Personal Commandments
Several years ago I took a course called 'Building your own theology'. One of the assignments was to list your personal ten commandments. If you read my article on Time Management . you recall that having a philosophy is the greatest time management tool there is. Unlike Moses, I will not give you my commandments all at once. This article will cover the first five, the other half will be in next months article. Some of my commandments are general while others are more specific to the unique experiences that I've had over the decades. Once again unlike Moses, I do not expect or even want you to follow my commandments. I do hope that some neurons snap in your brain that haven't snapped before.
1) Be consistent. Hold fast to your values. Act according to your beliefs. Note: this is similar to the original commandments 1-3 Thou shalt have no other Gods before me, Don't take the name of the lord in vain & Keep the Sabbath holy. There is no need for a list of commandments if you are not going to act on them. I enjoy dealing with people and businesses that are consistent because I know what to expect. I enjoy being surprised when they go beyond what was expected but not when they go in a totally different direction. Consistency works both ways. I know a manager who cancels most projects weeks or months after they are started. The staff knows this so they consistently put less energy into his projects.
2) Thou shalt not lie. It is permissible to lie when what is being covered up is more important than your personal integrity. A lie is something with the intent to deceive. If you have ever taken a logic course, you have come across moral dilemmas. Someone is at your door saying, "I am here to kill your roommate. Is she home?" The normal commandment 'Thou Shalt not lie' leaves no room for this situation. Know the value of your own integrity.
When I was a teenager my mother would ask where I was going. I told her exactly where I was going and what I was planning on doing. I knew she would not believe me. By being truthful I was actually lying. My mother realized I had been a good son and told her the truth when I was arrested, but that's another story.
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