#37 - Why is it so hard to do the right thing?
Why is it that most men will not open a door for a woman? Why is that most women don’t expect to have the door opened for them? Why does it seem easier to lie about something than to tell the truth? Why are we so worried about what others think about us? These are questions I have been pondering for some time.
It seems that as a society we have lost respect for ourselves and each other. Boys are no longer taught to be gentlemen. Girls are no longer taught to be ladies. It is easier to lie because we either don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings or we want to make ourselves appear to be better, smarter, more important than we are.
I believe that In most cases we have lost our personal integrity. There was a time when your integrity was the most important thing you had to offer another person. Today, with few exceptions, integrity seems to be a thing of the past. Reputations today seem to be of little importance. Simply watching a couple hours of TV will prove that. It doesn’t make any difference whether you are watching politicians, your favorite actors or reality TV stars. Everyone is out for their 15 minutes of fame.
This attitude also carries over to our relationships. Our self-centeredness is helping to destroy the integrity of our relationships. Our attitude of “what’s in it for me?” will keep any relationship from growing and maturing. Instead, our attitudes should be turning outward. We should be asking “What can I do for you?”
“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961
Work on doing the right things. Focus your efforts outward instead of inward and watch how your relationships will change for the better.