Sure, there is an enemy who roams around like a roaring lion. He is master of disaster, and he prides himself on it. He wants us to feel like a victim and feel completely helpless. We shouldn't give him credit for any of our problems because he is a defeated foe. God has given us all power and authority over devil and nothing shall by any means hurt us. (Luke 10:19)

As long as we go on thinking wrongly about ourselves and our lives, same sort of difficulties will continue to harass us. For every seed must inevitably bring forth after its own kind, and thought is seed of destiny.

There is no easy way out of trouble, but there is a simple way. Learn to think rightly instead of wrongly, and conditions will begin to improve. Sooner or later, all ill health, poverty, loneliness, and inharmony must disappear.

Life doesn't need to be a battle. It should be a glorious adventure, for Christ died that we may have life, and have it to its full. (John 10:10)

WHAT IS POLITENESS?

Etiquette and good manners sort of level playing field in your head. It means how you act regardless of whom you’re with. Therefore it shows more about you than about other, i.e., Dave Barry’s quote that someone who’s nice to you, but not nice to water, is not a nice person.

And BTW, point of being nice isn’t to be popular; it’s about smoothing out daily interactions. Etiquette eliminates a lot of friction that drives us all nuts. We can all be little beasties. That’s why dinner manner developed … there we all are with sharp instruments in our hands.

SOME ETIQUETTE TIPS:

1.If you haven’t figured out yet that you have a choice how you feel, act and think, and that they affect your health, do some reading, get some coaching, get enlightened. 2.Your Emotional Intelligence, your ability to manage yourself and your relationships (of all kinds), affects your success, happiness, and health. 3.Learn where silverware goes. One reason people are nasty is because they feel inferior, and there are books you can read and courses you can take that will get you to a level where you’re comfortable. Here, I can tell you in one sentence something that will help: “Work silverware from outside in.” (There’s more, but not a whole lot more.) 4.Say “please,” “thank you,” “you’re welcome,” and “I apologize.” (I apologize is great, BTW, because that you can always do, while you may not really “be sorry” in strictest sense of term. (Hey, I’m a pundit!) 5.Ask permission. You may intend to take a cell phone call during lunch one way or another, but politeness dictates you ask (“I’m expecting an important call I must take. Do you mind?”). The beauty is politeness will dictate they respond, “Why no, I don’t mind at all.” See how it works? 6.Read Emily Post (in its 16th edition). Would it help persuade you to know it’s listed on www.navyadvancement.com ? 7.Pay attention to small things. Walk on righte side, let others in front of you in line when you can afford to (it’s good self-discipline), smile, use people’s names, pass salt and pepper, offer to get something or do something for someone else once in a while. 8.Don’t put people who use good manners in penalty box. There’s a creeping sentiment these days that someone who says please and thank you is a lightweight. 9.Keep some boundaries. It used to be not everyone wanted to hear about your sex life, religious preference or political persuasion. Nowadays there are 50 additional things not imagined 25 years ago that we don’t want to hear about. Save it.

THE PAY OFF

Reduced friction. Less stress.

Studies show repeatedly that money is not top reason why people stay at jobs. They want an environment of respectfulness, and to feel meaning and purpose in what they do. Etiquette accomplishes both. If you’re in a respectful situation, you respect situation. Get it?