Are Your Struggles Grinding You or Wearing You Down?

n this world of instant gratification and “yes” men, we sometimes forget the value of allowing our personalities to be improved a bit as we deal with life’s everyday struggles. When I grind stone, especially granite, I have to use a series of polishing pads studded with one of the strongest stones on earth, diamonds. This eventually creates a mirror finish that is truly beautiful. We can allow the challenges we face to do the same for us. However, not every situation is condusive to this self improvement model, so I’ve mapped out a list of polishing ‘grits’ and how they can help you:

• Grinding Wheel- This is where you are initially shaped (your childhood). Keep in mind that this wheel is for basic shapes and if there’s a defect in it, it will create a dent, so don’t stay too long on this one so you can fix any dents.
• 50 grit- This is to smooth out the bumps and dents created in the early process. You may need to spend a little time here licking your wounds and leveling out the surface first. Make sure the basic shape is there and right, because any major flaws won’t be fixed by moving on to the next polishing pads, so it’s important to take the time to ask yourself the probing questions about whether your belief system is right.
• 100 grit- This is a continuing process of the shaping. Now you’re finishing the shaping process. You will have some big life decisions that need to be made in this phase and it’s up to you to make sure you get your life in harmony with your priorities and make sure your priorities are correct so you can move on.
• 200 grit- Now that you’re shaped, you have to start smoothing out the rough scratches. How you deal with your family and those around you when the going gets tough will determine how many scratches you get out, or create.
• 400 grit-This is where the polishing actually begins. You’ve been knocked around enough and now you are ready to start taking on the roles you’ve decided for yourself. Are you going to get yourself to the next level, or are you going to remain rough?
• 800 grit- You are just starting to see some refinement, although you don’t shine yet. You’re not saying the wrong things to your spouse and you do realize how important spending time with the ones you love is (if you’ve never gotten to this phase, I feel sorry for you).
• 1500 grit- Now you’re starting to see some shine peering out in small spaces from among the many scratches. This is where you define the values that govern your existence.
• 3000 grit- This is where you polish to a shine. The beauty of the character you worked on previously now starts shining through to reveal the qualities you’ve worked so hard to display.
• Buffer pad- Now you want that mirror finish. Your selfish brute self has been replaces with a shining example of a human being. Even though you may be able to see scratches in a microscope, to the human eye, you’re perfect because you are the best you can be and that’s good enough.

You may think to yourself that that’s a lot of polishing pads to go through. You’re right, but to create the masterpiece takes some work, whether you’re working on yourself or a piece of stone. Some of us are easier to mold, like travertine. Others of us like granite may be hard as a rock, but we shine even more. This is the amount of work and dedication into everything I make and sell at www.stonecompliments.com and the amount of work I put into myself and my children as a father. One day, I hope that I, too, can shine to a mirror finish.