The Heart of the Matter

Key Points:

Our problem rarely stems from a lack of information or insight. Our problem stems from the fact that we are not on a truth quest. That is, we don't wake up every morning with a burning desire to know what's true, what's right, what's honorable. We are on a happiness quest. We want to be-as in feel- happy. And our quest for happiness often trumps our appreciation for and pursuit of what's true.

Pursuing the happy-path every day would not be a good thing. It's these forks in the road-- or for our purposes, forks in the path--that makes things complicated. When happiness points in one direction while wisdom, truth, integrity, and common sense point in another, that's when really smart people start doing really stupid things.

When we stand at the crossroads between prudent and happy, we lie to ourselves. We begin selling ourselves on what we want to do rather than what we ought to do.

It is not a lack of information it is a lack of honesty. We deceive ourselves about why we choose the things we choose. And then we spin a web of excuses to protect ourselves, excuses that over time we come to believe.

You will never get to where you want to be if you don't know where you are, to begin with.

Questions to ask yourself:

Why am I doing this, really?
If someone in my circumstances came to me for advice, what course of action would I recommend?
In light of my past experiences, my future hopes, and dreams, what is the wise thing to do?

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