Sharing

     Sharing is  a basic component of human interaction and is responsible for strengthening social ties and ensuring a person's well-being.  This definition is from Wikipedia, and I agree.
     When we share our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, other people can benefit.  Sharing our personal health issues may inform our children about possible inherited problems.  Explaining our personal issues and how we handle them help others with situations they may be facing or may face in the future.  Telling about your everyday life, especially to adult children who live far away, help them to understand your life, your generation, and your phase of life.  All of this promotes communication and interaction.
     As you share your life, consider it a gift to others and to yourself.  Relieve some of the stress of trying to carry the load alone.  Allow yourself to receive understanding, empathy, and advice.  Realize that keeping secrets may not be the best practice unless someone wishes you to keep a confidence.  Giving yourself to others enables you to share your insights, talents, and other positive information.  All of this can strengthen relationships and your well-being.
     We also need to decide when not to share, when we should keep some info to ourselves.  Even when we get the benefit from sharing, we need to consider the effect it will have on other people.   Causing unnecessary worry or making others feel they may be partially responsible for solving your problems - not a good idea.  Decide how much of your drama is TMI (too much information.)

Rewards

     Training a dog usually involves providing a reward when the dog conforms to the master's wishes.  Likewise, training children often includes a reward for conforming to their parent's or teacher's wishes.  These rewards can include expressions of affection, words of thanks, or compliments on good behavior and a good job.  Rewards can also include treats or special privileges.  On the other hand, withholding a reward may also provide incentive not to do the wrong thing.
    As children mature, they can be weaned away from external rewards and guided toward internal rewards of self-respect, self-satisfaction, and pride in doing the right thing.  Many of the things we do may not be recognized or fully appreciated by others.  Our reward must come from within.  Although adults will be influenced by family and society, we can accept, alter, or reject what others define as proper behavior.  We should realize that making good decisions in living a good life is it's own reward.
     Religion often offers rewards as incentive to conforming to it's definition of proper behavior.  The promise of eternal life must be the greatest of rewards for having faith.  Church services are designed to reinforce this faith.  Members of the congregation reinforce each other that their religion holds the truth and provides the correct guide to behavior.  Although focusing on heaven may provide incentive, good behavior throughout our life should be it's own reward.

Trapped?

     The movie "Birdman" uses a cinematography technique which gives the effect of being shot in one continuous take so that the audience lives through the main character and his mind.  This movie illustrates as the director stated, "We are trapped in our own reality."
     We use all our own senses to inform our brain about ourselves, other people, and our environment.  Our experiences and psychological make-up create memories, analyze the present, and form our opinions.  This guides our thinking, actions, and reactions.  We want to have our needs met, yet don't want to appear too self-centered.  We have a need to be loved and learn the advantages of loving others.  We want to be understood and try to understand others.  Our own self interests, however, are naturally uppermost in our mind.  We cannot escape; we all are trapped in our own reality.
     We can consciously try to aim our focus away from ourselves and toward other people.  By broadening our perspective, we may come to realize that each individual is just one person among billions who are living, dead, or yet to be born.  We are trapped in our own body, our own generation, and our own circumstances.  In soap opera lingo, as the world turns, we have one life to live and need to search for tomorrow.  We can leave our own reality temporarily through books, movies, TV shows and observing the people around us.  We need to realize, however, we can only live our own life and should make our trap as meaningful as possible.     

Indoctrination

     A religious or political doctrine may be beneficial for teaching beliefs.  Perhaps first spoken then written down, perhaps many centuries old or a more recent set of evolving beliefs, perhaps carved in stone, penned by our founding fathers, or formed by political parties, these doctrines provide a basis for our beliefs.  We need to be aware of how these doctrines came into being and who thought them up and wrote them down.  We also need to be aware of the methods of teaching and promoting these beliefs.
     This is where indoctrination comes in.  When we have strong beliefs, we desire to pass them on to our children and our fellow citizens.  First, we need to be aware of what we accept as true and how we came to believe what we do.  Next, we need to be aware when teaching turns into indoctrination which encourages us to accept beliefs without critical examination.  Often we cling to beliefs because we respect the teacher, the parent, the church, or the political party.  We may be encouraged to accept one point of view, discouraged to consider another.
      Let's make sure we are not being indoctrinated like soldiers who are taught to always be loyal to superiors and country and to follow orders without question.  This may be necessary in the military to win the war but not the best model for the rest of us.  We should teach how to think rather than what to think or else we will continue to use and be used by indoctrination.
    

Too Much of a Good Thing

     In the book/movie "Divergent," young citizens are analyzed to discover their dominant personality trait, their strongest virtue, then go to live with like-minded groups: the selfless to Abnegation, the brave to Dauntless, the intelligent to Erudite, the honest to Candor, and the peaceful to Amity.  Those citizens who show strengths in a variety of virtues are considered divergent.  Those who continue their lives developing one particular virtue may do so at the expense of not being well-rounded.  They may have too much of a good thing.
     The selfless who forget themselves for the sake of others may lose their individuality and ignore their own needs.  The brave who protect from threats within and without  may become insensitive and fearless thrill-seekers.  The intelligent who pursue knowledge and wisdom may become arrogant and use manipulation to have dominion over others.  The honest who see things in black and white and give candid opinions may not see the gray areas and become too frank, tactless, and rude.  The peaceful who are kind and forgiving may overvalue staying calm and inhibit their ability to fight for what's right.  Of course, these virtues are just five of many in our real world.
    Some personality traits may be inborn; some virtues and lifestyles may be emphasized by our family.  Many people desire to develop all of the human virtues but need to take care that we don't overdevelop some at the expense of the others.  Being divergent, developing in a variety of directions, can be to our benefit.  Being different and even rebellious can help form our own unique personality.        
     
     

Stumbles

     As we make our way along life's path, we can lose our footing and take a fall.  The path may have an impediment, an unexpected spot, a slippery surface, or our unpreparedness or inattention may cause us to trip.  Perhaps the stumble could have been prevented; perhaps, not.
     What we do afterward is more important.  Becoming more familiar with what lies ahead, plus being prepared and alert may lower our chances for another fall.  Some people will seek out an easier path, but that may not provide the challenges to develop our skills.  When we learn to navigate the more complex path, we become stronger.  We can also use our experience to help others move forward.

Audacity

     Depending on the circumstances and the people involved, audacity can show confidence or arrogance, daring or brashness, and may be helpful or even necessary.
     Author Bill O'Reilly labels George Patton as the most audacious general.  Patton had so much confidence in his abilities and daring in his activities and was very outspoken in his opinions.  His audacity produced great success.
     We need to realize how audacity can help us succeed.  Sometimes we need to have nerve and spunk to accomplish our goals.  Hesitation, allowing shyness to get in the way, not having confidence to try our best, fearing the judgment of others - all of these behaviors are the opposite of audacity.
     If your actions can improve the circumstances you face, you can make things happen.   Be bold, dare to be different, be audacious.