Honesty - "Meditations For People Who Do Too Much"

Perfection is an illusion that is not possible. In fact, perfection is not even real! Yet, appearing to be "perfect" can be such a driving force for our actions that becoming honest about ourselves often fades to the background. It is so refreshing to be honest about ourselves--with ourselves as well as with others. When we steep in honesty, accepting our character strengths as well as defects, we're able to see more clearly what we need and even laugh at our foibles.

Transcript

Meditations for people who do too much.

Honesty.

I give myself sometimes admirable advice,

But I am incapable of taking it.

From Mary Wortley Montag.

How refreshing when we can be honest,

Even humorously honest,

About ourselves.

Often we are so busy protecting ourselves that we don't dare risk letting others know that we aren't perfect.

Of course,

Usually we are the only ones fooled by our masquerades,

But we make ourselves believe that others are fooled too.

When we can be honest with ourselves,

We usually know very clearly what we need and what is destructive to us.

The trick is,

Can we listen to ourselves?

Are we capable of following our own good advice?

Can we let ourselves see our foibles and laugh about them?

After all,

No one knows us as well as we know ourselves.

So naturally,

We are the persons who are most capable of seeing ourselves clearly.

Are we courageous enough to let ourselves see ourselves and be honest about what we see?

Advice is difficult,

Even when it comes from ourselves.

Even if we can't put our advice into action,

We don't need to beat ourselves up about it.