Whatever good things we build end up building us – Jim Rohn
Structural Integrity as defined by the online reference resource TermWiki is a term used in a guarantee or warranty to assure that a structure’s composition and/or construction will remain intact (for the purposes of this entry, a structure takes on various forms which I will go over later in greater detail).
In order to build a new structure, you have to demolish the old structure currently standing in the place you wish to build, properly get rid of the rubbish from the demolition, check the foundation and make any necessary repairs to the foundation to ensure that it’s solid. Only then can you properly build the new structure with the assurance that it can handle the purpose intended for it. The most important part of a structure is its foundation. A solid building foundation can mean the difference between a building’s structural integrity lasting a few years or a few centuries. The weaker the foundation the shorter the life span of the structure.
The lives we lead resemble this analogy a lot more than you may realize. In order for an individual to reach their full potential and understand the Creator’s purpose for their lives, there are certain things in it that must be evaluated and if necessary removed. Anything that is hindering a person from becoming who they wish to become, doing what they wish to do, or living the way that they wish to live has no business in their life. Negative associations, relationships, or affiliations – however you wish to classify them oftentimes are the main catalyst in an individual not reaching or even realizing their full potential. No matter how uncomfortable parting ways from a lifelong friend or associate who has been more of an hindrance than of assistance may be, it has to be done. Otherwise you may find yourself unable to make any progress and leading an unproductive and unfulfilling life while unfortunately harboring a life full of regrets.
The earlier you realize that you were created for a purpose and that you were not an accident or some freak of nature regardless of what circumstances you came into this world under, the sooner you will begin to live the life you have always wanted. Now, discovery of purpose involves several factors and they vary depending upon the individual in pursuit of it. Some of those factors include:
The Proper Mindset
The Proper Perspective
The Proper Motivation
The Proper Affiliations
The Proper Direction
And last but certainly not least …. the Proper Spiritual Foundation
As I alluded to earlier in this entry, the proper foundation is everything when it comes to building something. Structures with the proper foundation can stand for centuries through the harshest conditions, most irresponsible of tenants or most extenuating of circumstances. Let’s take some of the ancient monuments and structures that have been erected the world over as examples…. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Taj Mahal, The Eiffel Tower, St Peters Basilica, the Washington Monument, The Sydney Opera House not to mention the Pyramids that have been built by a number of civilizations (The Incans, Mayans, Egyptians and Chinese) to name but a few. These engineering marvels have stood for years; even centuries.
Now for those of you that out there who like me aren’t Architects, Stone Masons or Structural Engineers, let me bring it a little closer to home…..
Families with the proper foundation (values) leave legacies that last for generations. Marriages with the proper foundation (Being equally yoked) can last well into one’s golden years. Children with the proper foundation (principles) grow up to lead fruitful and productive lives. Individuals with the proper foundation (morals) know that you leave more in this world that you take from it. As Mark Twain so elegantly said:
Don’t go around saying that the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing…. It was here first.
Unfortunately, there are people in this world that feel like everyone in the world owes them something. They walk around with a delusional sense of entitlement. The sad thing is that where this type of thought process was not as prevalent amongst individuals in the past, it is running through today’s society in epidemic proportions. A mindset that once was a rarity is now unfortunately the norm and extremely infectious. If one is not careful, Delusional Entitlement Syndrome as I like to call it can be highly contagious. This type of thinking has all but eroded society’s once unspoken code of “paying dues” to obtain success. Now it’s all about how many people you can throw under the bus on your way to the top. Today we live in a society of instant everything. A society where ethics and morality take a backseat to greed and self-indulgence. The thing these people most must realize is the same people you step on to get to the top are the same ones you’re going to see on your way back down the road to destruction. It’s gravity, baby. What goes up must eventually come down. The key is to insure that your decent is not a rapid one. The unadulterated truth of the matter is that deceitful and manipulative tactics all but assure the perpetrator a rapid decent with disastrous consequences (in this life or the next).
One thing I have discovered as I grow older and a little wiser with each passing day that is missing from today’s society, is an individual connection to the history of one’s respective culture (Some more so than others). A connection to one’s history is in this humble author’s opinion the ultimate cornerstone of a properly laid foundation. For the uninitiated, a brief explanation of the Cornerstone (“Foundation Stone” as it is sometimes called) concept. The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.
Now there are several other examples and scenarios I could cover in relation to the importance of having a strong foundation for the structure you wish to build (whatever that structure may represent for you). For fear of sounding repetitive or redundant, I will simply leave you with a little bit of advice someone near and dear to me shared with me.…
The Five P’s are the best example to me of laying the proper foundation before undertaking any endeavor. For those unfamiliar with them, they go a little something like this:
Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance
This principle can be applied to anything….. your occupation, your marriage, your family, your relationships or associations, your goals and dreams, your home…… your life. With proper planning, obstacles don’t seem so overwhelming. With proper planning, you have a reference point to return to when you “lose your way”. With the proper planning, you won’t be easily distracted and can remain focused on the goal or objective you wish to reach. With the proper planning, you are able to live your life as opposed to allowing your life and its circumstances to control you.
Whatever thing you wish to build or create, the best way of ensuring it's longevity is to make sure that the foundation that it is built upon is solid and sound.
Whatever thing you wish to build or create, the best way of ensuring it's longevity is to make sure that the foundation that it is built upon is solid and sound.
