Success
Strategies by
Its So Easy to Kid Yourself
We had a new house built just a mile and a half from where
we used to live and were VERY excited about it.
I would walk up to the job site almost every day to check on the progress
being made. And each morning, we drove to pick up a dozen donuts to deliver to
the guys working on the house.
It's just a short distance, and sometimes I did not buckle
my seatbelt. But wearing my seatbelt is a commitment I made to myself some time
ago, and I was surprised how I wasn't totally honoring that commitment.
It all started a little over ten years ago when I was having
a routine physical. My doctor was going through his checklist of questions
about things that impacted my health--diet, alcohol use, smoking, etc. One of the questions he asked was if I wore my seatbelt while
riding in a car. My response was, "most of the time." He looked me in
the eye and asked if I would be willing to wear it
He went on to explain that because I didn't smoke, didn't
abuse alcohol or take drugs and had no heart disease in my family, a traffic
accident was my single biggest health risk. It really got my attention.
And right then and there I promised myself that I would use
my seatbelt EVERY time I got into an automobile. And I've kept that promise.
And that's why I was so surprised when I found myself all
these years later, cheating on my promise to myself and my family.
I was rationalizing it. It was only this time. It's such a
short distance. I'll do it the REST of the time. This doesn't really count.
And, of course, it does.
It's dangerous, yes. It's also a slippery slope to sliding
out of commitments.
Once I realized what I was doing, I started buckling up
again and I'm glad. And Dawn is glad.
But what if I hadn't called myself on my broken promise?
My life is going better than it ever has. And a careless
accident could easily ruin that. My chances of surviving and even avoiding
injury in an accident if I wear a seatbelt are considerably higher--and it only
takes a couple of seconds.
What about you? Do you have commitments--to yourself or
others--you've let slide? Take an honest look. Ask your spouse or close friends
where you might be out of integrity.
When we kid ourselves, we lose--big time. It may seem like a
little thing, but in my experience life is all about the so-called little
things.
And for Pete's sake, wear your seat belt.
Make it a Great Day!
© Copyright 2006, 2008,
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E-mail Michael at: BeYourBest@SuccessNet.org
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