Tag Archives: Excuse

Around and Around

14 Nov

As we set goals and decide how we want to move forward, it’s wise to objectively look at what must be accomplished in order to succeed. There may be many things we need to do to move us ahead. Perhaps we must go somewhere new, or meet with others who will give us necessary information, or we may need to change something within ourselves in order to progress. Doing external things may take time but they are generally easier than changing something in our personal behaviors and choices. Change is rarely easy and often takes serious thought and commitment to achieve. If we aren’t sure we can do what is needed, we may decide to simply work with what we have instead. That might be enough for a time but if we really must change something in order to succeed it will only delay our progress. We can go around and around the issue indefinitely but if the only way forward requires change, until we do what is needed to make that happen, we may stand still. Even if we’re clear on where we want to go, if we haven’t done what is required to reach the destination we may find ourselves running in place. There isn’t any goal we can’t reach and we can do anything we desire. We have all the wisdom and courage needed to ensure our success. The world is open to us and we can do what is required to move forward and overcome any obstacle in our path.

It’s good to be creative. We can look at situations in different ways and use alternative methods to solve problems. Often there are many ways to resolve issues and we can discover and create new solutions in each case. However, if there is only one way to move forward and it requires a change within ourselves we may need to consider our options. We can look at what is required and then decide if the goal is worth the effort. Personal change takes time and concentration. If the destination is important to us we can do whatever is needed to reach it. Nothing will stop us if we are determined to succeed.

We can never fool ourselves into success. Pretending will never get us to the goal. If we don’t want to do what we must to succeed, we can make excuses for the lack of progress and try to explain why things haven’t worked out. But all the excuses in the world will never be enough to compensate for failure to move forward. If we don’t want the goal we can let it go, but if it’s valuable to us we must do what is needed to achieve it. We can do anything we desire and success is always there for us. We can take charge of any situation, accomplish what must be done, and find success. Once we decide we will win nothing will stop us.

Today if you’ve been going around and around trying to make things work without doing what is needed to move forward, decide what you really want. You have all the wisdom and determination you need to do anything. Choose the way forward and do what is needed to succeed. Everything is available to you and nothing is out of reach. Be confident. The world is yours to conquer and you will win.

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Hit and Run

12 Aug

Suppose as we approach our car in a parking lot after doing some shopping we see someone has hit it while we were inside.  There is no note anywhere with information about who did it.  There is nothing but a smashed up car we now have to deal with.  We’ve become the victim of a hit and run.  Somebody hit the car and simply drove away.  Unless there is a witness who saw the event and is willing to come forward with information, we’re stuck with the damage and making the repairs.  It’s unethical to damage anyone’s property and not take responsibility for it, but some people don’t care about ethics, or what is right.  And so we have to deal with what’s happened.  It’s cowardly to hit anyone or anything and run away afterward.  And when it happens to us we may feel angry, and frustrated.  There is no way to make things right if the offender has disappeared and we are stuck repairing the situation on our own.

Ethics is an interesting subject.  We define what is right and it’s ethical to maintain the standards we set.  It’s unethical to impose pain and suffering on others and not be accountable for it.  But if we want to we can make all kinds of excuses for bad behavior.  The idea of “situational ethics” comes into play.  It’s a convenient excuse when we know what we did was wrong, but feel the situation warranted it and we shouldn’t be responsible for it.  For instance, we miss an important turn as we’re driving somewhere and need to turn around.  There is a no U turn sign but we look around, don’t see anyone and do it anyway.  The situation called for us to turn around and go back, and since nobody saw us, there’s no harm.  But the problem with embracing situational excuses is there will always be a reason to compromise our values, and if there isn’t we can make one up.  We are what we do and if we want to be ethical and honest we must choose what is right even if nobody is looking.

They say the best way to cook a frog is to put it in cold water and slowly heat it up.  That way the frog won’t resist as the water slowly warms until it’s cooked.  When we make decisions that take us away from what we believe is right and then make excuses for them, we are in the water as it begins to heat up.  The next time a decision comes and we want to step out of our standards a little it will be easier because we’ve already stepped away before.  If we keep taking steps further and further away from where we want to be our perceptions of right and wrong will change and our standards will follow.  And like the frog, we’ll be cooked before we know it.  We have to decide what kind of person we really want to be.  If we want to be firm in our convictions we can’t risk wavering.  We can’t hit and run and hope it won’t matter.  What we do always matters.  We can be strong in making choices that keep us on the road we want to travel and define who we most want to be.

Today if you feel tempted to turn away from your standards just a little to accomplish something, hold fast.  Choose well and be firm in what you know is right.  You will prevail and earn the respect of those around you.  You are worth more than you can imagine and your influence on the world is great.  Make it the best influence it can be.

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Under the Influence

20 Aug

Every day as we go about our lives, we are exposed to other people. We may talk with them, spend time with them, and get to know them. As we share our lives, we learn things about each other, and we have the opportunity to exchange ideas. They will learn from us, and we will learn from them. What we learn depends on our relationship with them, their authority over us, our respect for them, and how they live their lives. If they are people we admire, we will appreciate their influence, and may try to emulate them. And the same is true for them. If they admire us, they will appreciate us, and may adopt some of our behaviors and actions.

We are responsible for everything we do, and we must answer for every action, both positive and negative. That responsibility includes how our behaviors affect others. If we are rude and mean, and negatively impact someone else, we will answer for that. Defending bad behavior, saying we learned it from our families, or we are just giving back what we’ve been given, will not excuse us from hurting others. There is no excuse that will take away hurt feelings. However, if we are kind and patient, and lift those around us, we will answer for those attributes as well. We rarely, if ever, receive any blessings in our lives when we are badly behaved. When we hurt others through commission or omission, it does not elevate us. If this is a pattern in our personalities, the chances for personal growth and development will be hindered. But if we are kind and gracious, if we are patient and helpful, rewarding blessings will return to us.

When we are considerate to those around us, they are often considerate to us in return. If those we interact with come to know us as patient and caring, and as someone they can trust, we are more likely to build strong relationships that are positive. Because everything we do affects those around us, it’s important to remember that although we have the right to live our lives any way we see fit, almost everything we do will impact someone near us. We can be the ones who set the standard for kindness, who wait a little longer and are a bit more patient, and who offer encouragement instead of criticism. If we do these things, those around us will find comfort in their relationships with us. There is already enough suffering in the world. We can do our part to ensure we don’t increase it by being kind, caring, patient, and loving, and making sure our influence is positive.

Today take care and pay attention to your behavior when you interact with others. Remember to be patient and show you care so that those around you will learn they can trust you, and be comfortable with you. Be kind, be caring, and be supportive. You will never regret the blessings you will gain. Share the good you have to offer. It will return to you tenfold.

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