Featured Give-a-Listen Interviews

I broke an agreement.

Not an agreement I made with a friend, or the Sheriff. An agreement I made with myself.

If you’re into self-help, then you’ve probably heard of – if not read – The Four Agreements.

It’s basically a short ‘how-to’ book for living a more fulfilling life.

The Four Agreements

Here are the cliffnotes:

1. Don’t Take Anything Personally

2. Be Impeccable With Your Word

3. Try Your Best Every Day

4. Don’t Make Assumptions

That’s the one I broke – the one about assumptions. I break it a lot.

My Problem

I make assumptions about people all the time — their motives, their families, their finances…

You name it. I’m sure about it.

A Story About Assumptions

The Sheriff decided to clean all the windows in the house – inside and out. (I know, I should just end it there and be grateful…)

Anyway, at some point, he needed the dustbuster. (Don’t ask…just keep reading).

Apparently the dustbuster was full of dust because I heard him muttering and then I heard him go outside.

Later, in our backyard, I discovered this:

Assumptions

As much as I really wanted to express my gratitude for his cleaning the windows, I couldn’t get over that he’d just emptied the dustbuster on the lawn.

Are you with me on this??

I mean, ridiculous, right? He couldn’t just empty it into a trash can??

Obviously, he just decided it would be easier to dump the lint in the yard.

The Truth

I wanted to say ‘What the hell! Did you have to dump the lint in the yard?’ Instead, thanks to years of therapy, I asked in the kindest, least judgmental tone I could muster…

’Hon, why did you dump the lint in the backyard?’

The Sheriff: I was thinking maybe the birds could use it for their nests.



I’m going to work on not making assumptions. Can I assume you’ll do the same?

I want to go to Australia. 

I never thought I’d get there but I’ve come across a rare opportunity – and I really want to go.

Here’s the thing.

It’s a contest.

It’s not a contest that requires me to get a lot of votes.  It’s simply a contest that requires me to enter and provide some pertinent information.

So I did.

Read more…

My last post was about judgment and I promised this follow up because judgment is really at the heart of all conflict. Not just the conflict we have with others – but conflict within ourselves.

The problem is I’m afraid you won’t get this concept.

I mean I didn’t get it at first and I’m afraid you won’t get it either and I’ll lose you forever.

But I really want to share it so I’m just going to put it out there and if you don’t get it or don’t agree with it then I hope you will just leave it on the buffet table but not abandon the meal altogether.

Okay, this is it:

Read more…