The Paradoxical Commandments

Ron Huxley posted these commandments in his wonderful blog . Many thanks, Ron for this reminder.

The Paradoxical Commandments - by Dr. Kent M. Keith (© Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001)

"People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway."

Ever since reading it, I’ve been thinking about how often we allow outside influences, i.e. people, circumstances and experiences to dictate what it is we do in life, for ourselves, others and the outside world. Many sabotage their own success for the simple reason they feel guilty to succeed when others close to them have failed.

When we act based on everyone else’s values and ethics, we compromise our own. Just as one person should not be held responsible for the actions of another, we should not determine our choices based on others’. Acting and living from a basis of personal integrity should be our guide. Adopting the philosophy, “do it anyway” gives momentum and strength to act from our convictions. Only then will we learn what is possible for us in our lifetime.

Best….
Donna Karlin