Fan or Fanatic?
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Fan or Fanatic?
Fenny West Sat 07 Mar 2009, 10:34 pm
Zig Ziglar
If we look at the word "fanatic," we discover that the first three letters spell "fan." Most of us are fans of people, cities, companies, jobs, our mates, our faith or the favorite athletic teams we support. I've always believed that loyal fans are real assets and that it helps to be a loyal fan.
However, a fanatic is something else. Take the word "fanatic," and when you eliminate "fan," it becomes "atic." I believe that people who become fanatics have an atic problem -- in other words, they've taken it to an extreme and become so dogmatic that they endanger themselves or their careers. They lose the favorable influence they might have on other people, including their families.
It's one thing to believe in something or somebody. It's another thing to be completely blind to the fact that we can take it too far and that the person or team we favor might go too far in their efforts to win. I believe that we can be loyal fans, supporting the activities that are productive, honorable and solid, and calling to question those things that are illegal or immoral.
For example, many of our "heroes" in the movies, on TV or in athletics have personal lives that are questionable. I believe it's fanaticism when you close your eyes to the bad and fanatically follow that person because "you've always been a fan."
Interestingly enough, when the individual, team or politician realizes the behavior he is engaging in will not be tolerated any longer, chances are excellent he will see the "handwriting on the wall" and make the appropriate changes. I believe the real fan who is loyal, but who holds the team or individuals accountable for its or their actions, exercises responsibility. Take that approach, and I'll see you at the top!
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Looking Through Love's Eyes
Goethe made a rather profound statement when he said: "If I treat you as you are, you will remain as you are. If I treat you as if you were what you could be, that is what you will become."
Those words of long ago express in a unique way what love is about. As I reread them for the umpteenth time, I think of the love in a family and the way we see each other. If you look at your mate as alive, well and alert, rather than nosy -- if you see him or her as exercising good judgment and thrift instead of being shallow and stingy -- it will have a profound impact on your relationship.
If you think of your mate as being expressive instead of talkative, and if you consider him or her sensitive and caring rather than touchy, your respect and admiration for your mate will grow; you will develop a deeper love, appreciation and understanding of them.
When you take that approach you will have mastered one of the great lessons of life -- namely, that when you love someone, you do not react to the symptoms of behavior but you respond to the need that your mate might have. In this process, you will learn that love will always give you the benefit of the doubt. Over a period of time, you will realize that you do that not because you want to do what is right, but because you have become that kind of person.
The underlying message behind all of this is that, yes, you can change, and in the process you will have a substantial influence on the life of the other person. Each of you will win, and as a couple you will win. Now that gives you something to smile about! To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@zigziglar.com.
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Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.
If we look at the word "fanatic," we discover that the first three letters spell "fan." Most of us are fans of people, cities, companies, jobs, our mates, our faith or the favorite athletic teams we support. I've always believed that loyal fans are real assets and that it helps to be a loyal fan.
However, a fanatic is something else. Take the word "fanatic," and when you eliminate "fan," it becomes "atic." I believe that people who become fanatics have an atic problem -- in other words, they've taken it to an extreme and become so dogmatic that they endanger themselves or their careers. They lose the favorable influence they might have on other people, including their families.
It's one thing to believe in something or somebody. It's another thing to be completely blind to the fact that we can take it too far and that the person or team we favor might go too far in their efforts to win. I believe that we can be loyal fans, supporting the activities that are productive, honorable and solid, and calling to question those things that are illegal or immoral.
For example, many of our "heroes" in the movies, on TV or in athletics have personal lives that are questionable. I believe it's fanaticism when you close your eyes to the bad and fanatically follow that person because "you've always been a fan."
Interestingly enough, when the individual, team or politician realizes the behavior he is engaging in will not be tolerated any longer, chances are excellent he will see the "handwriting on the wall" and make the appropriate changes. I believe the real fan who is loyal, but who holds the team or individuals accountable for its or their actions, exercises responsibility. Take that approach, and I'll see you at the top!
----
Looking Through Love's Eyes
Goethe made a rather profound statement when he said: "If I treat you as you are, you will remain as you are. If I treat you as if you were what you could be, that is what you will become."
Those words of long ago express in a unique way what love is about. As I reread them for the umpteenth time, I think of the love in a family and the way we see each other. If you look at your mate as alive, well and alert, rather than nosy -- if you see him or her as exercising good judgment and thrift instead of being shallow and stingy -- it will have a profound impact on your relationship.
If you think of your mate as being expressive instead of talkative, and if you consider him or her sensitive and caring rather than touchy, your respect and admiration for your mate will grow; you will develop a deeper love, appreciation and understanding of them.
When you take that approach you will have mastered one of the great lessons of life -- namely, that when you love someone, you do not react to the symptoms of behavior but you respond to the need that your mate might have. In this process, you will learn that love will always give you the benefit of the doubt. Over a period of time, you will realize that you do that not because you want to do what is right, but because you have become that kind of person.
The underlying message behind all of this is that, yes, you can change, and in the process you will have a substantial influence on the life of the other person. Each of you will win, and as a couple you will win. Now that gives you something to smile about! To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@zigziglar.com.
----
Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.
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Re: Fan or Fanatic?
song Sun 08 Mar 2009, 12:17 pm
This is a splendid article and I also believe that we can not only change our lives but our changed can influence and affect others positively. Thank you sharing this beautiful article.
song- Christian Talk Member
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Thank you very much
Fenny West Sun 08 Mar 2009, 2:17 pm
Thank you,Song, for your confirmation.
May God bless and use you to influence others positively.
Fenny
May God bless and use you to influence others positively.
Fenny
Fenny West- Christian Talk Moderators
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Number of posts : 1091
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Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717) wrote powerfully about the need for an intimate relationship with Almighty God, including this: “He who has a pure heart will never cease to pray; and he who will be constant in prayer, shall know what it is to have a pure heart.”
