If you don't believe the headliner, just watch a watch a news show, read a newspaper or surf the Internet. President Obama blames republicans for slowing up the recovery. Today, Vice-President Biden blamed the Bush administration again for the economic mess in our nation. Press Secretary Gibbs and the current administration blames FOX News for presenting unbalanced reports. State politicians competing in the primary each blame the others for taking money from big oil, banks and others. In an interview on NBC, Matt Laur questioned who to blame for the false accusation of racism against an agriculture department employee. A news reporter on HLN today posted a storyline, "Who is to blame for childhood obesity." A man who smoked too much and got cancer, sued the tobacco company for making cigarettes...and won! On and on, ad nauseum!
When we are accused of wrong, many of our first thoughts are often about blaming someone else. Why do we shift the blame? The answer is simple. We want others to be accountable so we don't have to be! When we blame others, we believe our shortcomings are less likely to be exposed. We don't have to change our behavior when others are made suspect. We can accomplish our agenda easier when we tear down others' agendas. It's easy to criticize and blame. It's hard to take responsibility. We think blame shifting can help us get ahead; instead it actually reveals one's cowardice and fear. Blame-shifting is the trademark for a victim mentality and the behavior of a weakling!
On the other hand, a good leader is accountable for his/her actions and takes responsibility for his/her own mistakes. The career of a leader is not built on blame but on accomplishment. The actions of a leader are not based on deception but on high integrity and good ethical behavior. Success for a leader is not based on pre-designed, empty words but on honesty, hard work, encouragement of others and sacrifices. A good leader has committed followers of like kind, not shallow, self-centered, blame-shifting weaklings.
Governments, businesses and individuals that build at the expense of others create glass houses. What we sow, we reap many times over. What do you want from life? Isn't it time for a new ball-game?
Showing posts with label Sowing and Reaping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sowing and Reaping. Show all posts
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Monday, June 29, 2009
Ethical Principles That Work
In the weeks to come, we'll be exploring a series of ethical principles from the Book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible. Whether or not you believe the Bible is God's Word, or whether or not you consider yourself a spiritual person, these Biblical principles work for you as they have worked for others for centuries.
There are two requirements, however, for these principles to work in our lives. First, we must decide to believe they will work. More than mental assent, we must believe these principles in our hearts. Second, we must apply these principles to bless others, not ourselves. A Biblical principle many call the "Golden Rule" works to cause others to treat us they way we treat them. "What we sow, we reap." In applying Biblical principles to bless others, we can create a huge tidal wave of blessings for ourselves and our families.
I observed the Golden Rule at work through an old friend years ago; his name is Steve. Steve is the person we often talk about that would "give you the shirt off his back." Steve managed rental properties for me after his layoff from a steel mill. Anything I needed done, anytime night or day, Steve would do. Steve went the extra mile for all his friends and family. If someone needed money, he was there to help even though he didn't have much himself. Steve served others with his time and his money every day we were together. He started a small residential repair business in the 1980s. From the beginning of this business, Steve and his crew have always had work, even when others didn't! Steve planted seeds that brought him an abundance of friends and life fulfillment. What Steve gave to others, he is still getting back!
The Biblical principle of sowing and reaping, like many life principles in the Book of Proverbs, is a natural law that always works. If one sows good behaviors, he/she gets a good return on investments in others. Join us in the weeks to come as we explore "ethical principles that work!"
There are two requirements, however, for these principles to work in our lives. First, we must decide to believe they will work. More than mental assent, we must believe these principles in our hearts. Second, we must apply these principles to bless others, not ourselves. A Biblical principle many call the "Golden Rule" works to cause others to treat us they way we treat them. "What we sow, we reap." In applying Biblical principles to bless others, we can create a huge tidal wave of blessings for ourselves and our families.
I observed the Golden Rule at work through an old friend years ago; his name is Steve. Steve is the person we often talk about that would "give you the shirt off his back." Steve managed rental properties for me after his layoff from a steel mill. Anything I needed done, anytime night or day, Steve would do. Steve went the extra mile for all his friends and family. If someone needed money, he was there to help even though he didn't have much himself. Steve served others with his time and his money every day we were together. He started a small residential repair business in the 1980s. From the beginning of this business, Steve and his crew have always had work, even when others didn't! Steve planted seeds that brought him an abundance of friends and life fulfillment. What Steve gave to others, he is still getting back!
The Biblical principle of sowing and reaping, like many life principles in the Book of Proverbs, is a natural law that always works. If one sows good behaviors, he/she gets a good return on investments in others. Join us in the weeks to come as we explore "ethical principles that work!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)