn't need to be serious. I didn't really care for the sales metaphor although the guy has a point.We're all in different places in our lives and our experiences and traits have led us to where we are now...it all plays a part.

You know I just like to think about this psycho stuff...

[dwalt]

I just try to treat people as I would want to be treated.  It's really not that hard. Another thing people need to learn is not to wear their feelings on their shoulders.

[crestofwaves]

Very very interesting.  And, also truthful.  Whether I agree that this way is a good way or not, I must agree that the article is sharing truth of what many young people see as successful.