Archive | Ethics RSS feed for this section

Ten Lies

9 Feb

We make endless decisions as we go through our lives. When we have to answer for something or explain a situation, we always have the choice of either being honest or making up a story. If the situation is difficult or we’ve done something that has caused problems, we may be tempted to lie about what actually happened.  Of course, we can do anything we like, and if we want to fabricate a tale that takes us out of the equation, we can certainly come up with something. Telling a lie may seem like it’ll clear the way ahead, but there’s always a catch. Nothing ever stands alone and remains untouched for long. Before we know it, we may have to tell another lie to explain circumstances that arise from the tale we told originally. In the end, we may have to tell ten lies to cover up for the first one. We’re all creative but it may become difficult to keep tangling the web without everything falling apart. It’s hard to remember made up stories over time, and we may find ourselves completely twisted up trying to keep our cover. No matter what’s happened or what we’ve done, the best and easiest way forward is to tell the complete truth. We might be embarrassed, but we can get over that. We might get in trouble, but we’re accountable for everything we do, and that’s fair. When we’re honest in all our dealings, even when it’s hard, we will gain the respect of those around us. They will understand they can trust us, and that may pave the road ahead to the goals we seek. We are intelligent and can make excellent decisions. By being wise and thoughtful before we act, and choosing the best path forward, we will achieve great success and satisfaction.

White lies are stories we tell because the truth may be difficult to navigate. Someone may ask us a question about their appearance, and if we’re concerned that being completely honest may hurt their feelings, we may choose to embellish the truth a little. Getting into the habit of telling little white lies that don’t seem to hurt anyone might be okay, but once we take one step away from the truth, it’s easy to take another step further. Instead of saying things that aren’t really true, we can find a way to be truthful without causing an issue.  

Some people are very ambitious and will do anything to get what they want. They may have no problem telling lies to get ahead. They are willing to cheat if necessary to go around anyone in their way. If we must deal with them, we will never know if anything they say is true or not. Instead of taking their word for anything, we can do our own research and figure out what’s real. Once we understand the true story and what is actually happening, we can decide how we want to proceed to get to our goal. We have all the wisdom we need to choose the best roads ahead. By being honest and careful, there isn’t anything we can’t accomplish.

Today if you’re in a difficult situation and it would be easy to lie to get out of it, think about the person you most want to be. Every decision brings a result, and by choosing well we will achieve what we want the most. Trust yourself and be confident. There isn’t anything you can’t manage, and every goal is possible. You are smarter and braver than you think you are. Step forward with clarity and you will succeed.

Advertisement

Tags: , ,

Counterfeiting

23 Mar

In this day of information overload, virtually everywhere we go we are bombarded with advertisements with pretty pictures telling us how we should live our lives, what we should do and how we should look. They are filled with scenes of happy people loving life, the suggestion being if we do what they say, we’ll be happy too. However, all those pictures are just actors playing a role. Doing what others think is best might bring us happiness, or it might not. We can play any role we like, pretend we’re something we aren’t, and dress up any situation to appear different than it really is. Counterfeit money looks real from a distance. By simply making Xerox copies of bills, we could fool anyone if they were far enough away. But upon closer inspection it will be obvious that the paper isn’t right, the ink is all wrong and it’s completely fake. If we haven’t yet achieved the level of success in our jobs we desire, or made all the money we think we deserve, or if we’re not as informed as we want others to believe, we may use counterfeit measures to convince them. We can dress up, act out, and manipulate others until we’re sure we’ve convinced them of whatever it is we want them to believe. We might fool them for a while, but just like getting a closer look at counterfeit bills, eventually our true selves will emerge and the truth will rise. It’s impossible to keep up false appearances forever. Instead of pretending, we can work to gain the attributes we desire. By living openly and honestly, we will gain the trust of those around us and make good, strong connections. Nobody is perfect and we all have things we want to change. We can show our true selves and be confident in who we are, and where we stand. Every success is possible, and with determination and focus, nothing can keep us from the goal.

Sometimes it can seem others have it easier than we do. They seem to get what they want and don’t struggle. We may think they have no idea how hard life can be, but we may be way off base. There is no way to know the personal dealings of anyone’s life unless they share the details with us. There may be hidden sorrow and disappointments we cannot see from the outside. Nobody gets a perfect life filled with rainbows and butterflies. We all face challenges and trials, and roads filled with rocks and detours. By keeping our eyes focused on our own journey and not comparing ourselves to others, we will ensure our success and reach every destination.

Many people prefer everyone to be on the same page, doing the same things, and agreeing as a group. Peer pressure is real and we may be asked to conform to something we don’t want. We can do anything we like, but we all have specific gifts to offer that nobody else can give. We can choose what works best for us and take our own path, no matter what others are doing. We have so much to offer, and by being true to who we really are, we can bring great light and blessing to the world.

