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| Circumstances can test your determination, but you should stay strong, and remember what you stand for. Here are 25 circumstances which are sure to test you: |
1. When temptation strikes
2. In times of trouble
3. When you are upset
4. When you are financially
overwhelmed
5. When you are presented with a
dilemma
6. When you can't afford another loss
7. When the choice you make is
insignificant in the grander scheme of things
8. When a slip will go unnoticed
9. When it looks harmless, just being"one of the boys" or "one of the girls"
10.
When
there’s a slim chance of getting caught
11.
When
there are "mitigating circumstances", i.e. you have a convenient excuse
12.
When the web of lies has become complex, and the truth is sure to take you down
13.
When the choice you have to make is a "one against the many"
14.
When
someone in power asks you to turn a blind eye to something
15.
When
you are bored and looking for excitement
16.
When
someone dares you to do something
17.
When
you are hungry, tired or stressed
18.
When
someone breaks or damages one of your prized possessions
19.
When
you don't get your way and you are tempted to punish or take revenge
20.
When
you are dealing with someone unprincipled
21.
When it's easier just to lie, or look the other way
22.
When an opportunity for easy money presents itself
23.
When
your vanity or ego pushes you to do something
24.
When you are tempted to accept something you don't deserve - such as a reward for good performance (which you do not deserve), or a reward for good behavior (which you do not deserve)
25.
When
someone tries to talk you into doing something which is out of character
********************************
In all these circumstances, remember what
you stand for.
If you stand for being in your senses at
all times, be in your senses at all times. Don't let circumstances make you forget who you are, and what you believe in.
If you stand for avoiding anger, avoid
anger. Don't let circumstances be your undoing. Don't let circumstances make you emotionally unsound.
If you stand for fairness, be fair. Don't let circumstances cloud your judgement of justice and injustice, right and wrong.
If you stand for hope, be hopeful. Don't let circumstances make you cynical and bitter.
If you stand for hope, be hopeful. Don't let circumstances make you cynical and bitter.
If you stand for following the rules of
your faith, follow the rules of your faith. Don't let circumstances trip you up and make you forgetful.
If you stand for telling the truth and
being totally honest in your dealings, tell the truth and be totally honest in
your dealings. Don't let circumstances trap you in deceit and excuses.
If you stand for avoiding unnecessary
risks, avoid unnecessary risks. Don't let circumstances undermine your prudence.
If you stand for being kind, responsible and decent, be kind, responsible and decent.Don't let circumstances get in the way of your inherent decency, responsibility and goodness.
If you stand for treating all living
things with loving compassion, treat all living things with loving
compassion. Don't let circumstances make you heartless or insensitive.
Stick with your principles.
Lean hard on your values.
As John Baldoni says, “reputation without character is worthless”.
Inner peace comes when you make
choices that align with your values.
Inner peace often comes at the cost
of outer hardship, but it is worth more than any money you can make, or any trophy you can be awarded, or any excitement you can have.
It is better to sacrifice money, status and
enjoyment and preserve your soul.
Sooner or later, it is what will matter to you most - your soul.
If you've not been living up to who you want to be - not entirely, not fully, you can decide to change that.
Why not now?
Acknowledgements
Thanks for the feedback,
(comments, likes, shares) on some of my recent posts 25 Things Which Have Made
the Biggest Difference to My Health, Wealth, Comfort and Happiness,
Things I Learned I Could Live Without, and How I Went From a Girlie Girl to a
Strong, Independent Woman. I appreciate the affirmations that I am on the
right track from old friends and new friends. You keep me going
NEXT,
Thanks to all readers, current and future, for sharing my Journey to
Wisdom, Meaning and a Better Life. Like you, I am trying to find my way
through this complex maze we call life, and I am honored to have you share my
journey, as I continue to seek the wisdom hidden in plain sight.
FINALLY, A Happy
Birthday shout-out: to those with November
birthdays. Hope you use your birthday month to reaffirm your commitment
to your values. Please don't ever think you are too young, or too old, or you are too messed up to get back on track. Getting back on track is as
simple as making one good choice, and then making another good choice, and then making another good choice, and
then making another good choice….before you know it, you will be in a virtuous cycle, experiencing the real gold (and the awesomeness) of "total self-respect".
P.S. Not sure if
you have time, but if you do, you may enjoy these related posts:
Friendships
The United States of Friendship – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6,Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12
Family
Our Cake Boss Family, Family Songs, The Nightdress Brigade, Family Advice I Am Grateful For, The Porki And Bonkers Tradition, No Need for 23 and Me,Letters to Lucas, Flying Lessons
Pets
A Fresh Perspective on Pets, Secrets of The Super Models In Our Family, BowWow, Meoww, Why You Should Not Abandon Your Pet
Nature
Hobbies
Managing Your Money
Yoga for Investors, How to Turn Your Girl Scout or Cub Scout Into a Stock Scout, Financial Piece of Mind, Financial Piece of Mind – Part Deux, A Retirement Planning Formula You Won’t Find on Oprah
Simplifying Your Life
You know what Wesabi is, How About Wabi Sabi? The Simple Life, The Element of Simplicity and Its Hope for Living a More
Satisfying Life
Getting Over Your Self-Consciousness
The Element of Release From Inhibition, The Element of Being Less Self-Centered and Its Hope for Seeing
Things in The Correct Light, The Element of Getting Out of Our Comfort Zone and Its Hope For
Experiencing More of What Life Has to Offer
Learning to Laugh
How To Deal With The Sheldon Coopers in Your Life – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3,Part 4, The Nightdress Brigade, You Aced the SAT, How About the LAT?, How To Cause Atmost Confuzen at the Scripps Spelling Bee, How To Go From Madonna to Lilly to Myrtle in The Course of A
Single Evening - And Even Have a Sex Change, A Facebook Face-Off, A Short Stint in Advertising
Learning to Relax
How To Become a Low Maintenance Person, Connected Minds, How To Become The Kind of Person People Want to Work with, How Many Times a Day Do You Visit Ireland? The Art of Carrying Things Lightly
Health
Raising the Bar, 4 Healthy Eating Ideas I Learned from My Friend Julia, The Element of Becoming More Focused and Precise In Our Goals
and Its Hope for Achieving Powerful Results
Pursuing A Dream
