Wake Me Up When I Am Deluding Myself

Wake me up when I am deluding myself

If you love me and you are a friend

For many are the thoughts, words, and behaviors

I may need to change before my life's end.

So many of my ways of thinking and acting are by habit

Some unexamined since I was young, maybe even little, or small

Now by submitting my thoughts, words, and actions to your scrutiny

I hope to find out which ones are okay, which ones not at all.

I may have double standards I am unaware of

And I may say and do things out of long-held habits or beliefs, including thinking I am always in the right

Don't worry about calling me out on anything

Because frankly, It is better for me to know the truth

And to find out what my arrogance and blindness has hidden from plain sight.

I want to be remembered as a decent human being

And to achieve that, it's what I must do

I must find out all my blind spots

And for that, I am counting on you.

I think my choices are fine as they are

But that's because I look in the mirror, and see what I want to see

Like the emperor who didn't know he was naked

I may be my own worst enemy.

So help me please by opening my eyes

To things that are important, and which I may have ignored

For I want to be remembered as a decent human being

And you can be my lightning rod.

You didn't know, it but you signed up for the boot camp of friendship

When you became one of my family members. or one of my friends,

And I am counting on you to help me become a better person

Between now and my life's end.

When We Are Angry, Hateful, or Revengeful

When we are angry, hateful, or revengeful

When we are irritated, annoyed, or upset

When we feel cornered, or our ego is threatened

Or tiredness or sickness makes us fret.

We cannot be a wise physician

We cannot be a caring mom or dad

We cannot be a loving teacher

We cannot be a refuge, or help someone who is suffering or sad.

We have to think about this.  We have to think about this.

And we have to think about whether we want to move to a higher response level.

A more compassionate response level.

And how might we go about that?

Since all beauty comes from the inside.

It starts from the inside.

When we are in a hurry to justify our actions

To defend some choice we have made

Or because we don't want to get a side of the bargain that is inconvenient,

We act in unthoughtful haste.

We cannot be a caring friend

We cannot be someone who is kind

We cannot be an example of closeness, friendship, or kindredship

The source of which is a loving, caring, and understanding mind.

We have to think about this.  We have to think about this.

And we have to think about whether we want to move to a higher response level.

A more compassionate response level.

And how might we go about that?

Since all beauty comes from the inside.

It starts on the inside.

When we are dedicated to a course of thought or action

And are not willing to consider we might not be right

When we are so locked into ideas, thoughts, or isms

That we use words and actions thoughtlessly, or to deride or divide.

We cannot be loving and wise partners, or family members

We cannot be humble, thoughtful, rational, and fair

We cannot be good managers, stewards, or leaders

Of the people or things entrusted to our care.

We have to think about this.  We have to think about this.

And we have to think about whether we want to move to a higher response level.

A more compassionate response level.

And how might we go about that?

Since all beauty comes from the inside.

It starts on the inside.

When we approach a situation with unrealistic expectations

Instead of with understanding and good intent

When an agenda causes us to use emotional blackmail 

And we use words that hit below the belt.

We seed sadness instead of happiness

We seed stress instead of solace, refuge, and support

We seed disconnection instead of connection

Which is unfortunate, because connection is what families, communities, countries, and the world needs more of.

We have to think about this.  We have to think about this.

And we have to think about whether we want to move to a higher response level.

A more compassionate response level.

And how might we go about that?

Since all beauty comes from the inside.

It starts on the inside.

We have to think about this.  Think about this.

Since all beauty comes from the inside.

It starts on the inside.

All beauty comes from the inside.

It starts on the inside.