YOU CAN'T FAKE THE TRUTH

HONESTY IS INTEGRITY!

 OTHERS MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU SAY, BUT THE TRUTH WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR ADVANTAGE  

 by Sue Brown

Sadly, dishonesty is everywhere… in all cultures, countries, and religions.  Lack of honesty is for many different reasons, unfortunately,  most dishonesty is for personal gain. The gain is either monetary or per recognition.

There are doctors who not only malpractice but in addition file unjust insurance claims, lawyers who think they have to be dishonest (misrepresent) to win cases, and similarly, there is an overabundant amount of dishonesty in the business world!  However, one of the worst forms of dishonesty is with those with that we interact daily.

It appears that we are afraid to speak up or address a particular wrong that we see or are part of ourselves. Who does this help?  Not the offender as the negative behavior will continue unless addressed. Often in my writings, I call this Integrity.  Integrity is addressing a wrong (or in most cases) doing the right thing… regardless of the outcome.  It is not always an easy choice but must be done if we are to make the World a better place for others. It is a daily struggle.

The interesting thing in this is that others might have another perception, another meter to judge on just what is honest and what is dishonest. And sometimes it is not easy to say that they were wrong.  A lawyer friend once said to me, “We lawyers are there to bend the truth so that it can fit into the law.”  Yes, he was being glib.  But, for some people, this is dishonesty, for a lawyer… this might be honest work.

And of course, the most difficult thing to be honest about… is feelings. Why? As humans, we have problems with both telling the truth and accepting it too. Sometimes, we are so close to it… that it’s difficult to see.  And then, there is always that personal agenda.

The truth is right and will always be right; there is no reason to be ashamed or afraid of the truth.

The Inner Peace that Comes with Understanding, Acceptance, and Life Lessons

 Over the years, I have tried to either lose or correct my own shortcomings.  It is a work in progress.  Still! However, each time I am disappointed, scared, or worried... I revert back to old habits.  WHY?  I recently realized it is because I think (believe) that others are responsible, (and sometimes affecting) the WHO, WHAT, and WHY of my existence.  Age has brought me to a new place.  I share it with all.  Each day that I am on this Earth I have learned a new lesson and for that, I am so grateful.

It is so easy in life to forget that we are responsible for our own success, happiness, and inner peace. 

It is often easier to blame others than to own up to our personal failures. Many people I speak with have difficulty in this area. It is always someone else's fault that they didn't get the promotion. It is because of a difficult childhood (past or present) that they are unhappy or not accomplishing what God put them on Earth to accomplish. Or...the most powerful to overcome is a lack of inner peace. Often, this lack consumes all energies and thought. "Why can't I be happy?" The answer is rather straightforward and so simple that it might elude us at first. 

We give happiness to ourselves by accepting equal amounts of credit for a job well done and at the same time, owning up to human errors in judgment and personal failure. 

 

It is not necessary to be perfect, but what is necessary is to step up to the plate and accept responsibility for our actions and place in life. If we are not happy where we are in life, who we have become, and what we are doing...we need to change...not the world around us.

Be proactive in these areas and success, happiness, and inner peace will follow.

PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE... POST JULY 4th. It's EVERYONE'S

 

The Empowerment of Positive Choice in Our Lives!

In life, we can not control what is done to us, but we always have a choice in how we react to those tests and challenges.  Choice is what separates humans from other mammals. That is self-empowering.

 Even if we fail with one test or challenge…a new one will come along in which we get to choose all over again. Perhaps, it is so we finally get it right. Life, as given, isn’t always easy; it’s not supposed to be. However, when it comes to our own human faults, it is very forgiving in that we get to "correct" our human weaknesses and errors should we so choose.

Often, we do not especially like the choices as they are presented to us and sometimes they are even unfair…but they are choices nonetheless. It is empowering to know we have that ability to choose a new path...at any time. With each and every positive choice we make for ourselves... and towards others... we give ourselves honor. We also get to further define who we are as Human Beings. Think of this in even greater terms.

All of us lost something this past year. Unfortunately, so many lost employment, homes, and suffered financially in some way. In spite of outward appearances, no one has it all. Looks are very deceiving. 2021 has been a time of recovery and new opportunities. 

Have we taken full stock of what we already have; or have we just taken Life's given gifts for granted? Some of us lost our way in relationships either at work or at home. It will be a period of reconciliation and hopefully, forgiveness. And a few of us might even have slipped into areas of human weaknesses: drugs, alcohol, and unfaithfulness and perhaps hurt those we love. Are we stronger and recovered now? Have we atoned for our bad decisions and actions?

This year continues to be a journey of great personal strength and courage moving forward in a healthy and positive way. We're a bit past the halfway point of the year. Have we changed anything for the better? Have we become better people? Have we learned to correct our mistakes? Each and every day we each have the God-given ability to start over and make new choices.  

Real situations in a continued quest to improve our own Human Footprints in our time on Earth. Choose well.

Owning Our Faults/Failures

Admitting we are "wrong" in any situation... is difficult. Admitting we have done something "wrong" to another human being... is even more difficult. Sometimes, I refer to it as stepping up to the plate. Similar to an athlete that might not see the ball coming directly at them...stepping up to the plate...to me, means that you are at least in the game (and in this case it's the game of LIFE and you are willing to own up to the fast ball coming your way)...even if you strike out or are hit hard by that ball. It takes courage to admit a fault or a wrong that you have done to someone else. It takes even more courage to admit it and then never do it again. I'm pretty sure that someone who suffers dependency in any area deals with this issue every day. Is today the last day I drink or do drugs? Is today the last day I cheat, steal, or lie? Is today the last day I "abuse" someone else?...but you get the idea. I know you do. Truely, someone who comes forth in any venue and admits their faults has my total respect. But someone who comes forth, admits his/her limitations, and then does everything humanly possible to correct that injury or dysfunction is an example of highest regard for all of us. In actuality, not only have they stepped up to the plate, but they have won the inning. There will be many, many innings for all of us. Step up to the plate, today. Sue

Procrastination Stinks!

It's difficult to even think of one time, when procrastination has been beneficial in almost any context. Honestly, I have been thinking on this intently for quite awhile. Does putting something off, regarding health, ever work out? Does carrying those extra twenty pounds, smoking for several additional years, or ignoring that small lump or skin discoloration...really get better over time? How about things in our personal life? Does it make sense to "wait" before intervening in our children's bad behavior? If one waits long enough to discipline a child when they are young...they are neither able to understand rules later on nor able to grasp that bad decision making has negative consequences...when they are teens. Or, if we are aware that our "significant" other is being unfaithful or is struggling in some other moral area...does it miraculously go away because we pretend we don't see it or know of its existence? No. Similarly, has it ever worked to our advantage when we are unhappy in a situation be it at home, school, or on the job...and have not spoken up, that it has actually turned around all on its own in our favor? When does that happen? As annoying as those cliches and phrases are, you know: "The early bird catches the worm," "Don't put off until tomorrow, what you could be doing, today," etc. etc. they are so true. They particularly apply to the negative things, I think.
So...here's to speaking up and making changes, accepting personal responsibility for actions either given or received that need to be altered, and beginning, at least, to make changes in all the negatives in our lives. Sue