Do What You Can With What You Have
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are!” - T. Roosevelt
A few months ago Father Bryce (my priest) asked me to give consideration to becoming more active in our Sunday services and periodically reading the Gospel and delivering the sermon on Sunday mornings. I told him I needed to think about it, and after some soul-searching I told him I was agreeable. I read the gospel and delivered the sermon this morning. Was I nervous? Yes, but I kept Roosevelt’s words in mind, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are!”
Have you ever taken a moment to consider that middle thought, “with what you have”. I’m not talking about the tangible things, such as property, automobiles and other possessions, but rather about the inherent skills and character qualities you bring to the table. Those are the things we truly own, and all too often we fail to see the wonderful qualities that others see in us. Perhaps it’s time to take inventory.
The concept of taking a personal inventory is a flexible terminology that means different things to different people. The term actually originated as a part of A.A.’s 12 step process as a means for people in recovery to take accountability for their actions. On a broader scale, taking a personal inventory is the process of taking stock of yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, your values, your goals - and yes, even your failures. The goal is simple, gaining a better understanding of yourself and then charting a course for growth
Dr. Uberto Mondolphi is a clinical psychotherapist, entrepreneur, writer and life coach. He sees a personal inventory as a means for personal growth, and suggests doing the inventory with someone else, as it provides the opportunity to get feedback and an outside perspective on your life. He suggests first making a list of all the areas of your life that are important to you. These could include work, relationships, health, leisure, and spirituality. Then for each area, rate how satisfied you are with it on a scale from 1 to 10. Include anything that is causing you stress or dissatisfaction in your life. Once you have identified the areas of your life that need attention, start brainstorming ways to improve them. For example, if work is causing you stress, brainstorm ways to make it more enjoyable or efficient. If you are unhappy in your relationship, brainstorm ways to communicate better or spend more quality time together
Jessica Fischer is a mom of six, blogger, writer and cookbook author. She believes that a personal inventory is a great tool for self-assessment and personal growth. It can help you identify where you are and how you want to grow tomorrow. Her Personal.Inventory Template is relatively simple as it asks you to describe where you are at today in a number of different areas of life, and where you want to be. A prototype follows:
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There are no shortage of instruments to help you take a personal inventory, but perhaps the simplest is this:
The personal inventory is a journey, but one certainly worth embarking upon. If nothing else, it gives you an idea of what you have to work with, and what you have to work on. Have a productive trip!
EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE