During
Christmas period, amidst opening of presents, singing of carols and enjoyment of Christmas lights, I found myself engrossed in a book written about life of one of greatest men who lived last century, Winston Churchill. As my children played with their new found presents I was traversing through battlefields of Boer War and 1st and 2nd World Wars with man who guided FREE world to victory in 1940's with power of his pen and majesty of his inspiring words. He was a motivator par excellence.
He too lived in a time of incredible change and so spoke with great authority when he said himself that: 'The only way a man can remain consistent amid changing circumstances is to change with them while preserving same dominating purpose.'
Winston knew that he had been born for such an hour and when approached to lead his nation, at time of crisis, as Hitler and his hordes marched across Europe, he was able to write....'I felt as if I were walking with destiny, and that all my past life had been but a preparation for this hour and for this trial.'
He knew that he'd been born to lead and went on to state that...'Power, for sake of lording it over fellow-creatures or adding to personal pomp, is rightly judged base. But power in a national crisis, when a man believes he knows what orders should be given, is a blessing. In any sphere of action there can be no comparison between positions of number one and numbers two, three, or four.'
And it is for that reason that in his address to House of Commons he spoke confidently, 'You ask, What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory - victory at all costs, victory in spite of terror; victory, however long and hard road may be; for without victory there is no survival....At this time I feel entitled to claim aid of all, and I say, 'Come, then, let us go forward together with our united strength.''
Here was a man with a Dominating Purpose in life.
'The only way a man can remain consistent amid changing circumstances is to change with them while preserving same dominating purpose.'
Wise words from a wise man who backed up his words with dynamic action.
And now that we find ourselves in 3rd Millennium A.D. we are bombarded with an ever increasing rate of change that will swallow masses, who refuse to move with it, and yet will transport those who flow with it into a world of incredible opportunity.
But first let's take a look at word CONSISTENCY. This word does not mean that one has to remain firmly entrenched in past. It speaks to me of need to be alert and of importance of evaluating each and every event or every circumstance that happens to pass our way.
Throughout Winston's political career, which spanned a period of 60 years, he was known for changing political parties and for even contradicting his views throughout that career.
The reason? Because he held true to his convictions and was willing to change his views when changing circumstances called upon such change.
At times, I view things so much more differently with passing of years. Things that were of significant importance, and for which I rallied hard and long for in my twenties, are now but a distant fog that lack relevance and even importance to even consider.
Unfortunately, much wisdom often only comes through years of experience and road far traveled.
However, immersed in wisdom of ages, through reading and through association with much wiser men and women will certainly speed up process.
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WALK WITH A WISE MAN AND BECOME WISE
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1. CHANGE WITH THE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES
There is only one way to change and that is to change.
Jump in deep end and start swimming.
And how do you do that?
First you have to fix interior and then, and only then, can you sort out exterior.
Someone once told me that when people were set free from slavery, 'that you can take person out of slavery, but you can't take slavery out of people overnight.'
