honesty: the name of the game

January 1st, 2019. The day everyone tries to lay out the whole rest of their year. People make goals and promises, only for them to be abandoned a month later for many various reasons. So what can we do to stop this toxic cycle of making & breaking goals?

I learned a lot from my 2018. There were a lot of big changes in my life, both good & bad. Some days I was elated and so in control, others I was completely devastated. Even my last day of 2018 didn't go at all exactly how I thought it would, and now I'm left sitting here, like all of you, thinking about what I can do to make it better.

The Keely from one year ago is not at all like the Keely today. She is fiercer and more secure in herself than she's ever been. And I believe I am this person today because of one thing I started to live by & consume into my daily life: honesty. I started being honest, with myself and with the people in my life. And honestly, it was a shock for a lot of people, myself included. Being honest requires you to be okay with saying things that people may not want to hear or agree with at all, but I believe it's better in the long run. Yes someone may be hurt or insulted for a moment, but I'd rather be hurt in that moment then learn later on I was lied to.

Lao Tzu puts it quite perfectly in this quote: "Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained."

You have to learn that not everyone will like you, but if you remain in your truth, you will eventually find people who value you, who respect you, and who will stay with you.

keely-shaye