Intrinsic Faith vs. Intrinsic Fear

Thanks to those of you who have sent comments and compliments on my last two newsletters. Those fantasy fairies and contemptuous eye rolls seem to be prevalent amongst you. I hope you're staying on the lookout for them.

This month I'd like to talk to you about the properties and characteristics of success. As Og Mandino writes, "Which two, among a thousand wise men, will define success in the same words; yet failure is always described but one way. Failure is man's inability to reach his goals in life, whatever they may be. In truth, the only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in the difference of their habits. Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure. Thus, the first law I will obey, which preceedeth all others is - I will form good habits and become their slaves."

Yes, "good habits are the key to all success." So, what good habits have you purposefully and consciously acquired lately?

Intrinsic Fears

In my studies of Dr. Robert Hartman's works in axiology, I came across his "twenty properties of the self test" and I want to share these with you. He labeled these qualities 'intrinsic faith" and "intrinsic fear". The qualities of "Intrinsic Faith" positively enrich our lives while those of "Intrinsic Fear" diminish us.

Let's take a look at his intrinsic fears.  While we do this, I have purposefully not put them in a list format but rather added them throughout the text so that your brain won't skim through it. I want to encourage you to think about each property or characteristic. Yes, it would've been much easier to simply copy and paste his list, but please take the time to read through these. Consider these questions as you read through this list...

• Are you making excuses for your behaviors that match the intrinsic fears?

• Are your thoughts telling you that you don't 'fear' anything?

• Do one or more of these words stand out as thoughts/behaviors that you have frequently?

¹Defiance and Spitefulness top Hartman's list. Do you ever feel ²Aggressive or Defensive? Has anyone ever told you that you are overly ³Competitive? Do you exhibit ⁴Restrictiveness or Narrowness?  How about ⁵Cynicism which is a distrust of the integrity or intentions of others? Do you ever feel ⁶Sanctimoniousness or Holier-than-thou? How about ⁷Greed or ⁸Vanity? Are you ⁹Easily Hurt or Touchy at times? Even though you don't like to admit it, do you ever feel ¹⁰Cowardice in the face of danger, difficulty, opposition or pain? At times are you ¹¹Vengeful and vindictive or ¹²Heavy Handed? Hartman also lists ¹³Complicated / Lack of Common Sense as an intrinsic fear. Do you ever have a sense of ¹⁴Irrelevance / No Sense of Proportion? How about ¹⁵Irrationality, ¹⁶Systemic-ness or Rigidity? Do you ever feel ¹⁷Tense or Frantic? Do you act with ¹⁸Inconsistency, Hesitation or Impatience? Do you sometimes feel ¹⁹Non-aware, Dull or Cold? Do you ever suffer from ²⁰Indifference or that "Whatever (insert eye roll here) attitude"?

It's a Small, Small World

Here is an abridged version of Hartman's description of Intrinsic Fear...

People experiencing intrinsic fear and suspicion cannot trust the world, they can only trust themselves. During these moments, all they have is their own power. They have to be the ones who command for otherwise everything would go awry. They have and need a feeling of superiority and indispensability for they are the only ones who can make order in the universal chaos. In business these are the ones around whom everything has to circle. They cannot delegate authority. If they did everything would go wrong; in some instances they feel that the world itself would fall apart. They are the ones who keep it together, precariously, by its seams. The world view of those living in intrinsic fear is restrictive. Every building up of the other means a tearing down of him/herself. Thus, when they praise they have to do so with condescension so that their own merit will not be obscured.

Anything that goes against those with intrinsic fear is exaggerated because it is so unjust, and anything that goes for them is taken for granted. They will not venture, in either thought, feeling, or action beyond certain limits. Few things appear to be possible. They are only of the present, trying to conserve what they have rather than risking it in great enterprise. They are spiritual cry-babies, and it is this that makes them cowardly. The fearful are irrational. Their defective thoughts about their 'self' interfere with the clarity of their vision. They use systems and rules in order to bolster themselves and exert control over others.

Lastly and most importantly, the fearful, since they lack a sense of perspective, are indifferent towards what really counts, especially toward the infinite greatness of the human being. Since they are weak inside and hate to be touched by anything unpleasant, they are indifferent against suffering and have little or no compassion. To the fearful, the world is, indeed, a small place.

