The Values in the Trio

"A value is a belief, a mission, or a philosophy that is meaningful. Whether we are consciously aware of them or not, every individual has a core set of personal values. Values can range from the commonplace, such as the belief in hard work and punctuality, to the more psychological, such as self-reliance, concern for others, and harmony of purpose."

— Roy Posner

"Values are those things that really matter to each of us ... the ideas and beliefs we hold as special. Caring for others, for example, is a value; so is the freedom to express our opinions. Most of us learned our values — or morals, if you prefer — at home, at church or synagogue, at school."

— Lewis Orans

Values within the Trio are the good inside you that are instilled from birth. It is the self-revealing, self-sacrificing commitment to a higher, more perfect way of life; it is good to one's self and to others because it produces an unexplainable attraction.

Values, or the lack thereof, are a rare and powerful source that can unify or bring down nations. Values are the core essence of unity between the Alpha and the Omega of the internal being. In other words, it is the start and finish of whom one is. With values, one can go far, but without values, one will be diminished, devalued, and ultimately dissolved.

There have been many great individuals with phenomenal vision and versatility, but because of their lack of values, their talents were limited. Just think of some of our former greats in boxing, sports casting, politics, and entertainment. They were elevated and put in places where their character could not keep them. The primary reason was their lack of values.

When uncovering and discovering one's element, it is vital that one adhere to values that will promote the common good; it preserves you and the ones around you. Many times, when we discover this element, we are not able to sustain its power and authority because we lack implementation of the Trio in our daily lives.

Values are slowly diminishing in modern society; it has taken a backseat to mediocrity and compromise. The values of our great country have whittled away to idealistic secularism, which has brought into play the adage, "Each generation will be wiser, but yet weaker."

We must maintain our values so that we can maintain our strength; we must do this so that we are not at a stagnant holding point. If we become stagnant, we will create a void that no earthly possession will be able to fill. We will fall from the strength of the original supernatural element.

Has society begun to overlook our fundamental core principles of values, vision, and versatility — the Trio that was built from the Word of God?

Values are the key to dispelling myths, eradicating half-truths, and quieting naysayers. Values can heal a nation ruled by hatred and greed; they serve as the common denominator of hope to answer the plaguing questions of economic despair, moral decay, and worldwide ills.

Values embrace the good and are the primary arterial source to the survival of the Trio in one's life.

The two main values instilled in me from birth are perseverance and determination. The core essence of the man I am today was strategically and deeply rooted in me by my parent's values; they were two loving, hardworking people who exemplified the worth of a good. Among the many exceptional values they instilled, one particular saying comes to mind, "Anything worth having is worth working for."

My parents exemplified unbiased love and value in life. My mother and father always displayed love — whether you were a guest or a relative, a person at our house was always treated with the utmost respect and welcomed as one of the immediate family.

Although my mother had several bouts with breast cancer, she remained the major support system for our family. Despite days that were not always sunny, my mother continued as the anchor of support for her husband and her children. She continued to offer support and words of encouragement that shaped and molded the element within me. She persevered so that she could have a successful family. She was an example of sacrificial love and perseverance.

My father exemplified determination; he instilled this value in me with his endless talents and unwillingness to settle for mediocrity. My father worked on projects for countless hours and was never satisfied until the work was completed properly. He said, "Do things right the first time so you don't have to go back a second time." It is amazing how, subconsciously, this refined value is implanted within me. It surfaces at special, appropriate moments that bring me a deep appreciation for my parents.

The Vision in the Trio

The second segment of the Trio is vision. This segment plays a significant role because it illustrates the significance of the power of visualizing one's own potential for greatness.

Dr. Edward Watke Jr. defines vision as "divine perspective, divine wisdom, divine insight, and illumination." It has been said that vision is getting on your heart what God has on his.

Vision plays a significant part in the Trio because it clarifies one's true purpose and sheds light on an individual's internal element. This internal element starts with core values that ultimately help realize a person's vision.

Dictionary.com defines vision as "the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be: prophetic vision; the vision of an entrepreneur.

3. an experience in which a personage, thing, or event appears vividly or credibly to the mind, although not actually present, often under the influence of a divine or other agency: a heavenly messenger appearing in a vision.

4. something seen or otherwise perceived during such an experience: The vision revealed its message.

5. a vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation: visions of wealth and glory."

Observe what many well-known individuals have had to say about vision:

"The man doesn't make the vision; the vision makes the man."

— Pastor Yonggi Cho

Many times, the vision segment of the Trio is one of the most complicated parts due to one's lack of understanding of its power. Oftentimes, individuals are manipulated into thinking that another person's element is his or her own.

"Dissatisfaction and discouragement are not caused by the absence of things but the absence of vision."

— Anonymous

There are several publications and websites to help you establish and realize your vision. Susan Heathfield wrote an article entitled "Achieve Your Dreams: Six Steps to Accomplish Your Goals and Resolutions", which focused on these six steps:

1) You must deeply desire the goal or resolution.

2) Visualize yourself achieving your goal.

3) Make a plan for the path you need to take to achieve the goal.

4) Commit to achieving the goal by writing it down.

5) Establish times for checking your progress on the calendar.

6) Review your overall progress regularly.

"So many of our dreams seem impossible, then improbable, then inevitable."

— Christopher Reeve

There may have been times when close friends, family, or associates approached you with an idea that, in their minds, seemed to be the perfect opportunity for you. After speaking with them...