“There is a difference between negative information and negative communication.” _Henry Cloud, The One-Life Solution: Reclaim Your Personal Life While Achieving Greater Professional Success, page 203

The other day I was thinking about a road trip I took back in my college days.  I was with my girlfriend at the time and I thought I was so cool, that is until we took a “pit stop” and I went into the men’s room and happened to look at my reflection in the mirror.  Much to my horror there was a huge “ripe” pimple right between my eyebrows!  (How do those things appear so fast!?)  No wonder my girlfriend had suggested we take a pit stop. 

My “coolness” was really nothing but an illusion.  The truth was I was not cool but rather my girlfriend was very thoughtful and had a strong stomach. 

I’ve never forgotten that event—it changed my life.  That was the day I learned to treasure those people in my life who cares enough to tell me the truth—even if it is not something I particularly wanted to hear. 

Since that day, I have had to face issues far bigger than a pimple the size of Connecticut growing on my forehead.  I haven’t always handled them as well as I would have liked, but one thing is certain, having people who loved me enough to tell me the truth sure helped me to do a whole lot better than if I had been living in a fantasy world that insisted on believing something that was not true. 

• The ONE THING for today: The truth is your friend; insist on it, even if it is not something you particularly want to hear. 

 Proverbs 12:1 (MSG)

If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it—
how shortsighted to refuse correction!

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