Week 137
Positive post Sunday, September 29, 2019- Week 137.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “do things for the right reasons”, or more specifically, “do the right things for the right reasons”. We all make choices and decisions every day of our lives, some seemingly more important than others. However, we don’t always know, or anticipate, the impact of our decisions and actions on the ones we love and lead. What seems trivial to you or I may be monumental to them.
Thinking about doing the right things for the right reasons always reminds me of the word “intent”. When making an important decision or taking an action of high consequence in my personal and professional life, I have found it very helpful to pause and ask myself, “what is my intent?”. I believe that I make my best decisions when my intent is honorable and in line with my beliefs and faith.
Another way to look at this is to focus on the positive not the negative. For example, you may have heard someone say, “I need to do this good deed because I’ll feel WRONG about not doing it”. Although perhaps subtle to some, I believe that it’s more impactful and fulfilling to do the good deed because you’ll “feel RIGHT about doing it”. Alison and Heather will appreciate this. Attitude, intent and perspective matter.
One last thought, those of us who have and are raising children know that they are watching us literally all the time. I have found the list titled “When you thought I wasn’t looking” (see attached) very insightful. It reminds me of how impressionable and important the shadow I cast on my children and grandchildren is to their development.
What shadow are you casting on those you love and those you lead?