Transparency

The difference between the successful and the troubled is not error-free living; it is that by discovering and implementing a life calling, the successful stand on their pile of trash while the troubled sit under theirs.” — Dave Ramsey– from the forward of Dan Miller’s book: 48 Days to the Work You Love

Nothing like diving into the deep end of the blog pool for my first post, but the more I thought about the foundation for the blog should be laid with post number one. Quite frankly there would not be Leveraging Life | Now had not there been a radical shift in my thinking. 

For truth, honesty, and transparency to be life traits they have to be shared freely, openly, without agenda, and something I failed to leverage as I should have at times in my life. And one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned first hand is…

transparency opens the door to transparency!

There was a time I operated on a need-to-know basis with those closest to me. Family and friends had different security clearances based on how I perceived their reactions to situations and circumstances in my world and as a result what I chose to share became a shell game laced in flawed thinking. For me it was never moral or ethical dilemmas, but there were life’s trials, health challenges, poor financial decisions, or just plain personal frustrations that were never fully revealed or presented in the open light. My “master’s degree” in rationalization allowed me to write off this clouded transparency as not wanting to promote worry, create concern, or add to the stress that was already present in their lives. But if I looked past the facade that I hung between us, what kept me from opening up was a four-lettered word called F-E-A-R. So irrational was the fear that I felt by opening up and letting people know I didn’t have it all figured out, had it together, or happened to be failing in an area I never failed before, I might lose their approval, something I worked so hard to earn.

Once fear enters your vocabulary and creeps into your decision making, the door to compromise is cracked wide open, and if compromise hangs around long enough it takes a lot of effort to close that door. Truth becomes something you say but the “whole truth” is optional. Honesty gets rationed to the direct measure of the inquiry, but certainly not “forthright” as the definition intends. And as a result when truth is limited and honesty is rationed, transparency gets manipulated without a second thought and your world resembles a movie set. Everything looks great for the camera, but if the wind gusts unexpectedly, what has been fabricated comes tumbling down. And when that happens you are left with a choice moving forward; do you building another facade or do you chose to stand on the rubble–letting truth, honest, and transparency become a mortar that binds what you have experienced in to a strong foundation to grow from and build on?

Have you been selectively sharing what’s going on in your world? Are their people in your life who you underestimate the grace God has empowered them with and are willing to share? Is acknowledging your control put you in this place and turning it over to God does not show weakness but shows strength? One thing I’m certain, the wind is going to blow and holding onto sail and harnessing the wind is a lot easier when you’re not the only one holding on.

trusting God period!

~ Tom

Thanks for being here! I welcome your suggestions, recommendations, and constructive criticism as I am new to the world of blogging. And it goes without saying I really appreciate your comments on what is presented and I hope you will always do so in a respectful manner to everyone who contributes.

Did you know there is a way to receive Leveraging Life | Now updates via email? All you have to do is click here to subscribe. (It’s free)