Do The Right Thing

Remember when you were a little child and your parents told you to “always do the right thing”?

I do. When I was little I took that saying to heart. I took pride in making people smile. I took great pride in being responsible. I took pride in making the world a better place no matter what. I may have not known what was right back then, and surely made my fair share of blunders, but what was right was always on my mind.

Fast forward to your adult years. Your childhood desire to do good deeds remain, but no longer is doing them as simple as they once were. Moral dilemmas in abundance. Do I tell my spouse of my infidelity? Do I admit I hate my job? Do I acknowledge that I love what I do? Am I hiding what I really want from life?

Everyone wants to live with integrity until the clouds roll in. Then it’s far easier to sit in your room wrapped in three warm blankets. I’ve been thinking a lot lately on what it means to do what’s right and I’ve realized it’s often far less complicated than we make it.

Doing the right thing means acting on your gut. Period. End of story.

It means admitting you messed up. It means apologizing when needed. It means starting that exercise routine because you know your health is in decline. It means remaining loyal when you’re torn between two tribes. It means starting a new career because your soul is trapped.

Sometimes your gut will go against logic or traditional thinking.
Sometimes doing the right thing, calls for a leap of faith. Sometimes your instincts will require you step up and above your comfort zone. Instead of bowing out, embrace it.

Your gut won’t always be right of course, but only when you follow your internal compass can you genuinely say you did the right thing.

Ever have a friend ask, ” I don’t know what to do?” or ” It’s just so complicated.” I know I have. Hell, I recently caught myself saying those exact same words. Yet these questions are simply a delay tactic of doing what deep down we feel is the best option.

I’ve been there before, and I know it’s tough. But in the end doing the right thing is the only way to build a character fortified by respect.

You can deny that you don’t know what to do. Or exclaim how complicated a situation is. But deep down you sense what your instincts are telling you. The right thing isn’t always ideal of course.

Every moment you walk away from the door of truth you cast a ballot for living a life of false integrity. This is fine of course, just don’t expect to sport a badge of honor.

You don’t need advice from a friend or blog to know in your heart whats right.

Certainly there may be extreme situations in which seeking guidance is important. But be careful not to use options as means of delay. You do or you don’t. You step or remain still. You tell the truth or continue to live a lie. There is no in between.

If you want to make a difference in any area of your life it all comes down to following your guns, again and again and again. This isn’t easy of course but it is the path of greatness.

If you want to take your business to the next level, it means doing what your competitors won’t. It means taking responsibility you could just as simply assign blame.

If you want to deepen your relationships, it means stop hiding behind false projections of who you are. It means being honest with what you truly want to experience.

Lately, I’ve been wrestling with doing the right thing in my personal life and regrettably I’ve let fear get the best of me. It wasn’t until recently I fully acknowledged the path I must walk.

Listen to your compass and trust in the direction in which is points. No decision is perfect but cowardice and complacency is a far more dangerous and disruptive path.

The quality of your life depends entirely on how consistently you choose to take the high road despite the temptations to turn and run away. You’ll fall short every now and again, but with time your compass will become further refined.

Instead of succumbing to a life that is easy and effortless make a commitment to step up even when you feel you lack the heart to do so.

Quit stalling because of fear. Quit thinking tomorrow will be the day. For the love of humanity do the right thing. Your future self will thank you.

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