As we enter into the final weeks towards our Christmas season, it is inevitable that we will be stretched dealing with a multitude of expectations and relationship challenges that often accompany this time of year. I found myself reflecting on this set of commandments written by Kent M. Keith in a book of the same title. “Do it Anyway; The handbook for finding happiness in a crazy world.”  Let me share it with you here.

Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments.

1. People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

7. People favour underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

I am sure if you are like me, you can read a number of these commandments and relate it to personal experiences you have had over the years.  Do we do these things to set ourselves up for failure and disappointment? I think not.

I would like to think that for most of us, to live our lives with love, honesty, service, and determination is what makes our journey meaningful.  It’s a reminder that life is a solo inner experience because we live it for our own happiness and fulfillment.  Most of the time it includes others in our lives and the inter-relationships provide the richness of the experience but it’s really all about us! That’s why we would “Do it Anyway” when we are aware of all the possible outcomes that can be experienced from others.

So as I move forth into these coming weeks and find that:

A parking spot that I have been waiting for gets taken by another who zips into it at the last minute:
I will send them love anyway.

When I spend hours preparing a beautiful dessert to take to a family dinner and a big piece is sampled in advance:
I will continue to make beautiful desserts anyway.

When I believe I have found just the right gift for one of my sons and their response is not what I hoped for:
I will continue to look for just the right gift.

What experiences have you had that challenge your nature?  May this post remind you that who we are is much more important than how others react to us so whatever you are called to do and be: “Do it anyway!”

I’d love your feedback! And, dont’ forget to leave a link back to your own blog if you have one, via the commentluv feature here on the site.

Until next time,

Karen