A private talk on honesty

Over the past week or so I've been re-reading bits of a book that was used in the Avatar Resurfacing course I did three years ago. The book is called Living Deliberately by Harry Palmer. I got to the chapter titled A Private Talk On Honesty...and well I thought this is going to be interesting because the last time I read this it didn't really make sense...but this time it oh so made sense.

In this chapter it says, "Being honest is really a question of courage - courage enough to face what we fear. This gets lost in the smoke screen of deceptions that is used to justify dishonest. Whenever we accept that there is good reason to be dishonest, we increase the evidence for fearing what we are avoiding."

I contemplated this for a moment and realised that in some parts of my life particularly around relationships I aren't always courageous enough to be honest because of my fear of rejection of not being good enough for this person...

The book then goes onto say,"Fear is a BELIEF in our inadequacy to deal with something. And that belief precedes any evidence of failure we have collected."

So the time has come for me to take courage to face my fear/s...to sort that belief out and remove it from my life...and be the person with the courage to be honest and true to myself. The book then goes onto say that as you become honest with yourself...your honesty with others will naturally flow on.

This makes so much sense now than what it did three years ago...another WOW moment for me...so i face this journey head on and looking ever forward.

the last paragraph says..."The result of living honestly is feeling and sharing - compassion and empathy! .... Relationships develop that are rewarding and provide a measure of security that no amount of money, power or fame can provide. Valid trust arises."

first things first

well i recently went on some training for work...it was about leadership and how this relates to my job...there was a recommendation out of this course that i read the book First Things First by Stephen Covey...so anyway i purchased the book courtesy of some money left on a Borders gift voucher given to me for Christmas and Birthday last year. I've been reading it and although i haven't got very far I've come to realise how some parts of the book really ring true and I've taken some of these steps already in my life to become a more effective in both my personal and work life.

This part of the book is talking about balance and synergy amongst the four needs (i.e. Physical; Social; Mental and Spiritual) and how if there is an unmet need it is essential that we acknowledge the other needs and not leave them unmet and just focus on the one need.

I've found this to be so true...up until about 4 years ago I'd just focus on the one need rather than looking at all four needs and keeping them in balance to support each other and build up the need that was lacking in something.

It's not an easy thing to do but I'm learning and growing as I do this.

Well back to my reading...I'm sure there will be more 'ah ah moments'!