Yesterday our journal question was about being nice.  Perhaps there was a different message that you identified that was drilled into you since childhood.  "Always tell the truth".  I got this one too.  I'm glad that my parents, teachers, and minister emphasized integrity and ethical living as I was growing up.  Yet there are times when these two messages "Always tell the truth" and "Be nice" might collide.

So I wanted to spend some time here too.  Today's journal questions are about noticing what happens for us when telling the truth might hurt someone's feelings or show a side of ourselves that we keep in our shadow.  How do you resolve which direction you'll go?  What do you carry inside of yourself by having made one decision over the other?  Are you able to find a way to do both?

Take some time today to notice when you are "telling the truth" and when you are "being nice".  What do you experience (memories, body sensations, thoughts, feelings) in those moments?  How does this choice impact your relationship with the other person?  What can you learn from this?

I'm going to be observing myself around this topic today also.  I'll be back to you later to share what I notice about myself.

Hugs,

Terri