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You are here: Home / Self Help / General / Self Improvement: The Checks and Balances of Life

Self Improvement: The Checks and Balances of Life

September 14, 2009 by Joi 16 Comments

Book links are usually affiliate links. This means I earn a small percentage when you click through and buy the book. This costs you nothing extra - it simply allows me to keep my cats in the lifestyle they're accustomed to.

“God says:  Take what you want and pay for it!” – Spanish Proverb

Author Dorothy Van Doren once wrote an entire article around the Spanish proverb above.  She wrote that when she first heard the proverb, it actually frightened her:  “I used to dream of an Angel with a flaming sword.  But as I thought more about it, I realized that the Angel held not a sword but a balance.”

Her eloquent illustration actually left more of an impact on me than the proverb, itself.

Imagine a scale for a minute.  On one side, we can put our heart’s desire – usually one of the ones listed below:

  • We want more money.
  • We want to lose weight.
  • We want a promotion.
  • We want more traffic to our web site or blog.
  • We want a closer relationship with our spouse.
  • We want our kids to be successful.

Irregardless of our own personal desires or needs, we have to realize that nothing is free in life.  I went to Target today and found the things I wanted:  cat food, sinus medicine, white grape juice, and bleach.  I put them into the cart one at a time and wheeled along my familiar path to the cashiers.  After placing my goods on the conveyor belt, I got out my billfold, after all the things I want come with a price tag (even though the one on the sinus medicine should have been ashamed of itself).

The process inside Target isn’t any different from the one outside Target.  Nothing comes free in life.  If we want to lose weight – there’s a price we have to pay.  We have to eat healthier foods and get more exercise.  It’s the exchange we make in order to have our heart’s desire.

If we want more web traffic, a job promotion, better relationships, or success in any area – we have to give in order to get.  This simple little truth is the basis of most self improvement and growth. No one’s going to come along and do the work for us and no one’s going to hand us everything we want wrapped in gold foil.

We can’t sit back and keep on doing what we’ve been doing – especially if it isn’t working.  If we “think” we’ve been doing enough (paying the price we need to pay) we might need a wake up call.  The bottom line is, if the price we’re paying isn’t achieving what we want, we’re pretty much counterfeiters.  We aren’t fooling anyone but ourselves.  The scales aren’t balanced because what we’re giving doesn’t weigh as much as what we want.

When we make the necessary adjustments and give as “good” as we hope to get – that’s the spot where magic happens and dreams come true.

Filed Under: General, Positive Thought, Self Help Tagged With: proverbs, Self Help, self improvement

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cybil says

    September 15, 2009 at 12:31 am

    GREAT article! Love it – especially the end. Thank you for sharing!

  2. Felicia says

    September 15, 2009 at 11:01 am

    Thanks Joi! I love this piece,”the spot where magic happens” what a beautiful thought. I shall keep it at the forefront of my thinking today 🙂
    I almost lost hope in thinking the scales would never be balanced… but then I remembered that “magic” place you referred to and I now know that I don’t have to worry about balancing the scales. I will be so caught up in that “magical” place where worry doesn’t exist.
    Have a wonderful day! Fe Fe 🙂

  3. Brad Morris says

    September 17, 2009 at 7:45 pm

    I love the analogy. The scales really bring it all into perspective. Here’s to everyone seeking their own “balance”!

  4. joi says

    September 18, 2009 at 7:10 am

    Brad – isn’t that a cool analogy? The author really made a lasting impression on me with her illustration. Thanks for the wonderful comment and best wishes! – Joi

  5. Carol Tanady says

    September 18, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    Great post!It gives us a lot of useful information that I’m searching for.

    I was browsing around when I found that your blog is well qualified and very well written,I was amazed with the information spread in your article,it’s amazing!!

    I also have a website that talk about experience,visit:
    http://www.allselfimprovementsecret.com/

    Check for it and I hope you could give me some comment about it

    GooD Day

    Carol Tanady

    All Self Improvement Secret

  6. Ken says

    September 24, 2009 at 7:53 pm

    Great post Joi,

    Love the story. It makes me think about people that are looking for an easy way to be successful and when they don’t achieve the success they look for the next thing and on and on. If they would of stayed the course on the original goal or project they would have succeeded by now.
    .-= Ken´s last blog ..Success Affirmations – Why and How =-.

  7. Patrice says

    September 26, 2009 at 8:52 am

    Your post serves as a reminder to me that there’s a need of a check and balance of everything that we want to achieve. If someone wants promotion from work then he/she has to be superb in all the projects and performances.

    Great post by the way.
    .-= Patrice´s last blog ..Exercises to Shape Up Your Self Esteem =-.

  8. Nea | Self Improvement Saga says

    October 8, 2009 at 6:08 am

    I suppose it’s human nature to want everything the easy way, but there’s rarely a way around paying your dues. Thanks for posting this article.
    .-= Nea | Self Improvement Saga´s last blog ..50 Regrets and the Life Lessons to Learn From Them =-.

  9. joi says

    October 9, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    Nea,
    Dues? They must, indeed, always be paid – kind of like the electric bill! – Joi

  10. Jes extender says

    January 5, 2010 at 7:42 pm

    Beautiful, love it!
    .-= Jes extender´s last blog ..Best Selection of Penis Enlargement Products =-.

  11. Bhawna says

    February 13, 2010 at 5:34 pm

    Great read! Beautifully elaborates the Max Depree quote, “We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.”
    But, it is very crucial to measure your goals and actions.

  12. joi says

    February 14, 2010 at 11:21 am

    Bhawna, I adore that quote – up one side and down the other!

  13. mano says

    September 3, 2010 at 5:51 am

    Hi,

    You have a very wonderful weblog. To turn into a prosperous human being the basic factor is usually to have positive thinking. Enjoy Sky Rocketing Success with Turbo charged Positive Affirmations… Grow Positive Thinking So You can Remove Stress From the Existence, Improve Your Self-Confidence and Program Oneself For Lifetime Achievements!

  14. Q | Positive Afffirmations says

    February 9, 2011 at 1:50 am

    So true, so true. This post reminds me of the often-used saying, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

    Too many of us, and yes I include myself, forget that there’s always an exchange of something going on. Whether it’s like your example, exchanging money for products, or ‘giving’ a helping hand to a stranger to ‘receive’ the good feelings that come afterward. An exchange is always taking place – big or small.

    I appreciate the reminder, Joi.

    Thanks,

    Quincy

  15. Bill McGee says

    December 13, 2014 at 2:23 pm

    Thoughtful and valuable insights, Joi. I believe one of the best questions in life is “What do you want?” Most people (including myself) often stop there. If you really want it, then the next questions might be “Why don’t I have it?” or “How can I get it?” If “it” is not harmful or immoral, then your path is clear. Are you willing to walk it?

    You might find some interest in my post “I feel good” at choosingbetterrealities.wordpress.com. Thanks for a great site.

    Bill

  16. Bill McGee says

    December 13, 2014 at 2:31 pm

    My mistake in just-previous comment re post/blog of possible interest. I meant “A Few Choice Words” at everythingpersonal.wordpress.com

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