Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 1 | Issue 8 |
Craig Impelman Speaking | Championship Coaches | Champion's Leadership Library Login | |
GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR BLESSINGS AND PRAY FOR GUIDANCE EVERY DAY
Click here for short Coach Wooden video clip
The seventh item of Coach Wooden’s seven point creed is “Give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day.”
When Coach spoke on this point, he would frequently recite one of his favorite Abraham Lincoln quotes: “If we magnified our blessings the way we magnify our disappointments, we’d all be a lot happier.” Indeed, accepting disappointment without complaint is one of the key points that Coach taught on the subject of being thankful.
Coach learned at an early age to accept disappointments with good grace from the example set by his parents. Even though Joshua Wooden lost his farm due to the mistake of another, he never complained or assigned blame. Joshua’s ability to always make the best out of an adverse situation was one of the traits that Coach came to most admire in his father.
Coach also found this same quality in his mother Roxie, after she suffered the death of both of her daughters within a year of each other. Daughter Cordelia died from diphtheria at the age of two, and a second baby girl died at birth. Despite these tragedies Coach never heard his mother complain, nor witness her feeling sorry for herself as she raised four spirited boys.
As he liked to do, Coach shared with us some great wisdom to remind us to give thanks for our blessings and pray for guidance every day:
Content makes poor men rich, discontent makes rich men poor.
Take time to think, it is the source of power.
Take time to play, it is the secret of youth.
Take time to read, it is the foundation of knowledge.
Take time for friendship, it is the source of happiness.
Take time to laugh, it helps lift life’s load.
Take time to dream, it hitches the soul to the stars.
Take time for God, it is life’s only lasting investment.
When Coach was asked whether he was able to live up to his father’s seven point creed, he would often say, “I am not what I want to be, not what I ought to be, and not what I am going to be, but I am thankful that I am not what I used to be.” Hence, what I have learned from Coach Wooden is that no matter how daunting the task of living up to your creed, pursuing your dreams, or reaching your goals may seem, the key is that you must never stop trying. For each new day brings progress, and in doing your best you achieve success. Click here for personal development exercise
Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com
Twitter: @woodenswisdom |
NEED ONE KNOW WHY
Man in space,
A sea of clouds,
Huge jet engines,
Who can understand?
A baby's cry, A hungry man,
A woman's tear,
Who can understand
Or tell me why?
The East at dawn, The West at dusk,
The stars at night,
The mountains tall,
The valleys green,
Need one know why?
Must we know why we are here on Earth, Does wealth or station prove one's worth,
Is appearance made in three score plus,
A way to measure one of us?
I truly want to find the way. And know for this that I must pray,
And it won't matter what I say,
For He to Whom I'll speak will know,
What is true and what is show;
To Him all things are very clear,
He knows exactly what we are,
And His judgment will be fair,
When we are called together There.
Need one know why?
~John Wooden THINKING HAPPINESS
Think of the things that make you happy,
Not of the things that make you sad; Think of the fine and true in mankind,
Not its sordid side and bad;
Think of the blessings that surround you, Not the ones that are denied; Think of the virtues of your friendships,
Not the weak and faulty side;
Think of the gains you've made in business, Not the losses you've incurred; Think of the good of you that's spoken,
Not some cruel, hostile word; Think of the days of health and pleasure,
Not the days of woe and pain;
Think of the days alive with sunshine, Not the dismal days of rain;
Think of the hopes that lie before you, Not the waste that lies behind;
Think of the treasures you have gathered, Not the ones you've failed to find;
Think of the service you may render,
Not of serving self alone; Think of the happiness of others,
And in this you'll find your own! ~Robert E. Farley |
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