At the beginning of this New Year 2005, I would like to share with you about 10 positive assets that can improve your life as a young person. This asset will help you to grow, to build your own positive personality, to appreciate more about who you are and to discover the will of God for your life.

(1) Character
Character is power, character is influence and with only this a person is
eminently useful, not only to family and friend- but to society and to God.
There is a difference between a Character and a reputation. Character is
what a person is; reputation is what he or she is thought to be. Character
comes from within; reputation is without. Character is a person's real
worth. Reputation is their market place. Character is something you cannot
buy. You get it only by building it; and you build it by your own thoughts
and deeds. Any person can acquire a sound character, no matter what his past
has been. Strength of character consists of two things- power of will and
power of self control. It requires two things, strong feelings and command
over them. Remember: that your own worth can be measured, not by what you
have, but by what you are.

(2) Courage
The greater part of the courage that is needed in the world today is not of
a heroic kind. We need the common courage to be honest, to resist
temptation, to speak the truth, the courage to be true to ourselves and not
pretend to be what we are not. We must have the courage to think our own
thoughts and speak our own feelings and form our own convictions. God gives
us the courage to stand for something lest we fall for anything.

(3) Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm is faith in action. Nearly all of the great improvements,
discoveries, inventions, and achievements have started with the person
having had enthusiasm. Enthusiasm, with a moderate degree of wisdom, will
carry a person farther than any amount of intellect without it. It gives a
person a force and momentum.
The people who have most powerfully influenced the world have not been so
much persons of genius but being strong in convictions in their capacity of
work impelled by enthusiasm and determination. If a person can maintain
enthusiasm long enough, it will produce anything.
How then can you acquire this blessed gift of enthusiasm? Some people seem
to be born with it. But to those who claim they have not got it they can
still change. (A) First you must believe in yourself, in your own values, in
your abilities to do what you what to do. Don't let others talk you down.
(B) You must give yourself whole-heartedly to anything you set your hand to.
(C) Treat each day as a new adventure and be happy in what you do. Your
thoughts filled with enthusiasm can change a second-rate thinker to a first
rate achiever. Enthusiasm will open a door when other ways fail.

(4) Kindness
Kindness makes sunshine wherever it goes. When we are kind to each other the
best of a person is shown. Little kindness is great ones. They help to drive
away sadness and bring a cheer in the lives of many.
Speak kindly in the morning; it lightens all the cares of the day and makes
the household and other affairs move along more smoothly. Speak kindly at
night: for to some members of a family it forms contentment. Speak kindly at
all times; it encourages many and can awaken a person to greater
achievement. Always leave home with kind words and leave behind a feeling of
goodwill.

(5) Love
Love is the ruling element of life. Genuine love is founded on esteem and
respect. I believe there is no greater love than a mother for a child. No
matter what the child may have done, been rude, stolen money or even has
killed someone, the mother is always ready to forgive. If there be love,
impossibilities will become possible. Let us love life and live love.

(6) Loyalty
Loyalty is the faithful, Constance exercise, of and devotion to a duty or
obligation owing to someone or something. Our first loyalty should be to God
and mankind. Jesus thought us to "Love God, with all our heart, will all our
soul and with all our mind. Second, t o love our neighbor as ourselves. To
be loyal is to be true to our self. Be loyal and true to you obligations so
long as you under such obligation. Success is built upon loyalty, faith,
sincerity, cooperation and other positive forces.

(7)Punctuality
One of the great virtues is where possible to be on time. This is so
important that I wonder why it is not taught at home, in schools and
business. Success and happiness depend in a far higher degree on punctuality
than many suppose. It is not sufficient to do the right thing, buy it must
be dome at the right time as well.
The punctual person has the advantage of being relaxed and at ease. They
save energy because they have not put themselves under pressure due to
leaving things to late. Most great leaders in commerce, industry, and in
professions are good examples to follow. They are keen on the ball and first
at work.

(8) Sincerity
Sincerity is one of the most important traits of a pleasing personality that
a person can have in the pursuit of happiness or success. Sincerity means
honesty and truthfulness from the heart and the complete absence of
deceitfulness. Deceit and falsehood are obstacles to happiness. A person's
noblest gift to another person is his sincerity, for it embraces his
integrity also.

(9) Tolerance
Tolerance stands high on the list of the traits of a winning and pleasing
personality. Without tolerance regardless of the number of other traits a
person possesses, he could not possibly have a magnetic personality.
An intolerable person is one who is unable to tolerate contrary opinions.
Carrying this a step further, this means that an intolerant person does not
recognize the right of another individual to have an opinion of his own if
it id the opposite of his own ideas.
Tolerance does not mean we have agreed with everyone or every statement
made. But it does mean we might not agree with someone, but respect that
they have an opinion of there own

(10) You
You are the most important person in your life. That is why you must learn
to love yourself a lot more. Remember that you have to learn to mind your
own business as it is the most important business in your world. You have
much to do to find your true identity and your potential.<WM