Tag Archives: #trust

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Misleading Headlines

The media has gone into overdrive. In better days, sensational headlines were reserved for The National Enquirer. Not anymore.

Recently, I read a story headline that indicated Greenland, Denmark and the United States were heading into contentious talks about the future of Greenland. It was their first meeting! Normal people don’t enter the room looking for a fight. The meeting went fine. No blood was spilled.

In the United States, trust in the media has been steadily declining for years. Their trust level is hovering around the politicians, but not far above bail bondsmen. Legitimate reporting died when Walter Cronkite retired.

Donald Trump was a shot in the arm for the media and the entertainers. They couldn’t wait to report whatever outrageous thing he said. Accuracy in reporting went out the window because clicks were more important. Never mind everything else going on in the world. If Tiananmen Square had happened in 2019, we wouldn’t hear about it until 2035, if even then.

Be discerning about everything you read or see on television. The media put themselves in this situation. No one forced them to be subpar. If it sounds outrageous, it’s probably just trying to get you to click on it…

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Spirituality

Timing is Everything

Have you ever had to deliver a truthful, yet difficult message to someone? Most of us, if not all have been in this position. This is when proper timing is needed.

Timing is everything. If you are placed in a precarious personal situation you must be keenly aware of the right time to execute. You can feel it when you are in touch with your emotions. You just know when it’s right and when it’s best to wait. I encourage you to follow your instincts on this.

We expect our friends to be honest with us. That’s part of friendship. All of us have tons of people around who will tell us what we want to hear. But that might not be what we need to hear. If you have someone in your life who is truthful with you about the good, the bad and the blind spots, that person is a treasure. Hold on to them.

When you have a difficult message to share, remember the writings of Paul from Galatians. Deliver the message with some gentleness and self-control. And remember to choose your timing well…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Reports Don’t Tell You Everything

Have you ever seen a marketing report? They are not only boring, they can be highly inaccurate. Yet corporate America continues to spend millions of dollars on them.

People want relationships which are more than transactional. Relationships are built on trust. Remember those market reports from above? Agencies even query consumers about which brands they trust. Again, costing millions of dollars that could be used to improve products.

There is one true source that cannot let us down. It talks about trust and incudes pieces on how to market effectively. I’m talking about the Bible. The Bible shows us that time and time again we can trust God. He tells us to be fair and equitable in dealing with others. Your reputation spread by word of mouth is the best marketing tool available. Your reputation is built by being trustworthy, treating people fairly.

Spend time with people. Strengthen your relationships. Stay in touch. You can read the marketing reports later…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Unwillingness

Sometimes God puts us in situations that we just don’t like or understand. And God wants obedience from us yet we don’t always want to obey. I would rather do things my way rather than God’s way, and so would you.

This is where trust comes into play. Do I trust God enough to submit to what he wants? The truth is, sometimes. We are rebellious by nature. It was rebellion from British rule that brought the Declaration of Independence into existence. And look at how God has blessed the world through the prosperity and generosity of the United States.

Trusting in God’s purpose is a continuous growth process. Don’t give in to your own selfish desires. If we aren’t always willing to accept what God requires, then do it unwillingly until your heart changes.

God is not going to stop working on us, so let’s work with him, not against…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Damage Done

Have you ever said something you knew was hurtful, and then immediately regretted saying it? I’m guilty of that. Most of us probably have done it as well.

The damage was done, so don’t gloss over it, make excuses or deny it. Apologize. Immediately. The person you hurt might still be reeling from what was said, but if the apology was sincere they will know. And hopefully they will forgive and not try to “one up” by firing back at us.

Think before speaking. If what we are about to say is hurtful, let’s ask ourselves why we are saying it in the first place. Perhaps we are hurting from something and we want someone to feel our pain. It might be better to talk it through with a trusted friend.

What we say can never be taken back. Speak kindly or don’t speak at all…

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#inspiration

Telling the Truth

People like to exaggerate stories, don’t they? Whether it’s a story about catching a fish or surviving the Texas freeze known as the “snowpocalypse,” simply sharing the facts isn’t good enough. And truth be told, we love hearing the great stories!

In the culture of today, people like to speak “their truth.” There is only one truth, whether it’s yours or not. No matter how bright we are, the truth cannot be reinvented or even altered.

We aren’t always truthful with ourselves. This is known as rationalization. We lie to ourselves so the truth won’t do harm to us. Yet, deep down we know the truth.

The best part of telling the truth is, we never have to remember what we said to anyone. Through consistency, we gain the reputation of being honest. And by staying true to honesty we build trust with others…

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#inspiration

Triggers

Trigger’s have meaning beyond being part of a gun. Triggers are something that create an unexpected emotional reaction. They can be events, situations, or even people.

A personal trigger for me is lying. I was lied to as a child, so this one runs deep in me. When I hear a lie, it does something to me I can’t describe. I get angry, disgusted and hurt all at the same time. I get over it, but my ability to trust the person who lied has been compromised.

Think about your own personal triggers. Then commit to understanding where they come from. Be ready, because you will gain insight into yourself…

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#inspiration

Potential

All of us have unique gifts. Whether or not we use them is up to us. This also applies to how we use them.

If you are a good communicator, are you spreading light and encouragement, or fear and dread? The message will be taken seriously because you have the gift of communication.

Use your God-given potential the way He wants you to. After all, God is the one who gave you your unique gifts…

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