Sometimes in order to shine you have to NOT do one thing, so you can... do something else.

Your shine quotient is only as good as your ability to live the principles of shine - regardless of whether they are the Ten Principles outlined in our Shine Manifesto or some other version you have developed for yourself.

Yesterday's post was abbreviated, so I could use the time saved to complete a task that has been weighing heavily on my mind.  Today I feel a little more credible, a little more congruent, and a little closer to having my shine back.

Since about March 1, I have woken up each morning feeling heavy-hearted about long overdue packages that I never sent to entitled readers.

• It doesn't matter that I wake up every morning and, almost without fail, make a post to our website.
• It doesn't matter that my boys go off to school in ironed clothes, brushed teeth, full tummy's, and carrying well-balanced lunches.
• It doesn't matter that, every chance I get, I try to bring out the best in others by talking to them about utilizing their strengths.
• It doesn't matter that I give up a week every year to help young people through an intensive week-long institute designed to help them become better leaders; or that I am a member of Rotary; or that we've started the Yellow Envelope Project.
• It doesn't matter that I bake cookies for friends or occasionally purchase someone a thoughtful treat.

No amount of good deeds, generous acts, rationalization, or avoidance could drown out the feelings of guilt and irresponsibility for not making good on my word.  Gentle reminders and prompts from all-too-patient readers have only added to my embarrassment, as I have been haunted by the idea that people who really shine, don't need reminders to walk their talk.

After days - turned weeks - turned months of convincing myself that eventually I would find extra time to package up the growing number of items, I finally did something about it.  I cashed in the time normally spent working on my blog post to package up the long overdue boxes.

And it felt great.

I'm pretty sure it is hard to shine at all facets of our life, all the time.  Maybe that is why Shine Principle #9, Be Accountable, is so important.  

Shine Principle #9 is your inner voice.  It's the voice that catches you in the act of doing something not in alignment with your values or your character and, if you are lucky, it nudges you.  After all, it is easy to rationalize why we didn't follow through on this, or aren't better about that, or aren't more patient with "x," or less critical of "y."  Shine Principle #9 reminds you that you are better than your most award winning excuse.

Mailing 15 packages yesterday allowed me to wake up feeling like I really shined - not like, "I kind-of-shine-but-only-until-my-cover-is-blown."

Join me.  Free yourself of an obligation that has been weighing heavy on your heart or mind and making you feel like you don't really shine.  What is something you can forgo doing this week, so that you can be accountable to your inner voice?  And, if you feel like it, visit us in the Community Forum, labeled Today's Post and share it with the rest of us.  It will be cathartic.

Shining off until tomorrow...