Are You An Entrepreneurial Spirit? Take the Quiz and Find Out

An entrepreneurial spirit is a person who is spiritually independent and not locked into any one set of dogmatic beliefs. An entrepreneurial spirit is a person who recognizes the importance of creating a better spiritual life.

Creativity and risk are entrepreneurial characteristics. Creativity is not just about painting a picture, acting in a drama, writing a novel or some other artistic endeavor. Creativity is being intellectually and spiritually inventive. Spiritual people must be imaginative and innovative. We must also be willing to try new ideas, new ways of thinking and acting. This involves a certain degree of risk.

An entrepreneurial spirit understands non-linear thinking, in which there is no one cause and effect. Non-linear is a different way of thinking. We can no longer expect to find one result from an event, or expect an outcome to have a single, definite cause. Linear thinking, or moving in a straight line, is no longer the only way to reflect. Instead, imagine a web of ideas spreading out in a variety of intricate patterns, but with an underlying order.

Assess yourself as an entrepreneurial spirit. Do you have the qualities necessary to adapt to change, take control of your spiritual life, and think differently?


ARE YOU AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT?


Directions: Assign one point for each characteristic that describes, or mostly describes, you.


Creates or seizes an opportunity and purses it regardless of current resources.

Never, never accepts “no” for an answer

Is creative and innovative

Uses both left and right brain

Works hard, is driven by intense commitment and determined perseverance

Sees the cup 1/2 full, not 1/2 empty

Strives for integrity

Burns with desire to connect with the Divine

Is dissatisfied with the status quo in spiritual life

Seeks opportunity to improve all spiritual connections

Uses failure as a learning tool

Strives for effectiveness, not perfection

Is comfortable with a certain degree of risk


Scoring: Highest Possible Score is 13

Congratulations! A score of 10 or more makes you an entrepreneurial spirit.

Our spiritual, as well as our material, world is changing. As an entrepreneurial spirit, you are willing to modify your views to accommodate new ideas. This does mean changing your beliefs. This means not limiting your thinking, but allowing new thoughts to permeate your being.

If you are not an entrepreneurial spirit, do not worry. You might want to take a look at the characteristics to see which ones you want to incorporate into your life. Being an entrepreneurial spirit is not the only way to live spiritually, but it is one way to better flow with the changes that are occurring.

Eight Values That Define Our Lives

Who are you? What defines you? What are those ideals or values most important in your life? Are they things such as honesty, loyalty and/or respect for others? We know not to lie, steal or cheat, but what other values do we honor?

Eight concepts define our ethical beliefs:

Compassion – caring about ourselves and others
Unity - feeling connected to others
Truthfulness – being honest with ourselves and others
Fairness - treating ourselves and others fairly
Tolerance – allowing diversity in ideas and beliefs
Responsibility – assuming the consequences of our actions
Respect – accepting our own and others’ opinions
Service – helping ourselves and others

Which ones make you who you are? Then think about which ones you honor in others, but fail to allow for yourself:

Do you treat others fairly, but not yourself?
Do you respect others’ opinions, but not your own?
Do you help others and volunteer for many charities, but fail to take time for your own chores?
Do you show compassion to others, but neglect your own needs?
Know your beliefs, acknowledge them, and honor them for yourself, not just for others.

In situations of conflict, we know the right thing to do. We tap our inner wisdom to see how any potential decision feels. Trust that. Honor what is right. Act on your beliefs.

What beliefs reflect your parent within, the nagging voice that warns you when you are doing something wrong, even when you try to quiet and ignore it? What are the beliefs that, when ignored, wake you up at night and disturb your sleep?

Think of a dilemma in which you debated what to do. What helped you make that final decision? Were you at peace with it? Remember those values that allow you to believe in your decisions, and trust yourself.

Spirituality is the larger part of the ethical issue. 95% of us believe in God or something greater than ourselves. Despite differences, most religions and spiritual paths teach the same eight principles as mentioned above: Compassion, Unity, Truthfulness, Fairness, Tolerance, Responsibility, Respect, and Service. We live spiritually by honoring these values and focusing on the ones most important to us. Trust who you are and what you do by respecting your beliefs.

Are You a "None?"

The Hartford Courant, on September 29, 2009 (A1), reported on a study that showed 15%of U.S. adults were not part of any organized religion, up from 8% in 1990. While those numbers don’t surprise me, and I agree with their predictions that the numbers will continue to rise, I did find the article disturbing. There seemed to be an underlying negative statement concerning that 15%, who were described as the “American Nones,” as if those of us who do choose not to participate in any organized religion were somehow lesser than the majority. Half of these “Nones” believed in God, and some were atheists. I have no problem with anyone who chooses to be part of any organized Church. I just wish that there were more openness for those who do not. Perhaps this same lack of acceptance of any differing views is what is driving the higher number of “Nones.”