A head start for the modern world

How do I practice making good choices? We all want to be ourselves and be accepted for who we are, but how do I even know who I am yet. Well, lets start at the beginning. First, we must figure out what we stand for, our morals and values. Do you value honesty? What about integrity? And I’m not just talking about expecting others to tell us the truth, but when we make the, sometimes tough, decision to be honest as-well. Honesty isn’t always the easiest way to handle situations, it means owning up to even our own mistakes. I remember learning this the hard way.

I needed a pair of pants one day, because mine split down the middle, embarrassing! Imagine being in school the whole day, trying to learn, while the air was blowing cold down my backside. Luckily my amazing friend had an extra pair. She saved me. A week went by and I completely forgot to return them to her, and I accidentally ended up donated them. She ended up asking me for them back a couple weeks later and I froze. Do I insult her by saying I donated the pants she lent me when I was in need, or do I lie.

I lied. I ordered her a similar pair and had it shipped overnight! A month went by and she never noticed, but every time she would wear her lucky pants, I immediately turned red. I had to remember not only how embarrassing it was to rip my pants but how I lied to someone that helped me. The shame got to me, I couldnt be around those pants. I had to come clean and apologize for my actions, I had to be honest. She actually laughed, she couldn’t even tell the difference. I started laughing too, mostly of relief. All that time I had spent not being honest, having no peace while those pants were still around, and constantly thinking about how far my lie has gone. If only I remembered that she’s my friend and she would understand.

“Better to get hurt by the truth, than comforted with a lie”, Khaled Hosseni.

A lie gets harder to remember, goes against what I believe in, and lowers not only your friends confidence in you, but confidence in yourself. When you are true to your values, something incredible starts happening. Your self-confidence starts to raise, you begin to love yourself more and more. Understanding that you are a person that believes in your own choices because you know who you are and what you value.

Making choices that feel right, brings you peace. You don’t have to remember anything or worry about someone finding out. The more you choose to follow who you are THAT is when you begin to grow. These choices you practice everyday will guide you for the rest of your life. When you respect your own values, that is when others will respect them too. If you don’t believe in you, why should I?