Inspiration #6 – Is Honesty a Lonely Word?

What do you think, do you agree with Billy Joel? Is honesty a lonely word? Is it what’s missing in our relationships, even our relationships with ourselves?

Theme #6 – Practice Being Transparent

“People often ask me what is the most effective technique for transforming their life. It is a little embarrassing that after years and years of research and experimentation, I have to say that the best answer is – just be a little kinder.” –Aldous Huxley

In the book “The Transparent Self,” author Sydney Jourard writes, “As soon as we become more transparent, we start to feel better.” In the spirit of this quote, I encourage you to put into mindful practice the concept of transparency. In so doing, look for an opportunity for an act of kindness and then complete it.

Is it by being honest with someone when your temptation is to talk around the truth? If so, be honest using intelligence and tact. Is it by being honest with yourself, perhaps by recognizing a problem rather than pretending there isn’t one? Or by saying no when you really want to say no, instead of saying yes?

Practice being transparent in your interactions.

Reflection #5 – What Catches Our Hearts

Who did you talk about this week? What caught your eye, your attention? Especially, what caught your heart? Take a minute now to reflect on that. It does not have to be a person. Maybe it was an event. Maybe it was an episode of a TV show, a book, even a passage from a book.

I believe that those things that “catch our hearts” are intended to teach us something, even if it is something as simple as taking time to pay attention. For instance, for me this week something that stood out was a thank you I received at the end of the school day on Thursday. I wrote about it on my personal blog.

But it wasn’t just that thank you I received that caught my heart. It was the story told in the comments section of my blog. Someone took to heart my suggestion to thank someone and in the end is going to help her sister complete something extraordinarily difficult.

I encourage you to read that comment. To me, at least, it’s remarkable.