Don’t give up! Even Moses was once a basket
case.
“Oh good.” I thought to myself. “If Moses didn’t always have
it together, and he did great things, then maybe there is hope for me!”
Later that evening I wrote in my journal:
Friday November 7, 2014
I saw a
sign earlier today, in front of the Baptist church around the corner, about
Moses being a basket case once- I might have a chance.
I want to
lead a life that will affect generations, and leave a meaningful heritage
behind me. All the time I think about future generations and what I want them
to know about me. I write openly in my journal about my struggles and feelings
because I want what I am going through to be helpful to my children, and their
children, and beyond.
LEGACY! I
want to leave a legacy.
My search for knowledge on how to make my life matter
began! It wasn’t until quite a few months later I stumbled across PAiLS by Chris Brady. In the blurb, on
the inside cover, it reads, “… this delightful little book, provides a fresh
approach to finding meaning in your life- before it’s too late! … Providing
clear constructs to use in determining direction. … and how even your mistakes
should take you higher.”
Perfect! This was exactly what I was looking for.
·
I wanted to find meaning.
·
I needed help determining direction.
·
And I was bound to make mistakes.
I was sold!
Now you may be thinking ... What does a pail have to do with
building a legacy?! Well don’t you fret because I will tell you.
PAiLS =
Potential and Actualization into Legacy and Spillage
 |
| For visualization purposes... |
Potential: “a present but
not visible excellence or ability that may or may not be developed.”
(I stole this definition
from The P.I.L.O.T. Method, because I
love it! page 18.)
Actualization: “The living out of
our potential in the present moment.”
Legacy: “The sum total of all our actualizations. The product of what we do with our lives.”
Spillage: “The lost or wasted
potential.”
As Chris Brady says in his book, we “are not done leaving
[our] legacy until the last drop of [our] potential has poured from [our]
pail.” I was done spilling my potential. I am dedicated
to leaving a more meaningful legacy for those who come after me, and thanks to
PAiLS I have a much better idea of how to do that!
President Monson said in the April 2012 General Conference,
“Life by the yard is hard; inch by inch it’s a cinch. Each of us can be true
for just one day- and then one more and then one more after that- until we have
lived a lifetime guided by the Spirit, and lifetime close to the Lord, a
lifetime of good deeds and righteousness.” In PAiLS, Chris Brady writes, “Our lives are monuments built one second at a
time.”
We all have excellence inside of us, all we need to
do is develop it- ONE second at a time.
PAiLS ends in a question that I pose to you…
