A Conscious Sleep

There are times in our lives where we truly believe the end justifies the means. There are also times we realize it does not. This is the same for families, communities, institutions, corporations, and universities. Sometimes it feels so perfect to go down a certain path to get whatever it is we think we need or deserve. Other times, we know almost immediately that we misled ourselves – that the price paid by others was too high.

But here’s the thing. You are not alone. This Machiavellian approach has been used since the beginning of time and will most likely continue to be a strategy utilized far into the future. In fact, it is almost certain that each of us has taken on the facade

of Tony Soprano or Shakespeare’s Macbeth at least one time in our lives. Where we were manipulative, calculating, possibly immoral or maybe even cruel in order to get what we wanted. Welcome to the human race.

And, yet, every day we get to decide whether to let our conscious fall asleep on the job or not. Every day we get to choose whether to exploit or partner with another. Whether to lean into cruelty or compassion. Whether to be valueless or principled in character.

You get to decide how you will approach today.