Truth for Success

            I attended a seminar last week with Andy Andrews.  The thoughts expressed here are sparked by things he shared.  Mr. Andrews has written some books you would find worth reading.  One book called The Traveler's Gift is a motivating  allegory  presenting  these seven principles of success:

 1.  The buck stops here.  I am responsible for my past and my future.

 2.  I will seek wisdom.  I will be a servant to others.

 3.  I am a person of action.  I seize this moment. I choose now.

 4.   I have a decided heart.  My destiny is assured.

 5.  Today I will choose to be happy.  I am the possessor of a grateful spirit.

 6.   I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.  I will forgive myself.

 7.   I will persist without exception.  I am a person of great faith.

            Much of what Andy shared centered around the theme that anything worth experiencing in life must be based on truth.  There is great truth in each of these seven dynamic principles, but in order to find it, we must be transparent and completely honest with self.  We all have garnered belief systems that get in the way of truth.  Our ability to change inaccurate beliefs is limited because we don't know what we don't know.  And, what we don't know, CAN hurt us! 

            Sometimes our application of what we believe to be true, gets in the way of the real truth.  For example, it is very true that diligence and hard work lead to success.  However, work-o-holism or working to extreme without proper rest will lead to burnout and perhaps blowout.  As another example, it is true that compassion and empathy are necessary in your relationships, but the truth is that any relationship without proper boundaries will lead to disappointment for one or both parties. A good question to ask ourselves sometimes is, "Am I falling short of the truth, by holding on too tightly to something partly true?” 

            Another false assumption is that more knowledge makes things better.  Knowledge and wisdom are quite different.  Truth may be attained through knowledge, but truth can only be applied with wisdom.  Wisdom exercises discernment which comes through a process of transforming the way we think and feel about things that shape our core belief systems.  That explains why some people who are well-informed and educated can make serious errors of judgment.  Education does not always translate into positive transformation. 

            Success is something we all desire, but few are willing and able to submit to the process to attain it.   Truth is always true whether you believe it or not.  Your reality is based on your perception of truth which is shaped by your beliefs.  But your beliefs never become reality unless you act on them.  In that sense, you are in control of your own destiny.  You can choose to be happy, to forgive, and to have faith by persisting even when success seems to have eluded you for the moment. 

            I'll wrap up with a few more questions.  If the truth sets us free from ignorance, error, and pain, why don't more of us want more truth in our lives more of the time?  If you are believing something that is not true, it may be limiting your path and faith for future success.  If something you believe is obstructing the truth, do you really want to know what it is, and how to get past it?  Sometimes finding misbeliefs and falsehoods take you on what seems like a detour, but there are people ready to help you along the way.  We all carry baggage that makes it harder to seek the truth. 

            Are you ready to take responsibility for clearing a path for truth to reveal itself in your life?   Are you ready to apply the seven principles above to keep you moving in the right direction?  Since human nature is rarely able to be honest with self, "Are you willing and able to truly hear what other people perceive in your speech and actions?  I ask you these questions because they are some of the ones I used to try to keep my own journey on track.  I wrestle with the challenges to be truthful with self, and I don't always win, but success is very rewarding.  Give it a try.  The truth is; only YOU can do what is true to the purpose for which you were created by the God who defines Truth.   May truth be a blessing for your success today! 

                Note:   A book I authored Escaping the Pain of Offense: Empowered to Forgive from the Heart discusses truth for dealing with disappointments, offense and finding freedom through forgiveness.  See more info. by clicking here: http://bluerockbnb.com/healing/book_main.htm . 

by Ed Hersh, Blue Rock BnB Healing Ministry