“If you meet a really humble man… he will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”
—C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

There was once a man who ran a small auto repair shop in a town just big enough to be busy, but small enough for people to notice.

He wasn’t the best salesman. He didn’t have flashy signs or clever slogans. In fact, most people found his shop by accident. But those who stayed, stayed for good.

He greeted everyone the same—whether they were dressed in suits or stained work clothes. He listened more than he talked. He remembered birthdays. He quietly fixed things no one had asked him to. He fixed other things, too—small appliances mostly, things that may have otherwise been discarded. And he’d absorb the cost without saying a word.

People talked about him. But never in the ways he probably expected.

“He showed up when no one else would.”

“He called me back—just to make sure I got home okay.”

“He helped my son fix his bike… then gave him a better lock.”

He wasn’t perfect. He forgot things sometimes. He got tired, even cranky (That’s when he knew he needed a cigarette!). But there was something unmistakable about him—something different.

He wasn’t trying to prove anything.

He wasn’t angling for influence.

He wasn’t waiting to be thanked.

He wasn’t thinking about himself at all.

One day, I asked him about it—why he did what he did, how he stayed so generous, so quietly consistent.

He shrugged and said, “I don’t know… I guess I just try to pay attention. Most folks go through life feeling invisible, and that’s not good. If I can change that in some small way, why not?”

He gave a small smile, wiped his hands on an old rag, and went back to work.

The post “He Wasn’t Thinking About Himself at All.” | WT#111 appeared first on Authentic Leadership Foundation.

“Is there a difference?” you might ask.

There is, and it is profound. A change of heart typically involves a reversal of a single decision, or perhaps a shift in a position or opinion about something. It’s often a temporary adjustment, influenced by circumstances or emotions. On the other hand, a conversion is a permanent change, a profound transformation that results from the practice of virtue. This kind of change is not just about one decision; it reshapes all future decisions, influencing who we are and how we behave in every aspect of our lives.

Consider, for example, the life-changing experience of becoming a parent for the first time. This isn’t just a change of heart—like deciding to take up a new hobby or altering a viewpoint—it’s a conversion! The moment you hold your child for the first time, your entire perspective shifts. Priorities change, and decisions are no longer made with just yourself in mind. This conversion influences every future choice, from the big life decisions to the everyday moments, permanently altering the way you navigate the world.

Sometimes, the world teaches us techniques that we mistake for true growth, but they often manifest as inconsistent changes of heart—leading us to flip-flop between princely behavior and beast mode, much like the Beast in our tale.

So, what is the takeaway from this timeless story (or perhaps your own experience if you’re a parent)? Continual—some might say daily—conversion of heart is the princely path to take. It’s not about a single decision but about ongoing transformation.

Take a moment to reflect on where your conversion of heart might be needed. If you need some help, you may begin by understanding your temperament (and learn perhaps why certain people or situations may frustrate you).

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

The post The True Power of Conversion | WT #92 appeared first on Authentic Leadership Foundation.

Let’s consider someone who chooses to practice honesty, not primarily to adhere to moral standards, but to enhance trust within their professional relationships. Or perhaps, someone exercises patience more to reduce personal stress than to foster understanding and tolerance towards others. These scenarios raise a crucial question: Are such virtues being practiced for the ‘wrong’ reasons?

Our minds can go many different directions on this question.

One direction might affirm the act itself as paramount, regardless of its initial motivation. As long as the individual recognizes that virtues carry both a professional and a personal dimension, with each aspect influencing the other, the initial intent may be secondary.

From this viewpoint, a person may start practicing a virtue like generosity for professional gain, such as to build a positive reputation. Along the way, however, they may discover a personal joy in giving, thus indirectly cultivating a more generous spirit within themselves. This perspective posits that the act of practicing virtue in itself bears the fruit of stronger character, regardless of the original motive.

Consider also the virtue of respect. Initially, someone might practice respect to avoid conflicts or to maintain a peaceful work environment. As they continue to demonstrate respect, they might find that this practice not only creates harmony in their professional life, but also enriches their personal relationships and fosters a deeper understanding of diverse viewpoints.

Now, we invite you to reflect: Is the act of practicing virtue what truly matters, or does the motivation behind it hold equal importance? Exploring this concept may provide valuable insights into how we perceive and practice virtue in our everyday lives.

To guide you further, we invite you to learn about the Four Temperaments. One way of explaining this ancient, time-tested concept can be describing our temperament as “…how we are wired, and how we tend to respond to external stimuli, environments and roles in life.” This is biologically based; it can’t be changed. And each of these temperaments have their unique strengths and weaknesses. To overcome these weaknesses, we practice what we call a challenge habit: also known as VIRTUES. In such cases, overcoming the weakness of our own temperament (which we can help you discover!) becomes the motivation for “doing the right things.”

So we are still left with the question we opened with: Is it okay to do the right thing for the wrong reason? 

Perhaps “right versus wrong” is the not the best way to compare. What we are really getting at is “altruism versus selfishness.” And in many cases, it may not matter. We are all, flawed, fallen human beings. With but two exceptions, no human has ever walked the earth with a completely pure, altruistic heart.

However, it is not uncommon for God to use ALL of our inner motivations (good and bad; altruistic and selfish) to point us in the direction He wants to lead us: down the Path to Greatness, and of becoming the best version of ourselves.

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