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accountability storytelling

We all Need Help

high angle photo of woman on ladder
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In a good story, the hero rarely succeeds alone. Especially in a plot where the circumstances appear dire, the hero has some help.

We all need help. "People seldom refuse help, if one offers it in the right way." A. C. Benson

One of the tragedies of this age is that we are increasingly loners and lonely. We go about self-improvement projects alone and falter because of our blind spots. And it seems to be getting worse. It’s become an epidemic after the pandemic. When we feel we have to go it alone, all hope evaporates.

But we are never truly alone. Keep this in mind: we can be recipients and givers of assistance no matter what stage of need you are in.

Help that maintains the dignity of the one in need and gives kindness and consideration to them works wonders.

Think back to when you were in need, and someone was there to give you aid. That is a story worth telling. Perhaps that story will help someone else see that they can rise from a low place.

An encouraging story can be just the help someone needs.

Categories
motivation

Where are the Facts?

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Have you ever been tempted to throw out a fact you didn’t like? Of course, you did! We are all prone to ignoring the facts we don’t like. And it doesn’t take long to find more appealing facts, as Peter Drucker reminded me.

We all fall victim to confirmation bias. And we frequently have a hard time distinguishing facts from opinions. It’s in our nature to prove we were right all along.

The problem is when we aren’t honest with ourselves, we make rash decisions based on flawed information. We turn opinions into facts and when we face brutal reality, our opinions and decisions fall apart.

If you find fact-finding to be easy, you may want to readjust and reconsider what you have. Sincerely ask yourself, “Where are the facts?”

Categories
Inspiration Cartoons motivation

Why couldn’t I see that?

jigsaw puzzle
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Have you ever thought that? I can spend a long time on a puzzle, trying this and that solution. I may conclude there is no answer.
But when the solution finally comes, it seems so obvious. It was staring at me the whole time. Why couldn’t I see that?

Alas, we may be convinced we are stuck when that may not be the case. Don’t believe you are permanently stuck!

Illustration of a skier stuck in the snow. I drew this for Illustration Friday. This week's word is "snow."

A good story leads us to believe the plot is going one way when it swerves the other. And yet, the ending is believable. It leads us to say, “Why couldn’t I see that?” We love a creative plot twist.

The world is searching for a solution to life’s puzzle. You may have the one unique story that can inspire someone and cause them to see there is a solution after all. You may prompt them to say, “Of course! Why couldn’t I see that?”

Categories
Attitude Proverbs wisdom

The Stiff-necked

brown highland cattle on field of grass
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In a story, there is always an obstacle. Either the hero has a conflict internally or externally. Something is stiff-necked.

Proverbs 29:1 reminds me why being stubborn and part of the stiff-necked is far from admirable.

"Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy." Proverbs 29:1

The hero learns something when they face and overcome the obstacle. They change and become a better version of themselves. Sure, they may be stubbornly determined, but they can’t be so stubborn that they are too proud to learn.

What if the hero is stiff-necked? What if they never learn and remain the same? It’s not much of a story—it’s just a long, slow-motion destruction scene.

Do you have a good story? Have you learned something that changed your life for the better? Congratulations! You have a story to tell that can transform the life of someone else who doesn’t suffer from a stubborn, stiff neck.

Categories
motivation

Finding and Fighting Our Faults

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It’s one thing to find faults in others; it’s entirely another to recognize and fix our own faults.

I was reading a biography of John Wesley when I came across this passage:

A quote on finding and fighting our faults by Marianne Kirlew

Although the author geared her biography toward children, that nugget was invaluable to me.

The author knew about emotional intelligence and self-awareness before we had names for these qualities.

The only effective fault-finding is when we identify our faults and take action to defeat them.

Looking at somebody else and pointing out their faults is too easy. But our blind spots make it incredibly difficult to do the same for ourselves. Be merciful to others and relentless in finding our faults.

But don’t stop there. Take action and fight our faults into submission! Now if you excuse me, I need to have a serious finding and fighting session. And this time, I give myself no excuses!