Not ‘can’ be shaped, not ‘might’ be shaped, but *will* be shaped!

This is great news! It means that when you come across a circumstance in your life that you don’t like, you can trace back to a decision you made in past, and create thoughts and actions which will forge a different circumstance that you *do* like.

Sounds a bit too glib and easy? Well hold fire, because I didn’t say it was easy! It isn’t always easy, in fact sometimes it’s far from it, but it is very a empowering change of ideology.

Here’s a just a couple of benefits of accepting responsibility for your life…

Firstly, you will begin to erase ‘blame’ from your vocabulary. It’s a very negative energy, and removing it will leave more room for positive.

Secondly, speaking of positive, you will be more able to appreciate good things you have, good choices you made, and you’ll also be able to look forward with enthusiasm, knowing that you are in charge of your future, so why not mould it to one you really desire?

STEP 1: Recognize what you consider to be treasure. STEP 2: Know where to find it – take some form of guide if necessary. STEP 3: Protect yourself using appropriate tactics as you make your way toward your treasure. STEP 4: Pay price for treasure STEP 5: Keep treasure secure STEP 6: Apply treasure in most productive way

Let`s look at those steps a little more closely.

STEP 1: Recognize what you consider to be treasure. This is all about values. What might be of value to one person, might not be of such great value to someone else. To use a personal example, I am quite religious, so Bible and other scriptures are very important to me. These are “treasures” to me. To someone who is not religious, they may well be considered simply as historic books. There are many analogies that could be used. There are things taken for granted by some people, but are key to life itself for others. Take water for example. I turn on tap and drink, wash, etc. I`m quite sure you know of places where if there is water, it is unfit for use. Recognize your treasure – what it is that has value to you. Life is not just about money and financial profit.

STEP 2: Know where to find it. Take a guide if necessary. The treasure maps of old where not like route planners of today that get you from place to place with every turn indicated. They were deliberately vague and calculated to only be interpreted by privileged few. You need to know where your treasure is otherwise you will not be able to access it. Obvious stuff really, but someone had to say it! Actually is it obvious? It will certainly be a lot more obvious if you have got step 1 right.

STEP 3: Protect yourself using appropriate tactics as you make your way toward your treasure. There`s competition out there. Those things that are valuable to you may possibly be unique to you, but that doesn`t stop other people and organizations from trying to take those values from you and replace them with their own. Letting your guard down would allow this to happen, So how do you do this? The story goes of a tree that produced valuable fruit. The only way to reach that tree and its fruit was to tread a narrow path through an area that was difficult to see through. With opposing forces trying to divert seeker of such fruit, it was all to easy to lose their way. Fortunately, alongside this path was an iron rail. All seeker had to do was hold tight to that rail and follow it. That is what you need to do, discover your strengths and hold on to them as you seek for your treasure. Do not be diverted. Constantly remind yourself of your purpose.

STEP 4: Pay The Price For The Treasure. For a ship to set sail in search of treasure, do you suppose it is free to do so? What about paying men? You might say that discovery of treasure is payment enough. Perhaps so, but what of sustenance for these men as they journey? What of cost in terms of time and materials? What of sacrifices that may have to be made that will enable both journey and discovery to be made? You can have anything you want in this world, as long as you are prepared to pay price.

STEP 5: Keep treasure secure. Nearly every pirate film I have seen where there is discovery of treasure involved, there seems to be a very insecure process of gathering and storing treasure. The pirates tend to launch themselves at with delirious attention. They don`t seem to care what is dropped along way. They virtually leave a trail in their wake. The treasure chests are loaded with almost equal abandon.

You could argue that with so much treasure why should they worry? The point I am making is that whatever is lost or left behind, someone else is likely to gather. How important is your treasure – your set of values? Can you afford to let some of them slide away from you? Can you afford to not be particularly concerned about your values if they fall along way?

STEP 6: Apply treasure in most productive way. Sticking with our pirate analogy, what inevitably would pirates do with treasure they gathered? Do you think they would simply eat from gold plates, drink from gold cups etc., for rest of their lives? To some extent, they would, but a good proportion would be melted down and turned into gold bullion as it would be easier to distribute and exchange. To pirate, beauty and workmanship of articles would not be kept and admired – except perhaps by some or for a short while.

Your treasure – your values have a purpose. They declare who you are – essence of your character. How you apply those values in your everyday life not only formulates existence of your choice, but also affects others around you – especially those close to you. Your example can help others to secure their own treasure.

So what have we discovered here? What have we learned? Personally, as I have put this together, it has consolidated my thinking in three areas. Maybe it has done same for you:

1)The real treasures of life are not material things. 2)My values are amongst my greatest treasures because they formulate my life and affect lives of others. 3)You have to work not just to build or obtain values, but also to keep them.

Values – treasure not kept in a chest, but in heart.