Principles of BLAST

Integrity	Respect	Attitude
Responsibility	Goal Setting	Belief
Courage	Commitment	Effort
Improvement	Unity	Enjoyment

 

 

 INTEGRITY

“The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions.  Our inner balance, and even our very existence depends on it.  Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to our lives.” – Albert Einstein

Integrity is the cornerstone of all success.  It is your inner image of yourself; who you really are.  Know your values in life and behave in a way that is consistent with these values.  Always be loyal to your beliefs and values.  Live out your values in all areas of your life so that others can rely upon and trust you.

 

 

RESPECT 

“Respect a man, and he will do all the more.” John wooden

Respect both yourself and others for it is a continuous cycle of appreciation.  It is virtually impossible to respect others if you don’t respect yourself and to respect yourself if others don’t respect you.  You must first respect yourself and then others will respect you.  If you can’t respect yourself, no one else will be able to make that happen for you.  You alone must begin to respect yourself.  Self-respect is essential because it encompasses every aspect of your life and defines who you are to yourself.  Accept who you are and everything about you; the good and the bad.  Then respect and appreciate the individuality of other people and the ways in which he or she is unique.

 

 

ATTITUDE 

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life”  Kahlil Gibran

Your attitude is your choice and you alone can decide how to deal with the events in your life.  You can not always control the circumstances around you, but you can always control your attitude and how you perceive your circumstances.  Always keep a positive attitude because a positive attitude will help create your future instead of being held back by allowing negative feelings to affect your attitude and behavior.

 

 

RESPONSIBILITY

“Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man’s doing but my own.  I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze.  My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the keys to my destiny.” – Elain Maxwell

Realize that you alone are responsible for your future.  You alone are responsible for the outcome of your efforts.  Your background and circumstances in life may affect who you are, but you are responsible for what you become.  Don’t look for anyone to blame.  Take responsibility for everything you do or don’t do.  Do what you know is the right thing to do and do it when it is the right time to do it.

 

 

GOAL SETTING

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.  I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” -Louisa May Alcott

Have a dream in life that is so substantial it will challenge you to always be at your very best.  Then develop a goal setting strategy to achieve your dreams.  Start by having a clear vision of what exactly it is you want to achieve or become, and form a mental vision of this.  After you have created your vision, design a plan of action, and break down the plan into small steps.  Perform each act to the best of your ability, and with determination and purpose to reach your goals.

 

 

BELIEF

“Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man.  But sooner or later the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can.” – Vince Lombardi

Believe without a shadow of a doubt that you can reach your dreams and goals.  Believe that you will be successful.  Stay away from negative influences which make you doubt your ability to succeed.  Surround yourself with people and things that remind you that you can and will succeed.

 

 

COURAGE  

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” – E. E. Cummings

Have the courage to become the person you believe you were meant to be.  You have to have courage to achieve your goals.  People sometimes will have an inspirational goal with a detailed plan for achieving it, but fail to ever put that plan into motion because they fear failure.  All your goals and dreams can be achieved if we have the courage to pursue them.

 

 

COMMITMENT

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.” – Abraham Lincoln

The commitments you choose to make define you as you.  Your commitments communicate to the world what you believe is important.  They determine your values, beliefs, and priorities, and ultimately define you as a unique individual and differentiate you from others.  A commitment allows others to more deeply trust and respect you.  Therefore, make a firm commitment to yourself and what you want to achieve.  If you believe in yourself, and you are committed to achieving your goals and willing to put forth the effort, your dreams can become a reality.

 

 

EFFORT 

“Success is peace of mind that can be obtained only from the self-satisfaction of knowing that you have made the effort to do the very best of which you are capable.” – John Wooden

Success is mostly dependent upon effort and persistence.  Typically, the person who works the hardest and puts in the extra effort will be the one to succeed.  Do not give up until you have achieved what you desire.  It’s not how much better you are that makes the difference, but rather how much effort you put into it.  Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the rewards that come to you.

 

 

IMPROVEMENT 

“The great thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving.”  Oliver Wendell Holmes

Always seek to improve yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually.  Continuous improvement is essential for growth.  Everyday you should be accomplishing tasks which will ultimately help you become the person you want to become.  See every failure as a stepping-stone to success and only as a temporary set back.  Learn from your experiences and push on towards your goals.  Achieve a little more each day than you think you possibly can, and you will expand and increase your abilities monumentally.

 

 

UNITY 

“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.” – Vince Lombardi

The world is interconnected and lives are intertwined within the world.  Unity encompasses helping, encouraging, trusting, sharing, and cooperating with others.  Like single raindrops collect to build a powerful river, each individual is responsible for making the group complete.  Whether it is with members of your team, family, community, or society, you should strive to build camaraderie and cohesiveness within the group.  Qualities of generosity, loyalty, teambuilding, and selflessness will help build a unified team and help you understand that the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

 

 

ENJOYMENT

“He has spent his life best who has enjoyed it most.” Samuel Butler

Life and sports are meant to be enjoyed.  Enjoy the moments and enjoy the journey.  When all is said and done, it’s not what was said or done that you remember, but the fun you had along the way and how it made you feel.  If you enjoy what you are doing, you will be successful.  You must remember that success is not the key to happiness, but rather happiness is the key to success.