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BrokenRoad posted 6/15/2013 21:04 PM

To borrow from R.J. Palacio’s book, “Wonder”:

A Precept is a “rule about really important things.”

“In a nutshell, precepts are words to live by. You can find a precept in a book you’re reading, in a song you’ve heard, or in a fortune cookie. It doesn’t matter where, but if a phrase rings true to you, and it can help guide you in making a decision, then make it your own personal precept.”

My Favorite:

“If you have the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.” - Dr. Wayne Dyer

Ask yourself these questions:

· Do you like the precept?

· Would it apply to how you live your life?

· What would the world be like if everyone followed this precept?

· Would it end wars? World Hunger?

· How hard it would be for you to choose to back down from an argument with your mom or dad or brothers or sisters, if you knew you were right and the other person was wrong?

· Would you give in just to let the other person save face?

It’s not so simple a thing to choose to be kind. It’s one thing to back down from an argument with someone you love, or a friend, because you don’t see the point in “winning” the argument at the cost of your friend’s feelings.

But what if you believe in something that no one else believes in? What if you’re the only one who knows you’re right? Should you back down, just to be kind?

What if you were Galileo, and you knew you were right about the planets revolving around the sun even though the rest of the world thought you were crazy—would you back down?

What if you were living in the 1950s and you were the only one in your town to believe that black people should have the same rights as white people—would you back down, just to be polite?

What if you were standing up for something you believed in—would you really want to back down, just for the sake of kindness?

Maybe the most important word in the precept isn’t the word “kind” or the word “right.” Maybe the most important word in that whole sentence is the word “choose.”

As with all things in life, every choice you make needs to be weighed. Every decision needs to be evaluated. All that precept is telling you, is that it’s better to choose to be kind than to choose to be right. But the real point is that you have the choice.

So this is meant to be a fun kind of thought provoker, and to motivate you to find your own precept. It may help you with your tagline as well -- and that contest floating around here if you find one with "brownnoser" in it.

[This message edited by BrokenRoad at 9:05 PM, June 15th (Saturday)]

aesir posted 6/15/2013 22:42 PM

I think you can being kind is just how you choose to go about being right. If you are right and instead you choose to back down to be conflict avoidant, then you are choosing to be both wrong and unkind, as you are also depriving them of what is right.

Here is my entry:
When faced with a choice, before committing, always ask yourself "Would I have to lie about this?"

Sad in AZ posted 6/16/2013 06:08 AM

Mine always has been and always will be:

Live and let live.

If I'm right, and the situation really matters to me, I won't back down.

Hope24 posted 6/16/2013 06:17 AM

"Integrity is never painless." - M. Scott Peck.

I love yours, BR.

authenticnow posted 6/16/2013 06:52 AM

Mine is live in truth.

I realized through this journey that I spent a lot of years stifling things, feeling sad about things, and not being true to myself or others to keep peace and to avoid dealing with uncomfortable and painful stuff.

I only want real relationships now, which meant confronting people with my truth and ending the relationship if it didn't work anymore. I have less people in my life now, but the relationships I have are real. I also feel lighter, and I am more comfortable with myself and more comfortable in the relationships that I do have.

Living in truth also means speaking up when I need to as things happen, even if it means an uncomfortable conversation.

The precept Be kinder than necessary has been another one for me. Life just feels better when living kindly. And I feel it coming back to me...the good energy...which is an added bonus.

gahurts posted 6/16/2013 06:56 AM

More and more I am thinking: Is this the hill I want to die on?

It's taken a long time to finally learn to pick my battles and realize that being right is not the most important thing in the universe. I still dig my heals in at times, but with a little more forethought.

Great thread BR!!

AFrayedKnot posted 6/16/2013 09:14 AM

The full fruit of a labor of love lives in the harvest. And that always comes in its right season.

TrulyReconciled posted 6/17/2013 09:57 AM

Faber est suae quisque fortunae - Every man is the artisan of his own fortune. Appius Claudius Caecus

Today of course it would be interpreted 'each person is the architect of their own happiness.'

This precept displaces a 'victim mentality' and places the responsibility for happiness where it truly lies - in the mirror.

lynnm1947 posted 6/17/2013 10:46 AM

I think mine should be Live your life so that on your deathbed, you won't need to say "I wish I had done (insert activity)."