The weather has finally warmed up and my mom and I decided to head outside for a little exercise. After about 10 minutes of brisk walking, my mom was ready to slow down and catch her breath.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yes", she said. "I just need to get back in the groove."
"I thought you said you've been walking the mall at lunch?"
"I have."
"It just seems to me that if you've been walking for about an hour almost daily, you wouldn't be so winded now."
"Well," she said, searching for the right words. "I have been walking, but I might stop into a store or look at what's new in the windows."
"Oh," I said,"so you haven't been walking, you've been shopping."
At this point, I could see her eyes start to roll and she gave me that "don't try that life coaching stuff with me" look. But that didn't stop me from pointing out that walking for exercise and shopping were two very different things.
"Mom, if you've been telling herself that you've been exercising at lunch, you've been lying to yourself."
This got me to thinking about the things we tell ourselves. My question to you is: Are you lying to yourself?
- Do you tell yourself yourself you're paying off your debt, but continue to eat out and make unnecessary purchases (magazines, shoes, vacations)?
- Do you tell yourself you're getting healthy, but continue to skip exercising and eat crap?
- Do you tell yourself you deserve a promotion, but rarely get to work on time, miss deadlines, and have the "when they give me (more money, bigger office, more help), I'll work harder" attitude.
- Do you tell yourself you're raising children of integrity, yet fail to keep your word?
We often very easily see the hypocrisy in others, while rationalizing our own behavior and decisions.
This month, I challenge you to take a hard look in the mirror and ask: Am I lying to myself?
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