Life Should #5

Always, and I mean ALWAYS, do what you say you will do

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this Life Should.  There is no quicker way to lose a person’s trust, loyalty or heart then when you do not do what you say you will.  In parents this can have irreparable damage to your children – when the adults in your life that are supposed to be dependable and stable are not, how can they ever feel secure?  As adults, it’s just plain disrespectful.  Even when you have nothing but good intentions because you are hoping you can deliver, it is unfair to yourself and others.  It is ALWAYS better to say you don’t think you can [fill in the blank] instead of saying “sure” and never following through.  

I once asked an incredibly successful businessman what he believed was the most important thing he did to succeed in life.  The response? “Being genuine”.  It is so simple yet so often ignored.  You may wonder how this is related Life Should #5 but spend some time thinking about it.  Being genuine is the simplest thing we can do in life over all and helps us do what we say we will do.  It means you do not say things just to make someone happy. It also means you do not have to be rude or purposefully hurtful by speaking your mind.  It means you are being honest and truthful about, well, anything, even if it makes someone unhappy at the time.  When used properly, it can lead to being humble and to Life’s Shoulds #s 3 and 4.  It most definitely leads to, wait for it, Life Should #1.   

{Thought to be considered with an Oatmeal Cookie – the most authentic and reliable cookie}