REFLECT UPON THIS: Don’t Trip On Your Way To Greatness! @RRBC_Org @RRBC_RWISA @Tweets4RWISA @4WillsPub @4WP11 @nonniejules @JohnJFioravanti #Quotes

One of my favorite authors has been on a bit of a writing-hiatus lately, but fortunately for those of us who have been inspired by his writing, Author, John J. Fioravanti, has a new release coming out this year!  His first book of quotes, REFLECTIONS: INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES & INTERPRETATIONS, is the Grand Prize Winner of the 2020 RWISA SUPREME BOOK OF THE YEAR Award, so that means it is an excellent read!  I’ve no doubt, REFLECTIONS II will follow closely in its footsteps.

Because I love and live by profound quotes, I was honored to find that in John’s first REFLECTIONS, he reflected upon a couple of my personal quotes.  As I was reading through the book again the other day, one of his reflections resonated with me so loudly, that I just had to share it with you here. 

Here is Reflection # 31: 

“DON’T TRIP ON YOUR WAY TO GREATNESS”

“Trials and tribulations are but tiny roadblocks to a greater sense of who you are. They may delay your journey a bit, but they (if you don’t make them so), aren’t big enough to keep you from realizing the true greatness that resides within you.” 

~ Nonnie Jules

I have had the privilege of serving on the Governing Board of the Rave Reviews Book Club for several years. Although I am a senior member of this Board in age, I learned each day from Nonnie Jules who has become my friend and mentor. It should be no surprise that I often draw on her substantial collection of original quotes at Books By Nonnie.  (The quotes section of Books By Nonnie is unavailable at this time, as Nonnie is preparing for the release of her long-awaited collection of personal quotes).

I know from my own life experience and studies that the quest for understanding exactly who we are is universal. As a child and young teen, the question of “Who am I?” had the obvious answer. Leaving childhood behind, we find ourselves clothed with many assertions from family, friends and schoolmates about the kind of person we are perceived to be. Sometimes the descriptions are complimentary and other times, not. If I had a dollar for every time I heard the statement, “Nobody understands me”, I’d be a very rich man. It’s a given that there’s probably no one, except a few, or one very close friend, who can really understand us some of the time. This begs the question whether I understand myself.

In this quote, Jules warns us that life’s difficulties can serve as minor roadblocks to self-understanding. In the sense that these trials are distractions in our quest for clarity, I totally agree. Any situation that brings us physical, emotional or mental pain or stress will deflect our attention from the process of self-assessment and understanding. These trials will happen; there’s no way to avoid them, so the question becomes how we will deal with these challenges.

We cannot control the curves that life throws at us. We can approach routine bumps in the road as major catastrophes by blowing them way out of proportion, and giving them life and unwarranted power. Alternatively, we can approach them with a healthy perspective, maintain our focus, and dispatch these issues as successfully as possible. When we look at a challenge confronting us, and hold it up to the canvas of our entire life, we gain perspective; we see it for the bump in the road that it is. Having established an accurate perspective, it is much easier to focus our effort and energy to deal with the challenge quickly and effectively.

The last part of the quote that resonated deeply within me is this, “… the true greatness that resides within you.”  How many of us reach adulthood with this realization? I did not. I never saw myself as great at anything – which is not to say that I lived my adult life putting myself down. Not at all, but greatness? Within me? After serious thought, I realized that Jules is on target. I may not be great at anything in particular, but I am a unique person and I like myself. The fact that I’m dedicated to helping others, and growing as a person, denotes a sense of greatness within.

How do you grow as a person? I could talk about introspection, self-questioning, self-assessment and all the other aspects of this process, but I’d rather focus on the one that my mentor emphasizes daily – with regard to both herself and others – honesty. Do I make up excuses for my flaws or failures, or do I accept what is, and own it? There’s an old expression, a leopard can’t change its spots, that applies here. The cartoon character, Popeye, exclaimed it in every episode, “I am what I am, and that’s all that I am!” When I arrive at this point, I can choose to be complacent and not bother to do the work to improve, or I can dedicate my energies to becoming the best leopard, sailor, writer or person that I can become. The courage to choose that dedicated way of life is the lamp that shines on our inner greatness.

“REFLECTIONS”

BLURB:  

What do YOU think?

Does this question engage you or take you out of your comfort zone? Does it put you on the spot? REFLECTIONS is award-winning author and former educator John Fioravanti’s answer.

Offering his interpretations of fifty quotes by contemporary and ancient thinkers alike, John dives deep below the surface of words and explores the deeper meanings that shape his view of the world.

Deeply personal and presented in a self-effacing manner, these self-aware reflections will encourage you to dig deep within yourself and to discover more about the underlying truths that guide you.

Without trumpets or fanfare of any kind, John Fioravanti aspires to inspire you!

About the Author…

To learn more about John, please visit his RRBC Author Page!

Twitter:  @JohnJFioravanti

As a very special treat, please visit FIORA BOOKS BY JOHN FIORAVANTI to sample ONE free reflection and interpretation from the upcoming REFLECTIONS II!  I assure you, it’s just as amazing and inspiring as this one and will whet your appetite for what’s to come!  (UPDATE:  At the time of this posting, John’s post was not yet LIVE.  Please be sure to check back so that you don’t miss the treat that awaits you on his blog today!)

Thank you for dropping by to support John’s upcoming release.  Please be sure to snag a copy of the original REFLECTIONS, on Amazon now for only $2.99 and as a FREE read on Kindle Unlimited!

I’d also like to ask that you leave John a comment below and LIKE the post before leaving for your chance to win a $5 Amazon Gift Card!  It would be great if you’d also tweet and Share the page to your social media platforms!

Until next time…

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