Can you see how these characteristics interfere with you being the best YOU that you can possibly be? Can you see how these properties, feelings, and thoughts are counterproductive to your success? When you exhibit any of these properties, you have no ability to intrinsically value others because your mind is giving you thoughts that only focus on you AND you are choosing to react and respond to them.

These types of thoughts are devaluing, not only to others, but to you as well.

Intrinsic Faith

So, let's look at what we should focus our minds on. Again I'll use the paragraph format (but if you're a list person, there will be a link at the end of this newsletter so that you can view the list format.) 

Topping the Hartman's list is ¹Humility which is the modest opinion or estimate of your own importance, rank, etc. You should also focus on ²Serenity and being peaceful, calm, or tranquil. ³Cooperation, ⁴Expansiveness, and ⁵Humaneness are also attributes of those who live in intrinsic faith. How often do you feel ⁶Magnanimous and ⁷Generous?  Are you understanding and tolerant of others (or only those who agree with you)?  Do you focus on being ⁸Unpretentious, modest, humble, open and easy-going? If you're living in faith, you are also ⁹Not Easily Hurt; you are ¹⁰Bold and Courageous. You are ¹¹Forgiving and ¹²Gentle. You give others the benefit of the doubt even if you are offended. Another quality of intrinsic faith is genuineness - you exhibit ¹³Authenticity, Purity, Innocence, and Common Sense. Do you understand you role in the world; your ¹⁴Relevance and Sense of Proportion. Unlike those living in intrinsic fear, the faithful are able to be ¹⁵Rational and reason effectively.  ¹⁶Spontaneity and Flexibility, being open to influence and change comes easy because of your ¹⁷Relaxed Dynamic or calm and easy energy. Traits like ¹⁸Perseverance and Patience come naturally because of your ¹⁹Awareness, Vision, Warmth, and Wisdom. You know what is true or right and know just how to act. Lastly, as a person of intrinsic faith, you are completely capable of ²⁰Compassion and have the ability to step into another person's world and experience what they are experiencing.

It's a Magnificent, Expansive Universe

Here is the abridged version of Hartman's description of Intrinsic Faith...

The person of faith is aware, wide awake to everything the world has to offer. Those of intrinsic faith are optimists. They see that there are many bad things in the world, but they are flaws of the design, or the execution, these flaws are not its essence. The faithful are expansive. Their spirits are as large as the whole world and take in everyone. They are continuously in love with the world and with everything in it. The faithful want to widely open up their soul to take in every experience. The spirit of creation moves in them. The faithful will never say a bad word about anyone. They always builds up the other, always finds something good in everyone. They see the infinite in everything.

Those who live in intrinsic faith possess boldness and courage. Nothing appears to be impossible, every problem resolvable, every deed achievable, every difficulty surmountable. They take everything in stride, never getting overly agitated either in failure or in success. They are well-balanced and poised. They never expect anything from the world but take whatever they receive as grace, as a gift from the world. The faithful, being grounded in the essence of the world, see the important as important and the unimportant as unimportant. They take the important seriously and value it accordingly, and take the unimportant not seriously and disvalue it accordingly.

The deepest trait of the person of faith is Compassion. They suffer with the sufferer. They can openly, genuinely, and authentically relate to the world and find success in it.

Are you attracted to people who demonstrate these characteristics in their everyday lives? We want to be around people who are real, genuine, authentic, and just have a natural love of life. Do you sense these things in your life?

Can you see these traits and qualities within you? Are you able to see how they are the foundation of your success, your joy, your happiness?

Let me ask you, please think about this for a second... as you were reading the paragraphs on intrinsic faith above, what thoughts were traveling through your mind? Were you thinking of reasons NOT to agree? Were you looking for flaws or examples in 'real life' that contradict what you read? Did your mind just skim over the words without absorbing them? Or, were you able to take in the true meaning of each sentence and experience those ideals?

What's written about intrinsic faith are timeless success principles. They have worked for thousands of years. Is your brain telling you that they won't work for you?  Newsflash: YOU ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS!   You can choose to retrieve another thought from your mind at any time and purposefully, consciously think on things that will support you.

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