Six Frailties Common To Us All

A noted politician has identified six frailties common to us all. How many of them have you seen in your job, family, or elected officials--or even in yourself?

THE DELUSION THAT INDIVIDUAL ADVANCEMENT IS OBTAINED THROUGH CRUSHING OTHERS.

I once worked with an extremely bright supervisor who, when an employee asked a question, would often answer, "If I told you that, then you would know what you know and what I know." He would thus withhold what he knew with the mistaken idea that he would advance more quickly. He did--until those he had tried to crush along the way complained enough to get him removed.

THE TENDENCY TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT CANNOT BE CHANGED OR CORRECTED.

On his deathbed, and old man once confessed, "Yes, I've had lots of troubles in life, but most of them never happened." Most of the things I've worried about never happened, either. Some did--and were much worse than I would have imagined. But they were by far in the minority.

INSISTING THAT A THING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE BECAUSE WE CANNOT ACCOMPLISH IT OURSELVES.

Health-related complications kept me out of the back yard for months, and it became a jungle. I was thoroughly discouraged over the many weeks I thought it would take to reclaim it when my wife made a suggestion: hire 13-year-old Luke Baker to help me. Luke loved the work, and we accomplished more in those three days than I could have in six months by myself. Many hands do make light work.

REFUSING TO SET ASIDE TRIVIAL PREFERENCES.

In "The Charge of the Light Brigade," Tennyson said," ...their's not to make reply, their's not to reason why, their's but to do and die...." And though we may likewise be compelled into some "do and die" situations in our own lives, to always insist upon having the last word assures a continuing atmosphere of conflict.

ATTEMPTING TO COMPEL OTHERS TO BELIEVE AND LIVE AS WE DO.

What's the best way to pass on our important beliefs to others? Demand that they believe as we do? Someone said, "You can lead a horse to water and make him drink--if you first salt the oats." Thus "oat salters" generally get on better than "horse beaters."

NEGLECTING DEVELOPMENT AND REFINEMENT OF THE MIND, AND NOT ACQUIRING THE HABITS OF READING AND STUDY.

As I grow older, reading and studying are much more difficult than they once were. And extended concentration is harder to muster. But now, more than ever before, I need to endeavor to continue to learn. For those who don't make that effort soon lose the ability.

It may come as a bit of a shock, but this list harkens back to Cicero in about 54 BC, a tumultuous time in the Roman Empire. Some things never seem to change.

Copyright 2001 James McAlister

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