Think About It

I was recently faced with a challenging situation.   This was one of those issues where there was not a clear and correct answer.   Each option had positive and negative points.   In an effort to gain insight I was encouraged to go out and solicit the opinions of several people I trusted.   I am still not sure where I fall on the issue, but I did learn something about complicated decision-making: 1.   To gain the best advice, present all sides of the discussion .   During my quest, it was tempting to merely tell people of the positive points that supported my position at the time (which vacillated from time to time).   I came to realize that if I wanted the best advice, I’d better present things in the most unbiased way possible. 2.   Emotions don’t add to clarity .   I wish I could be free from emotional entanglement, but I understand that even Mr. Spock struggled with this this.   It became very apparent to me that emotions were s...

For years, it seemed like morality was pretty easy.  While not everyone did what was perceived to be right, there seemed to be an agreed-on system of morays. That previous statement just seems to flow out of our minds harkening back to the golden age of behavior.  It sounds good – but in all honesty I am not really sure it was true.  However, even if it was, we live in a time where morals are not so cut-and-dried.  If there ever was a time when a majority of the people agreed on what was “right”, we have moved into a new generation where morals are fluid and standards are debatable.  At first blush, this may seem like a negative, but is it?  In a sense, we have been led to belief that morality is now a “thinking man’s game”.  We cannot merely rely on the traditions (either good or bad) from days gone by, nor can we accept all the cutting-edge changes being proposed by a society less influenced by past social norms.  When it comes to true morali...

Police officers arrested for homicide ... school staff dismissed for inappropriate contact with students ... prosecutors charged with driving while intoxicated ... ministers convicted of embezzlement ... doctors accused of over prescribing opioids.   It wouldn’t take much looking on social media or on news outlets to find these headlines.   On one hand, we might wish that someone would merely report on the good things the folks in these professions were doing, but, the most basic desire is that these headlines would go away because people stopped doing them!   Sure, sometimes someone with a personal agenda falsely accuses good people and other times an entity with an axe to grind will over-report these incidences, but in all honesty when these types of thing happen, they should be addressed and our communities should be informed.            The reason I bring up these sensitive topics is that the best way to deal with these ...

As we read through the news these days there are a lot of opinions, but one fact is for certain – honesty has taken a hit.  Whether it is in the national debate or in the simple world of interpersonal relationships we are struggling with telling the truth.  There are times the truth is sacrificed for political or financial gain, then there are other times it is avoided to spare the feelings of our friends, family and neighbors.  Either way, we are tempted to either overtly lie or cover up the truth with a “fib”; but the fact is that honesty is not always the premier policy. While the ability to tell the truth should be simple, it doesn’t always work that way.  So, how can we be more truthful?  Here are a few suggestions: 1.  Know the truth before speaking .  There are some people who blatantly lie about things, but often truth is sacrificed at the expense of speculation or innuendo.  Before we make a comment, let’s know the facts. 2.  ...

Christopher Columbus is one of the more controversial people of our time.  For some, he is an international hero who opened up trade routes between Europe and the rest of the world.  To others, especially our Native American friends and neighbors, he has come to symbolize violence and greed.  Either way – love him or hate him – he was instrumental in changing the world. I am not here to debate the good or the bad of Columbus, rather to make a comment about vision and a willingness to pursue it.  Columbus’ request for funding was not simple nor were his voyages easy, but he had a vision for what he wanted to accomplish and the drive to make it happen.  Some might question his motives, but his commitment is evident. What do we want to do in life?  Have we even thought about the impact we want to have?  And, if so, have we developed the fortitude to make it happen?  Some people never dream ... others dream but never try ... yet the ones who leav...

Last week, the Washington Post published an article entitled, “If the president is doing it ...’:   How Trump took swearing mainstream”.   The article sets out to make a couple of points.   The first one is to explain the rationale media outlets are using to justify publishing words that just a few years ago would have been considered unpublishable.   Modern media seems to have made the decision to publish “naughty words” if they are attributable to the president and national or international leaders.   To back up their claims they point out that our nation’s leaders have brought swearing out of the dark and are allowing it to be heard and seen in the light of day.   Another issue broached was which came first:   leaders bringing these words out in to the public or the changing mores that allowed these phrases to become publicly acceptable?   Today’s modern politicians are not the first ones to have potty-mouths, but they seem to be less restrain...

While there are certain professions that tend to breed negativity, just about any environment can become toxic.  Whether it is an office, family, church or classroom; unless we are committed to keeping a positive attitude things can become negative in a hurry.  Few of us want to be involved in something like this, but what can we do (especially if we are leaders) to help keep things positive?  Here are a few principles: 1.  Empathy – When we practice and promote the ability to see things from another person’s perspective we will be able create a culture of mutual respect.  When people feel understood, they are more apt to be satisfied with their environment and the people around them. 2.  Encouragement – People will respond well to those who make it a point to keep them uplifted.  When we (sincerely) praise people’s efforts and celebrate their successes there will be less jealousy and selfishness.  No, it isn’t about false praise or manipul...