Akin to: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Tony Robbins, Oli Hille, Getting Things Done Making a Masterpiece of Your Life: The Craftsman's Way of the Art & Science of Skillful Living

158 Pages·2012·2.75 MB·English

Making a Masterpiece of Your Life
The Craftsman's Way of the Art & Science of
Skillful Living
by
Charles P. Collins

Book 6 in the LIFECRAFT collection

www.Amazon.com/dp/B00AEXED5G
www.facebook.com/MyLifeMasterpiece
www.twitter.com/LifeMasterpiece

An Amazon #1 Best Seller
CONTENTS
Foreword by the Author
The Origin of LIFECRAFT
Part 1: The Principles
Life As A Craft
The Practice of Craftsmanship
The Four Phases of Living
The Five Elements

Part 2: The Material
Making a Masterpiece of Your Life
Masterpiece Element 1: Family Heritage
Masterpiece Element 2: Family Management
Masterpiece Element 3: Family & Personal Finance
Masterpiece Element 4: The Human Being
Masterpiece Element 5: Tools for Living
The Tool Box
Glossary

Author Biography
Foreword by the Author For each new generation no mission is more
important, no adventure more arduous and rewarding, than the search for one's
place in the world and life's enduring values. To turn a vision of oneself into a
tangible result requires commitment, skills, and the right tools for the job. Our
goal is to expose you to the ancient practice of craftsmanship and inspire you
into Making a Masterpiece of Your Life. Welcome to The Craftsman's Way of
the Art and Science of Skillful Living.

As a system Making a Masterpiece of Your Life is designed to organize - in
one convenient place - all the bits and pieces of "wisdom" about life that you
will find scattered about in books, on tapes, at seminars, and "advice" from
parents, relatives, and friends. It is flexible and practical to meet the needs of the
task at hand.

As a practice Making a Masterpiece of Your Life is designed to help you
balance the distinct but interconnected "Five Elements" of life as an individual,
and as a member of the families we all belong to.

Making a Masterpiece of Your Life is about an ancient quality so easily missed
in a world of constant distractions. The ancient quality is the practice of
craftsmanship. Craftsmanship is one of the highest qualities revered by the
human spirit. It is a quality understood by all cultures regardless of language,
religious belief or period in time. Craftsmanship endures long after one has
traveled the journey of life. It is immortal. It is a universal value both human and
divine which speaks for itself. Its presence is self evident the moment one comes
into contact with it; whether through the superior work of a craftsperson, or the
life of one who conducts himself or herself as a true craftsperson. Craftsmanship
is the foundation upon which the craft of life is built.

Making a Masterpiece of Your Life - The Craftsman's Way of the Art &
Science of Skillful Living is an art and a science dedicated to; empowering
ourselves and each generation to craft a masterpiece of our lives. To learn more
visit: www.facebook.com/MyLifeMasterpiece

Charles P. Collins (CP Collins) [email protected]
The Origin of LIFECRAFT

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
The Road Not Taken
--Robert Frost
Writer, Craftsman
Life is an ancient journey. For some, it is a journey measured by the time that
passes between the twin events of birth and death. For others, it is a timeless,
never ending road into eternity. However long, whether finite or infinite, at one
time or another many of us have wondered what to make of our lives.

For a lot of people life was never taught as a -- "take it apart and put it back
together" system of identifiable parts. Each one fitting into the big well oiled
machinery of the universe. Life is just experienced - like a balancing act. From
balancing the checkbook to balancing the spiritual and emotional needs of
ourselves and the lives of those around us.

At other times, life can be like searching through the curiosities hanging on the
racks of a vintage clothing store. Somewhere among bits and pieces handed
down through the generations, one might find a treasure. In truth however, much
is old and outdated. Yet we continue to search and sort and look for the priceless
heirloom worth safeguarding for the next generation.

Looking back from our vantage point across time as adults, many of us realize
that our parents didn't have a "system" for teaching us life any more than we
have one for ourselves and our children. It is no surprise then that a great many
of us find ourselves flying through life by the seat of our pants. We have learned
that to successfully navigate the journey of life requires the application of
learned skills. It is rarely the result of blind luck. But which skills exactly?

What will you say one day when the next generation asks: "What is life all
about?" Will you say; "It's about getting a good education, working hard and
making money to buy things to make a comfortable life? Will you say; "It's all
about being a good Human Being (in a dog-eat—dog world)", or "It's about
God's plan". Or will you say something else? How would you answer the
question: "What is life"? Which skills would you teach the next generation?
What is the curriculum?
A Life Curriculum Like a school curriculum, Making a Masterpiece of Your
Life is an organizing structure to guide anyone to approach the subject of life -
the physical, mental, and spiritual experiences that constitute a Human Being's
existence; particularly the interval of time between birth and death on earth - as
an integrated practice. Our framework is a structure upon which a well rounded
life skills education can be built by selecting specific topics of interest - from
grooming and personal hygiene, to managing one's emotions and setting goals
for life.

For years, we searched high and low through books and other works by
qualified teachers and practitioners of essential life topics and distilled each
topic down to one page (more or less) in order to "introduce" the topic. Then we
categorized them all into one of 'Five Elements' for easy reference. Further
study on each topic can be done by reading and studying the more complete
works on each subject as one requires.
Making a Masterpiece of Your Life
The Craftsman's Way of the Art & Science of Skillful Living
www.facebook.com/MyLifeMasterpiece
Part 1: The Principles

" . . . there are certain basic elements in common use among the wide range
of crafts practiced by humankind. (Among them), there is a system of
principles and methods employed in the preparation and use of the materials
of the craft, the performance of the activities which make up the craft, and the
equipment, instruments or tools used in the practice of the craft."
--Life As A Craft
Life As A Craft