Today if you’ve been pretending or following someone else’s path, remember you are important and have your own gifts to give. Be yourself and choose the road that takes you to the goals you desire most. There is greatness in you and you can set an amazing example for us all. Be strong and confident, and step forward focused on your own journey. Success is waiting and nothing can keep you from it.

Tags: , ,

Labels and Names

10 Feb

There are billions of people on the earth. They all look different, have different customs, their lives are varied and there are endless interpretations of every aspect of life. We’re all unique and are entitled to our own opinions and ideas. We can do anything we like, and if we meet someone who is very different than we are, and don’t understand them, we may assign a label to them, or lump them into a group. We may call them any of a thousand different things we think describes them according to our own ideas and impressions. Labeling people generally does nothing good. Putting people in boxes restricts them and may change how we think of them and how they respond to us. Being called a name may be flattering or it can be uncomplimentary and degrading. We are all people sharing the planet. We don’t need everyone to think like us, or look like us or follow the same beliefs and standards we set for ourselves. By honoring other viewpoints and listening to different perceptions, we’ll be enriched and learn more about ourselves and those around us. Nobody only wears one color all the time, or eats the same foods every day. Differences are important and bring great depth and variety to our lives. By understanding those around us and sharing our lives with them, we will find great satisfaction and wisdom moving forward.

When we’re in a group, it’s a lot easier if everyone is on the same page. If we’re all focused on accomplishing the same goals and agree on how that should be done, things may go more smoothly than if everyone wants to do things their own way. Different ideas and ways of doing things can either bring complications or embellishment to group dynamics, depending on how we view them. If we’re open to hearing various ways of doing things, and trying another way forward, new ideas will form that may completely change our perspective.

Right is right and wrong is wrong – we can all agree on that. But one person’s idea of what is right may not agree with someone else’s. Being different doesn’t mean being wrong. If nobody is getting hurt, and it’s just a matter of interpretation, all ideas are worthwhile. If we’ve always done things a certain way it can be hard to adjust if someone comes along and turns everything upside down. By being flexible and willing to bend in a new direction, we will learn new ideas and find great success.

Today if you have labeled someone because of their personal characteristics, think again. Remember the great blessing and enrichment differences can bring. Listen to alternative viewpoints, and try to understand the situation from another perspective. You are very intelligent and wise. Be open to contrasting ideas and your life will be enriched. Everyone is valuable and there is great success ahead for us all.

Tags: , ,

Hardly Noticeable

13 Jan

Everyone has an idea of where they want their lives to go and what they want to do. We decide what we want the most and then make a plan and begin to do what is needed to make it ours. It sounds simple, and on paper it is, but this is real life and rarely goes exactly the way we planned. There are endless influences all around us. Advertisers constantly bombard us with their ideas of what we should do and who we should be. Others in our circle may give us advice and guidance, even if we don’t ask for it, and our families are always there to share their views on what we’re doing or not doing. Although we know what we want, sometimes other voices may make us question our decisions, and pull us away from the road ahead. We may step to the left just to keep the peace and think we’ll get back on track as soon as things settle down. After all, one step to the left is hardly noticeable in the big scheme of things and we can trust ourselves to regain our momentum in time. But nobody can predict the future and sometimes one step to the left leads to another, and then another and before we realize it, we may be far away from what we really want and going in the opposite direction. Going from point A to point B is rarely a straight, uninterrupted line, but we have a better shot at success if we keep our eyes focused on the road ahead and don’t get distracted trying to please someone else. Every destination we desire is possible, and we have everything we need to make it ours. By focusing on the goal and continuing forward, nothing can keep us from success.

What we do determines the person we will become. If we want to be honest but there’s a better chance of getting what we want if we fudge the truth a little, or shift our ethics, we may be tempted to take the bait. If we do, we may get away with it, and nobody may know, but we will know we are compromised and that may color our decisions moving forward. It’s much easier to cheat the second time, and each time after that. We decide who we will be. By choosing wisely and following the standards we most desire, we’ll find great satisfaction and peace.

It’s not always easy to be completely honest and when the road ahead gets hard the temptation to bend our ethics to get through may be great. We can lie our way out of a mess, cheat others to get ahead, and manipulate and twist the truth until it fits our desires. But everything we do determines who we are. We are capable of great success and when we strive for perfection and choose the best possible options, honoring the nobility we possess, we will achieve greatness and complete happiness.

Today if you’re tempted to step a little off course in an effort to get to a goal, remember who you are. There is greatness in you. Think about what you want the most, and make the best choice to achieve it. You have the potential to bring great light to the world. Choose wisely, and be honest. Every success is there for you, and you will make them yours.

Tags: , ,