Who Are You Really Hurting?

In 1971 the Undisputed Truth recorded Smiling Faces Sometimes. The song was originally recorded by the Temptations. The song reached as high as number three on Billboard's Hot 100. A year later, The O'Jays recorded Backstabbers. Ironically, the song also reached as high as number three on Billboard's Hot 100.

In Backstabbers, the lyrics state:

What they do!
They smile in your face
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)

In Smiling Faces Sometimes, the lyrics state:

Smiling faces, sometimes
They don't tell the truth
Smiling faces, smiling faces
Tell lies and I got proof

The songs tell us of the reality of backstabbing. Backstabbers make it a point to satisfy their ego at the expense of others. Outwardly, they may appear friendly. However, because of a strong need to satisfy their ego, they go out of their way to satisfy their needs at the expense of others.

How about you? Are you guilty of being a backstabber? Do you talk about others behind their back? If you do, your doing more harm to yourself than the person your talking about. Think about the reasons that people talk negatively about others: they're jealous, they're vengeful, they feel inferior or they're frustrated, just to name a few. I don't know about you, but, I see nothing good associated with the words: jealous, vengeful, inferior and frustrated. These words describe negative energy. If your making disparaging comments about others, your choosing to think in a negative mindset. You don't have to think negatively about another person, let alone say something negative about someone. Your thoughts and words are yours and yours alone. Negative thinking produces negative results; plain and simple! The more negative you think, the more negative you become.

Age old wisdom tells us, "If you can't say anything good about somebody don't say anything at all." Practicing this wisdom will help prevent you from engaging in backstabbing. Remember that since a backstabber talks behind someones back, the person being talked about is unaware of it. Hence, they're actually unaffected by the backstabbers negativity. The backstabber, however, is affected. When a backstabber is tearing someone else apart, he/she is actually tearing himself/herself apart by breeding more negativity in the form jealousy, vengeance, feelings of inferiority and frustration.

No good comes from talking behind someones back. The following is the best advice I have ever heard when it comes to preventing backstabbing: "If your going to talk about somebody, speak as if they are present in the conversation."

If you're in the habit of backstabbing, remember the knife's greatest damage is not inflicted upon the intended subject; the knife greatest damage is inflicted upon you as it perpetuates negative energy and weakens your character.

Today, eliminate the negativity in your life and seek to look for the good in all people and things. For if you do, you'll soon find out that you feel better about yourself, others and the world you live in.

It's your life; live it, love it & celebrate it!
MJD