Independence: Shine a light
America’s independence is what makes it great – and many have referred to us as “a city on a hill.”
On a personal level, how we live with our independence sets the stage for how others see us, and it can inspire them to live a life that matters too.
No one is perfect, and it’s important to know that no one is really expecting you to be. (If they are – that’s THEIR problem, not yours.) But how we live our lives does matter. What people think of us really does matter. If people see you as a troublemaker, lazy, or dishonest – it will affect your job.
I had a boss who thought I was great. He ran into a former boss at a party. The former boss told the new boss that I was lazy. From that day on – the new boss saw me as lazy.
Whether I was lazy or not – what matters is the perception – and while I think part of independence is living a life that can’t be derailed by the critics – the other part of that balance is recognizing that your freedom isn’t so that you can slack off, lie, or do whatever you want. These things are dangerous to freedom.
To be independent, you also need to be independently moral. Don’t be a good person just because everyone else wants you to be. Don’t be a good person so you can get to heaven someday (and that’s now how that works, by the way) Rather – be a good person because that’s who you ARE.
