The Pinnacle for Change

“Just how and when we tell the truth—or keep silent—can often reveal the difference between genuine integrity and none at all.”

~As Bill Sees It (1967)

We may perhaps be thinking of change. Truly, we may not know how to go about it; just as these problems swarm, and in a debilitated state we feel for our response, we can know one simple thing that will lead us to change every time.

People might say it is self-respect, but of course it’s deeper than that, though its manifestation is central upon the achievement of self-worth (critical for lasting change).

The pinnacle for change is honesty. The condition of the blessed life, without exception, is that cherished ability to be truthful with others, yet never less with ourselves. Honesty is the key to humility.

Plans Are Important... But

Drilled into us from the very beginning are clichés like, “Plan the work and work the plan,” or, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

These sayings are 100% truthful.

But like speaking in tongues of mortals and angels, whilst being without love, is just a noisy gong or clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1), planning without the underpinning modus operandi of honesty, generating the motive of self-respect, is forlorn.

Plans are necessary, and just as they are critical they need to be flexible, also. One thing, however, that is not flexible is our driving M.O.—we are brutally honest with ourselves; responsible to each thought, accountable for each and every feeling. Then, alone, is change possible.

Belief Is Important, Too

Whilst plans provide the roadmap to get where we need to go regarding change, and a rigorous self-honesty will take us anywhere good we would like to go, self-belief, which is generated from a healthy and functional belief in God, gives us the confidence to be honest.

Such a belief means we can afford to be courageous, especially when we are required to take risks in demonstrating our honesty, for such truthfulness will often bear costs—a price we should always be willing to pay. The unspeakable rewards make it abundantly worth it.

The truth is, at accord with our truthfulness with ourselves—our integrity—we can change anything we want about us that is changeable.

Any sin, habit, trait, or any vice, can be vanquished and, therefore, transformed into practices for living that bless our lives and others’ lives. Do we believe this? We need to in order to change.

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Planning is important, and self-belief too, but to achieve self-respect, know that honesty keeps us true.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.