Tag Archives: reduce stress

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Popp- Chapter 17 – Truth or Dare

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”

Mark Twain

I have found this to be good advice. It is always easier to recall the truth than something you made up. I have a stellar memory, it just is not always timely! I found fabrications I have tried in the past stressful and against the grain of my ethics.

In fairness, your memory of the truth can even change with time. It is influenced by conversations, experiences etc. Memories can also shift by things that happen that may stimulate clearer memories, It is still key to start with the base of what you see as truth at that point in time.

Lies tend to be like a ball rolling down hill. As they roll, they pick up more dirt and may cause you to have to support lies with more lies or fantasy.

Simple example: You get invited to an outing and you really do not want to go. Do you:

  • Reluctantly go
  • Make up an excuse as to why you cannot go
  • Gracefully decline

 

My preference: #3 If you must: #1 Most likely to roll down hill: #2

 

Even little white lies are lies. If you do not want to say something that you think might hurt someone’s feelings, do not say anything.

 

If someone asks you for an opinion, answer honestly but pick your words carefully. Example: How do you like my new hairstyle? YIKES… you do not like it. You could respond, it is not something I could carry off but you know what you like.

I love a good mystery show. In these you can see the psychology that is used by the detectives rely on catching people in lies and making contradictory statements.

Lesson learned: Be caught in the truth and not in a fabrication!

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Brain Craze versus Mindfulness

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The obvious becomes less obvious with time, distractions and distance!  Memories do change. People shift consciously and unconsciously.

Different people at the same meeting can remember discussions and decisions differently.  This can lead to stress and strife. People head out with good intentions but may not end up marching to a unified tune unless reminded what that tune is. You might not remember what you think it is. This is a good reason to make note of things and keep those note somewhere nicely filed and accessible.  In project world this would require a good RAID log stored in a central repository.

Try and live by the ideal of “A place for everything and everything in its place.” I wonder how much time is spent searching for misplaced items? I am not saying a everyone must have a pristine space as everyone has a personal style. Just have your own sense of “place”. I am sure some things will occasionally be misplaced but if you practice being mindful of where you want to put things and discipline yourself to that, I am sure you will free up hours of your life and reduce stress.

If the space around you is cleaner, more mapped and more organized your mind will be too

You might not remember where you put it, or exactly what was said by whom when, but you will have a better chance of finding it by practicing the art of mindfulness.