We Become – a New Mantra

1. “We are our choices.” Jean-Paul Sartre
2. “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
3. “Decisions shape our lives more than circumstances.” Steven Covey
4. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Most will see a pattern when reading the first three quotes but will question how the fourth dovetails with the others.

I'm not THAT person!

Of course not!

I know who I am – deep down in the center of my being.

I’ve been taught how to behave, how to treat people and how to live honestly.

OK. Sure, I’ll admit that I’m not perfect. But heck – I do a pretty good job!

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.  Isaiah 30:21

Do I always listen to the voice in my head that says, “Don’t do this, you know it isn’t right!”

Do I prayerfully examine decisions that may seem small and insignificant in order to insure that the choice is in keeping with my true center?

Or, perhaps, I rationalize.  Do I justify taking the wrong path since these are ‘small and insignificant’ decisions?

Maybe it’s expedient.  Maybe it won’t matter in the long run.  Maybe nobody will ever know. Maybe it’s just plain for my benefit.

What Choice Do I Have?

I've heard this question from others.  I've lamented in this way myself a number of times. We say this when we're near the point of giving up - when we feel boxed-in and trapped.

"I know that what I'm doing (not doing) is (wrong, stupid, futile), but what choice do I have?"

There is no possible way to respond in a universal, one-size-fits-all, what-if scenario. But might we be placing ourselves in untenable situations due to choices made well before finding ourselves in that box?

Is it possible that seemingly insignificant choices made each day are generating unintended consequences in the outcome of our lives?

Let's say you're piloting an Airbus A340-500.  You are transporting 370 souls to their dream destination 3,900 miles away.  They are leaving a frigid Mid-January day in Minneapolis for the promise of the heat-infused beaches of Honolulu.

What Else Will You Lie About?

Well, that's not a very nice question to start the week!  It comes to mind because of that "funk" I was talking about in a recent post.

Every decision made results in some consequence, good or bad.  We choose our paths based on the best information we have for the best possible outcome. Choosing one option automatically dismisses all others and a new path has begun.

A brief search reveals that an average adult makes between 5,000 and 35,000 decisions each day. Whoa, I'm exhausted!

For our purposes today, we'll speak only of decisions affecting personal and business relationships. (That might not narrow the field much. I'll have to think about that.)

Today's post title was taken directly from Seth Godin's blog of the same name.  It will take you about 33 seconds to read and basically asks businesses is it better to tell a small lie or just be honest?  Go ahead.  Click the link.  I'll wait.
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Visual Hunt

I was faced with a decision that was similar. Should a corporate website indicate that it supports a variety of charities when in fact, it does not?  The explanation given for this 'discrepency' was, "Well, they're near and dear to our heart.  And, nonprofits appreciate any exposure they can get."

It was time to make another decision.  I could accept and rationalize the given explanation and continue onward or I could say, "That's wrong.  I won't do it."  Now then, since every decision has consequences, what will be effect on the relationships involved here?