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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.

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Behind the Scenes

6 Dec

Our lives are complex and filled with endless decisions. Every day brings something new and whatever we choose will bring some kind of result. If we’re intent on staying the course moving ahead, and make choices that push us forward, we’ll continue to advance. But there are few times when everything is black or white and easy to see. Many times our decisions may be influenced by what’s happening around us, how we feel, who’s involved and dozens of other factors. Although we may try to be honest in all our dealings, we may face a time when we decide to step off center and do something behind the scenes that will make the road easier. Maybe we fabricate a story that makes us look better, or we bribe someone to say or do something that opens a door we want to go through. Our ethical standards and choices tell the world and those around us who we are. If we fall prey to situational ethics – meaning the situation instead of our standards decide what we’ll do – we may open all kinds of new risks to our project, ourselves, and our integrity. If the goal is very important, we may think it’s worth the tradeoff when we start, but there is no way to see the end or any road from the beginning. One left turn may take us completely off course, or bring more trouble and discord than we expect. It’s not always easy to make the best choices, and sometimes doing something less than honest that appears to pave the way ahead looks very appealing. We must decide what we want the most. Is the goal really worth selling out to get it? Will the reward be worth the cost? Only we can make these decisions, but one thing is certain. When we choose the first step on any path, we are also choosing the last. Choosing the roads that will take us to the destinations we most desire and enhance our credibility and true character will always bring success. We have greatness inside us, and with wisdom and clarity, we can share it with the world.

There are lots of people willing to do whatever it takes to reach a goal. They will manipulate, lie, steal, coerce, whatever is needed to make it happen. They don’t care who they hurt or how much damage they do. Their devious and unethical behaviors may bring them great success, and lots of money, but none of it will augment their character or make them better people. It’s easy to cheat and manipulate to get our way, but nothing can compare to the nobility of true honesty and integrity.

Our lives are ours to design and we can do anything we like. If we don’t care about ethics or morality, there will be lots of opportunities to get what we want without them. However, true happiness comes when we choose what we know is best and hold fast to our personal standards. Not every destination will be easy to reach, but by keeping our eyes on the goal and continuing forward, we can go anywhere and do anything. Nothing is out of reach and every success is possible.

Today if there’s a chance to do something untoward that will make your journey easier, think carefully about the person you most want to be. You have so much to offer and all the wisdom and intelligence you need to accomplish anything you desire. Trust yourself. There isn’t anything too difficult for you. You are amazing and capable, and have everything you need to succeed. Show us your best, and be confident. There is great success just ahead, and you will reach it.

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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.

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Slide

28 Oct

There are many diversions, distractions and unforeseen developments that occur constantly throughout our lives. There will always be many possibilities for every road we take. Some will benefit us and give us assets to carry forward, and others will simply get us to the goal as quickly as possible. If all we see is the prize, we may make a decision that gets us to the destination fast, and ignore the costs to our honesty and integrity. We are in control of our lives and can do anything we like. We can decide to bend the rules or cheat in an effort to reach a goal more quickly. If we’re exhausted and overwhelmed, choosing to cheat, just this once, may seem like a viable option. Stepping away from what we know is right just once doesn’t seem like a big deal. We may justify the decision because we believe we’re mostly honest and if nobody knows what we’ve done, nobody will get hurt. The slide from integrity to shame is often easy and paved. If all we see is the goal we desire, we may do anything to reach it. Even if nobody else knows what we’ve done, the sting of our dishonesty will remain with us. There is no way to change the past, and once we do something, it’s done forever. Stepping away from honesty can make some things a lot easier, and once we’ve broken the seal of our integrity, it’s not difficult to do it again. “Just this once” may become our standard practice, and we may lose our self-respect. We are valuable and important, and what we do matters. By choosing the better part and deciding to be the best we can be, we will find great reward and satisfaction. There is greatness in us all. By honoring our personal worth, we can make excellent decisions, and reach every goal with determination and valor.

We share the world with lots of other people. It may be important to us that they see us as honest and wise. What we do when others are watching does affect our lives, but who we really are is expressed by what we do when nobody is around. Will we keep the extra change because the clerk didn’t notice? Will we break the speed limit when no cops are around? Will we look at the test answers when the proctor steps away? Our personal integrity is our responsibility. When we choose the best path forward, no matter what we’re doing, we will gain greater strength and wisdom, and find amazing success.

Every decision we make defines who we are. If we don’t care about our integrity, and choose whatever will get the job done fast, we relinquish the growth possible by working through difficult challenges and finding the best answers. There is no substitution for excellence. When we strive for it and push ourselves to do the best we can possibly do, we will reap great rewards and gain a greater understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Today if you’ve been making questionable choices in an effort to get done fast, think about who you most want to be. There is greatness in you, and you are more capable and powerful than you imagine. Choose to be excellent and take the best roads forward. You have so much to offer, and can bring great light to the world. Be noble and wise. Every success is possible, and by choosing well, you will make them all yours.

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Volcano

26 Oct

Life is complicated and we never know what will happen next. Sometimes just as we’re sailing along and everything is fine, something happens and everything changes. We may be able to control ourselves and keep our cool when the rug is suddenly pulled out from under us, but there may be simmering distrust and resentment after the fact. If someone we rely on doesn’t come through as promised, or worse, leaves us hanging without notice, we may be able to continue on but the bad feelings from being abandoned may persist. Volcanos erupt when their chambers are full of magma and pressure builds beyond what they can contain. At the moment when it all becomes too much, the ash and lava that has been pressing against their cap will burst forth. When we face serious setbacks, and hold in how we really feel, never expressing our frustration, the weight of disappointment may build until there is a tipping point when we let loose, and completely blow our stack. It’s impossible to carry unresolved conflict forever, and eventually we’ll have to express what is holding us down. If we’ve carried resentment and anger for a long time, the moment of release may be intense and extreme. Like a volcano erupting, we might spew forth outrage without restraint. Although we may feel better after letting it all go, there may be collateral damage from our uncontrolled release. We are in control of our lives and instead of holding in our true feelings, can face them as things arise. We can talk about what’s bothering us and look for resolution before the situation spirals out of control. We have all the courage and wisdom we need to face anything we must, and can be confident in our ability to resolve conflict before it goes too far.

If there is someone we admire and want to impress, and they do something that is offensive, we may remain silent for fear of alienating them. We can ignore trouble as long as we like, but problems rarely solve themselves without effort. Looking the other way doesn’t change the facts, and hiding from the truth will never make it disappear. We are brave enough to speak up and address any difficult issue. By standing firm and clearly stating how we feel, we will be empowered and strengthened. We already have everything we need to move forward, and nothing can keep us from success.

We’re all entitled to make our own decisions and can choose anything we like. Our choices are unique to us. We may not agree with those around us, and we never have to stay in any situation that makes us uncomfortable. Instead of going along and trying to keep quiet, we can step away and change direction. By choosing what we want the most, we will find great satisfaction and happiness as we move forward.

Today if you’ve been holding in how you really feel, remember your voice is important. Speak up and let others know where you stand. Every destination you desire is possible, and you are strong enough and wise enough to reach them all. Stand strong and be confident. Success is always there for you, and you will make it yours.

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