New Year's Resolution Idea: Building Foundations
You can’t build a skyscraper with wedding cakes.
(Joseph Campbell)
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.
(David Brinkley)
A house built on granite and strong foundations, not even the onslaught of pouring rain, gushing torrents and strong winds will be able to pull down.
(Haile Selassie)
May you have a strong foundation when the winds of change shift...and may you be forever young.
(Bob Dylan)
The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty.
(Zig Ziglar)
Truth is complete in itself. Truth has a strong foundation in itself. It is bold, it has no fears. It has no limit of space or time. It is a fearless, free bird in the sky. It does not care for status. It is wealth in itself. Truth stands even when there is no public support.
(Sivananda)
Think of hope the minute you feel miserable with your life. Take up the habit of finding joy in the smallest of things in life. The misery you feel now will be a strong foundation for your future and you will become someone with an invaluable life. Also, hold the hand of the person next to you. Don’t think that you’re the only one living in this world. Don’t grow your sorrow on your own and ask for help from the person next to you.
(Jaejoong)
That mortal is a fool who, prospering, thinks his life has any strong foundation; since our fortune's course of action is the reeling way a madman takes, and no one person is ever happy all the time.
(Euripides)
Jesus said everyone who hears his words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Then he went on to say everyone who hears his words and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
(Matthew 7:24-26).
Have you built your life on a strong foundation? What the hell does that even mean? We’ve been workshopping this idea, Coffee Talk style, and have come up with the following:
Firstly, it’s an inside job. None of the great quotes above are talking about material things like: “Ok–first get a job, then a house, then a family…” The foundation of our lives will be built on our values and corresponding principles developed from those values. Things like honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty–that Zig Ziglar mentions above.
Secondly, this takes a lot of discipline, and discipline must be practiced. As we have talked about in many blog articles–learning a skill and practicing a certain discipline is great for the mind, body, and soul. A daily discipline will come in handy when temptation strikes at your foundation.
Thirdly, temptation WILL strike! A solid foundation can only become so by being tested. Our values and principles will always be tested by the occasional “easy way out,” or “feel good in the short-term” scenario. These temptations may all come in a rush under the heading, “Mid-life Crisis.”
Fourthly: It’s never too late! Not all of us learned values and principles from our parents, either didactically or by example–and sadly, these things aren’t often taught in school, unless you happen to major in Stoic philosophy. Even if you are hit hard with the classic “Mid-life Crisis,” it is an opportunity to turn your life around and really decide who you want to be in the world. It’s a great chance at re-building a solid foundation.
So, our humble suggestion is to use 2025 as a chance to rebuild, or shore up, your foundation–to recommit to honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty. Let’s redefine and strengthen who we are in this world. It really is the only legacy worth building.
Until next year
Scott and Lennart