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Unbelievable

6 Sep

We make millions of decisions as we go through our lives and the choices we make reflect who we are.  We can say anything and the real testimony of our character is evident in the decisions we make as we move along.  If we continually make commitments we don’t meet or promises we don’t keep it will be hard for others to trust us.  If we continually break our word, over time our word will become meaningless.  It’s easy to go along and say we’ll do something we have no intention of doing just to get through a sticky situation.  And we can make all the promises we want to others to make them happy even when we know we’ll never follow through.  Words are cheap and we can say anything.  The true test of who we are comes after we speak and commit.  If we follow through and keep our word we will gain the respect and trust of those around us.  If we renege or back out of our promises, our word will mean nothing.  We will become unbelievable and others will understand they cannot trust us.  Personal character is defined by the choices we make every day.  When we step up and do what we’ve agreed to we become trustworthy and valiant.  Our personal relationships are built on trust and once destroyed, is difficult to restore.  Every choice we make is important.  Every time we give our word we put our trust on the line.  We can choose to follow through and if we do, our connections to those around us will be strengthened.  We can make any decisions we like and have any kind of life we choose.  Learning to be truthful and trustworthy will help us avoid confusion and disharmony and bring us happiness.

Some people struggle with honesty.  They may manipulate situations to make them appear different than they really are and say things they don’t mean to get through a hard issue.  If we skate through a problem pushing off our responsibility and saying whatever is needed to move forward we may damage our credibility with those around us.  There is no problem too difficult for us to face honestly and find a way through.  We can be truthful and only make commitments we intend to keep to resolve any issue before us.

We may face very complicated and difficult situations are we navigate through our lives.  We don’t always have all the information we need to make the best choices but we can use what we have and determine the best way ahead.  If things change we can modify our course.  If we are honest in our decisions we will find our way.  Making an honest mistake will not reflect negatively on our character.  If we do the best we can we will find the way forward and succeed.

Today if you’re facing a difficult issue and are tempted to say anything just to get through, reach higher and navigate the situation honestly and openly.  You have everything you need to conquer any problem and others will trust you when you choose well.  You are wise and competent and know the way forward.  Make the best choices you can today and they will bring you blessings tomorrow.

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Inch by Inch

25 Jul

Most of us strive to do the best we can every day. We try to make good choices and think before we act but sometimes we may get tangled up and due to confusion or frustration don’t make the best decisions. Life is complicated and there are a lot of things going on all the time. Others around us may be making a lot of noise and impacting us in difficult ways that make it hard to think. We may feel pressed for time or pressured to make a decision before we’re ready or we might be tired of trying to figure things out and simply choose the easiest path going forward. It isn’t always easy to do what’s best and sometimes we may take a turn that doesn’t quite go the way we wanted. One bad decision doesn’t determine our future and we can always correct our course. However, if we allow one bad decision to lead to another and then another the road we end up on may be far from where we want to be. If we embellish the truth one time to make things go more smoothly and then embellish again to support our position, one thing may lead to another and after a time our little adjustments to the truth may create a situation that is complicated and difficult. Inch by inch if we manipulate one small thing here and exaggerate one small thing there we may discover we’re going in the opposite direction we wanted to go. It’s not hard for things to get out of control if we aren’t mindful of the road ahead. We are certainly capable of making excellent decisions and can always choose the course we want the most. It’s far easier to make difficult decisions that keep us on track than it is to clean up a convoluted mess. We can decide not to waver when it’s hard to stay true and to take the time we need to make the best choices going forward.

Some people think honesty is fluid and flexible. When difficult situations arise, they may simply make up stories to explain them in an effort to pave the way forward. If they are caught in a lie, they may say they misunderstood and try to smooth things over. We can lie about what’s happening and manipulate every situation we choose but truth cannot be held down indefinitely and will always rise. There is no sliding scale for honesty. Every action we take will reveal the person we truly are. If we want to be noble and true we must hold fast to what is real and live our lives honestly no matter how difficult that may be.

If we find we’ve manipulated a situation out of duress or frustration and don’t want to continue to be dishonest, we can go back and correct our decision. If we see we’ve chosen poorly we can begin again. Others will respect us when we admit our mistake and redirect the way forward. There isn’t anything too complicated for us to figure out and no matter what road we’re on now, if adjustments are needed we can make them.

Today if you realize you’re headed down the wrong road because of decisions you’ve made, correct your way going forward. You know where you want to go and what you want to do. Choose the best path ahead and begin again. Be completely honest and choose wisely. Every goal is there for you and you will be successful. Be wise and you will reach any destination you choose.

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Refusing to Go

22 Jun

We all face times when questions of ethics and honesty come into play. Some situations are so obvious we easily decide which way is right and continue forward without much notice. However, there may be times when it’s a bit harder to choose. Our conscience will guide us if we’ve been cultivating honest and honorable decisions and have chosen to do what’s right in the past. But if we’re easily swayed by the promises of others or what we may gain in the short term, we may choose paths that are less noble. When we purposely make a bad decision the first time we may feel pangs of guilt and regret. But if we return and make another bad decision, and then another, over time we may become inured to the situation. After a while guilt and remorse may not even appear and our conscience may become numb. Our lives reflect every choice we make and bad choices rarely bring lasting happiness. We may find immediate gratification from them but they cannot bring us peace in the long run. We deserve to be happy and if we find we’re going the wrong way – no matter how long we’ve been on the road – we can stop and refuse to go any further. It is never too late to correct our direction and make better choices. The road ahead is ours to choose. We can choose what is best instead of what is easy, what is right instead of what is convenient, and what will bring us happiness. We can trust ourselves going forward and cultivate a strong and valiant conscience.

