Unit-11--TEXT-Ⅰ-How-to-Be-True-to-yourself-Denis-W

Unit11TEXTⅠHowtoBeTruetoyourselfDenisWaitleyPre-readingquestions1.Haveyoulearnedanymottoesfromyourparentsorgrandparents?2.Whataretheyifyouhave?3.Howimportantdoyouthinkitisforonetobehonest?Mygrandparentsbelievedyouwereeitherhonestoryouweren't.Therewasnoin-between.Theyhadasimplemottohangingontheirliving-roomwall:Lifeislikeafieldofnewlyfallensnow;whereIchoosetowalkeverystepwillshow.Theydidn'thavetotalkaboutit—theydemonstratedthemottobythewaytheylived.Theyunderstoodinstinctivelythatintegritymeanshavingapersonalstandardofmoralityandethicsthatdoesnotsellouttoexpediencyandthatisnotrelativetothesituationathand.Integrityisaninnerstandardforjudgingyourbehavior.Unfortunately,integrityisinshortsupplytoday—andgettingscarcer.Butitistherealbottomlineineveryareaofsociety.Anditissomethingwemustdemandofourselves.AgoodtestforthisvalueistolookatwhatIcalltheIntegrityTriad,whichconsistsofthreekeyprinciples:Standfirmlyforyourconvictionsinthefaceofpersonalpressure.There'sastorytoldaboutasurgicalnurse'sfirstdayonthemedicalteamatawell-knownhospital.Shewasresponsibleforensuringthatallinstrumentsandmaterialswereaccountedforduringanabdominaloperation.Thenursesaidtothesurgeon,You'veonlyremoved11sponges,andweused12.Weneedtofindthelastone.Iremovedthemall,thedoctordeclared.We'llclosenow.Youcan'tdothat,sir,objectedtherookienurse,Thinkofthepatient.Smiling,thesurgeonliftedhisfootandshowedthenursethe12thsponge.You'lldojustfineinthisoranyotherhospital,hetoldher.Whenyouknowyouareright,youcan'tbackdown.Alwaysgiveotherscreditthatisrightfullytheirs.Don'tbeafraidofthosewhomighthaveabetterideaorwhomightevenbesmarterthanyouare.DavidOgilvy,founderoftheadvertisingfirmOgilvy&Mather,madethispointcleartohisnewlyappointedofficeheadsbysendingeachaRussiannestingdollwithfiveprogressivelysmallerfiguresinside.Hismessagewascontainedinthesmallestdoll:Ifeachofushirespeoplewhoaresmallerthanweare,weshallbecomeacompanyofdwarfs.Butifeachofushirespeoplewhoarebiggerthanweare,Ogilvy&Matherwillbecomeacompanyofgiants.Andthatispreciselywhatthecompanybecame—oneofthelargestandmostrespectedadvertisingorganizationsintheworld.Behonestandopenaboutwhatyoureallyare.Peoplewholackgenuinecorevaluesrelyonexternalfactors—theirlooksorstatus—inordertofeelgoodaboutthemselves.Inevitablytheywilldoeverythingtheycantopreservethisfacade,buttheywilldoverylittletodeveloptheirinnervalueandpersonalgrowth.Sobeyourself.Don'tengageinapersonalcover-upofareasthatareunpleasinginyourlife.Whenit'stough,doittough.Inotherwords,facerealityandbeadultinyourresponsestolife'schallenges.Self-respectandaclearconsciencearepowerfulcomponentsofintegrityandarethebasisforenrichingyourrelationshipswithothers.Integritymeansyoudowhatyoudobecauseit'srightandnotjustfashionableorpoliticallycorrect.Alifeofprinciple,ofnotsuccumbingtotheseductivesirensofaneasymorality,willalwayswintheday.Itwilltakeyouforwardintothe21stcenturywithouthavingtocheckyourtracksinarearviewmirror.Mygrandparentstaughtmethat.MEMORABLEQUOTESAnhonestman'sthenoblestworkofGod.—AlexanderPopeIhopeIshallalwayspossessfirmnessandvirtueenoughtomaintainwhatIconsiderthemostenviableofalltitles,thecharacterofanHonestMan.—GeorgeWashington