"Do all the good you can" is the first line in these words of wisdom that align well with LRN LAF LUV LIV for LYF and the Philosophy for LYF:
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
This saying is often attributed to John Wesley, an English cleric and one of the founders of Methodism. Quote Investigator indicates its origin is more complicated and the contemporary rhythmic version evolved over time by several people. While its origin may not be clear, its message is clear and serves as a nice reminder that always doing goodness is a path to bettering your life and living an elevated life.
Do goodness
The first line "Do all the good you can" is more aptly stated in the Philosophy for LYF as "Do all the goodness you can". Goodness is the foundational core value for an elevated life. And an elevated life requires doing goodness to achieve goodness of action.
Do always
The other lines remind us to always do goodness...at all times, in all means, in all ways, in all places, to all people, all your life. The Philosophy for LYF expounds on this by providing you with the what to do (your life's mission), how to do it (your life's strategy), and why to do it (your life's vision).
Your life's mission is to grow true wealth and give true worth. Your mission highlights that "doing all the goodness you can" includes doing goodness to yourself (to grow your true wealth) as well as doing goodness to others (by giving your true worth).
Your life's strategy is to LRN LAF LUV LIV. These four deeds of goodness specify how to do goodness, giving you the means and ways to grow true wealth and give true worth.
Your life's vision is an elevated life. This concept of a high form of living, full true wealth and true worth, gives you the reason to "do all the goodness you can".
Yes, you can
All of the lines end with "you can". This reminds us of the third truth in the Philosophy for LYF: your life can be better. No matter who you are, where you are, or what you have done, your life can be better. You are in control of your own goodness. Take control and make your life better. Yes, you can.
While there is no evidence that John Wesley wrote or spoke the words of wisdom stated at the beginning, he did write something with a similar message in 1799 in Sermons on Several Occasions:
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Neither is love content with barely working no evil to our neighbour. It continually incites us to do good: as we have time, and opportunity, to do good in every possible kind, and in every possible degree to all men.
These words highlight another concept of LRN LAF LUV LIV for LYF: goodness is not the absence of doing evil or avoiding evil, but rather it comes from the positive actions of doing goodness.
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