Here are 11 characteristics of St. Patrick from a message by Carson Pue that will inspire you to take your life up to a new level:
- When St. Patrick went to Ireland, a lot was wrong. There was evil all around but instead of condemnation and judgment, he used understanding and friendship.
Do you condemn people or do you try to understand them?
- Patrick was friendly, open and inviting. He invited people into his life with the knowledge that friendship and openness to love enrich all concerned.
Do you isolate yourself because you are fine and don’t need the help of others or do you invite others into your life to try to help them?
- Patrick sought to improve the conditions of the less fortunate instead of ignoring them. He tried to adorn everything he touched.
Do you regularly look around for people whose condition you can improve?
- Patrick was known to have places of retreat. He never took his development as a spiritual human being for granted. He would go off in silent retreat to enrich his own soul.
Do you take time for yourself or are you too busy to see that the treasure lies in you?
- When St. Patrick wanted something and did not get it, he did not sulk, he did not give up. He was patient. He did not think that he was this great and successful man that deserved to get what he wanted when he asked for it. He knew how to wait.
When you are called upon to wait for something that you want, do you exhibit impatience, irritation and peevish behavior or can you wait patiently and cheerfully for what you want?
- Patrick as a young man was humble with his successes and his wealth. He was not demanding. He was a great man and humility is a cardinal characteristic of greatness.
Are you a great person? Are you humble?
- AT the Peak of his success, when St. Patrick got the news that he had permission to build his cathedral at his chosen spot, instead boasting and drawing attention to himself, he retreated and celebrated his victory by doing a 40-day fast with gratitude for his success.
How to you handle success? What do you do when life hands you some good fortune?
- Patrick had the incredible ability to look beyond the present. He was able to imagine the future and live with that in mind.
One of the characteristics of successful people is the ability to see the future positive potential of their actions and not just do what satisfies them for the present.
Do you consider the future in your daily actions?
- St Patrick was meek instead of aggressive. He was gentle and he lived with the ultimate interest of others in mind.
How do you deal with people? Are you gentle with people? Do you realize that we are all fragile beings traveling on a rough road?
- St Patrick was generous with what he had. He came to Ireland with great wealth but he gave it away to help others. He did not feel that he was entitled to it all because he was the one who acquired it.
How generous are you with your money, your possessions or your time? Are you a giver?
- St Patrick was very forgiving.
Do you hold grudges or do you let go of wrongs that were committed against you?
I hope you will be inspired to reflect on your own life and use these 11 points to help to increase your personal power.