Things Seen Disappear

By Walt F.J. Goodridge

Special to the Saipan Tribune
Originally published: Wednesday, September 24, 2008


The only way to take control of your life, raise your standard of living and move beyond merely surviving is to create your own unique product or service that you offer to increasing numbers of people in exchange for the things of value that you desire. This simple formula applies to countries as well as people. A self-sufficient economy has its own products or services of value to export to the world. Similarly, a self-sufficient individual has something of value to exchange in the global marketplace. That thing of value is based on your natural talent, skill, or interest—in other words, your passion!

From little slights and errors
to the evil things you did
You violate agreements, lock them up
then close the lid

You walk around so weighted
standing up takes all your might
Distorted truths, deeds justified
just so you can be right

You couldn't risk admission
so withholding's how you cope
You'd die if they found out
and so you slide the slippery slope

Your burden takes its toll
and mind and heart begin to stray
You soon withdraw from life
just blow things off or run away

Through truth exists the freedom
from the mire that you made
Confront the truths of past offence
accept where you have strayed

For once it's seen for what it is
it ceases to exist
For only lies can linger
with the power to persist

You'll gain respect and rebuild trust
and live life fully here
Yes, all it takes are open eyes
for things seen disappear



p.s. So write them down and let them go
before you start this year

COMMENTARY:
According to experts, the biggest reason a person restrains and withholds himself from action is because he or she has committed an overt. An overt is simply a harmful act or a transgression against a moral code of a society or agreements of a group. In other words, taking money from your mom's purse when you were a child, accidentally scratching someone's car in a parking lot and not leaving them a note, betraying a trust or expectation in a relationship, or stealing paper or paperclips from the office supply closet are all overts.

Typically, once someone commits an overt, the next thing he or she does is withhold the transgression (i.e. doesn't confess or talk about it) for fear of penalty or punishment. In order to live with themselves, they then must justify the action in their minds in an effort to lesson the overt. You've surely heard people say, "well, he/she drove me to or made me do it," or "this'll make up for them not paying me what I'm worth," or some other elaborate reasoning to justify the original act.

The sad truth, is that these justifications don't really work, and eventually, the strain of being part of a relationship, group or society which you've betrayed, leads to you sabotaging, ending, leaving relationships, jobs or otherwise just withdrawing into inactivity. This explains why many marriages end, why many people jump from job to job, and why many new year's resolutions ultimately fail.

But there is a way to move beyond being stuck in the web of a lingering past offence. Write them down, admit the truth, accept your role and responsibility and let them leave.

So, on this last day of the year, take the time to do this simple yet powerful exercise: write them up and

1. Write down the exact overt of commission or omission. 2. Then state explicitly the specifics regarding the action or inaction including the (a)time, (b)place, (c) the form (how things were arranged) and (d) the event itself.

Example:
"1. I hit a friend's car when backing out of my parking space at work and caused about five hundred dollars worth of damage to his car.

2. On the 30th of June 1987, when I was leaving work, I was backing out of my parking space and hit the back end of my friend Joe's car. There was no one else around and the parking lot as almost empty. I drove away without leaving a note or telling Joe, knowing that I caused about five hundred dollars damage to his car which he had to pay for."

3. Hand it to someone you trust who will simply read it, acknowledge that you did it but without comment, judgment or opinion about the content.

You'll be surprised at how freeing this simple act can be and how much more productive, prosperous you can be in the moments, days and months that follow! Now, would be a perfect time to start!

Adapted from "Integrity and Honesty" based on the works of L.Ron Hubbard.