The world is filled with compromises. We can’t always have things exactly the way we want them and we learn to give as we move forward. Compromise is an important skill but it rarely works to compromise our ethics or values. There really is nothing worth the price of our honesty. We may be convinced that if we bend a little in the wrong direction just this once it will move us forward and we won’t have to do it again. We may tell ourselves we must be dishonest in order to get something we need but there is no way to justify dishonesty no matter what is at stake. Our integrity is our most valuable possession. If we abuse it we will lose the trust and respect of those around us, and in time, will lose it for ourselves.

A strong and noble conscience is a priceless asset that will guide us through many complicated and difficult choices. If we always choose the right in every situation we will gain the strength we need to make difficult decisions wisely. When we choose integrity and wisdom over ease and complacency we find happiness. Refusing to take the wrong road will bring us continued happiness and peace. It’s not always easy to choose wisely and we may be sorely tested but we have everything we need to prevail.

Today if you’re facing a hard choice and there are immediate benefits to choosing poorly, stop and look at the long road ahead. Your choices define who you are. Choose nobility and refuse to go down the path of dishonesty. You have everything you need to be happy. Make your decisions carefully. Be wise. There is so much joy and peace waiting for you. Good decisions will bring them to you.

 

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Down the Road

15 Jun

As we’re making decisions and choosing our way forward we are sometimes influenced by other things going on in our lives. If we’re angry about something we may make a decision that reflects that anger and choose a path that takes us somewhere we really don’t want to go. If we’ve been hurt by a situation and new opportunities remind us of it we may turn away from them fearing we will get the same bad results. We make decisions based on where we are today and although there is sometimes no way to know where they will take us often we can see down the road far enough to where we’ll end up. However, if we’re distracted, angry, or frustrated and feel like it doesn’t matter we may make choices that have more to do with how we’re feeling than where we want to go. Every road has a destination. If we don’t want to go where it leads we must modify our way forward and turn toward what we want most. If we are deeply emotional about a decision we may not see clearly where it will take us. We are capable of making excellent choices and we can go anywhere we want. If we plan ahead before we begin it will be easier to navigate and find our way. There are always many things going on in our lives and around us. We can take the time we need to look ahead and chart a course that will take us where we want to go.

Sometimes we make choices with no regard to where they will take us. If we’re blinded by the moment we may storm ahead on a road that leads to trouble and complication. There may be an emotional connection that has us confused, or an attachment with someone who is lost and taking us along with them. Perhaps we become tangled in a relationship that holds us down and it’s difficult to let go and move forward. If we get lost on our way we can stop and re-direct the path ahead. We have all the wisdom we need to create successful, happy lives and if we trust ourselves we will find the road we’re seeking.

There is great power in our emotional attachments to others. If they direct us one way, we may follow trusting them to know what’s best for us. They may know some things about us but nobody will ever know us as well as we know ourselves. If someone says we need to do something but we aren’t sure, we may step back and look at the situation clearly and objectively. If their choice takes us where we want to go we may agree but if we want something different we may choose our own road. We are in control of our lives and can choose any path we desire. We can make sure the end of the road is the destination we are truly seeking.

Today if you’re headed somewhere you don’t want to go, stop and rethink your way forward. Look ahead and chart your course toward the destination you desire. There is no road too hard to find or too far for you to travel. You have everything you need to do anything you desire. Direct your life forward. Everything you want is waiting for you and you will have it.

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Boundary Line

25 May

We’re all entitled to live our lives any way we choose. We can do anything we like, go where we want to go and become the people we want to be but our decisions may sometimes be in conflict with what others think we should be doing. We all have opinions about what we think should happen and our personal decisions are specific to each of us. It’s inappropriate and sometimes destructive to direct other peoples’ personal lives and correct them if they choose a path we wouldn’t have chosen. It can be hard to keep our opinions to ourselves if we love the other person involved. We may certainly offer our advice if it’s wanted and we can express our concerns but we cannot direct anyone’s life but our own. Others may make choices that are completely different than what we think they should do but nobody knows all the facts in someone else’s life. We can only see what is happening on the outside and understand what they are willing to share with us. We all have the right to confidently choose any path we desire despite how differently others may want us to live. Making our own decisions about our lives allows us to share our unique gifts with others. If we follow a path designed by someone else our lives will reflect their vision and not our own. We can choose our own way and live the life that’s best for us.

Learning to respect boundary lines is important. When we drive a car, we must stay in our own lane, and when we play a game, we must follow the rules. Boundaries bring order and help us understand where we are. Although we can’t see them, each of us have personal boundary lines regarding our choices and the lives we live. We have the freedom to choose anything we desire. If someone steps over the line and tries to direct us, correct us, guide us, or push into lives we haven’t chosen, we need not comply. We can choose what’s best for us even if it doesn’t match what someone else thinks we should do.

Personal boundaries are important. They help us protect our privacy and allow us the freedom to decide how we want to live our lives. Some people believe they have the answers for others. They may offer advice or even criticism if we don’t comply with their ideas. A desire to control others will never bring happiness and often brings conflict. It’s important to understand where our true authority lies and respect the ability of others to make their own decisions, even if we disagree.

Today if someone is trying to direct you to turn onto a road you haven’t chosen, be confident. You are the only one who knows everything about your life and what you want. You are driving the train and can take it anywhere you choose. Listen to good advice and then do what is best for you. You can make excellent decisions and be confident in your choices. You have everything you need to find success and you know where you want to go. Be true to yourself and choose the best road forward.

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