"Triple Filter Test"

“He gossips habitually; he lacks the common wisdom to keep still that deadly enemy of man, his own tongue”
-- Mark Twain

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Socrates lived in ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC) and is known for his influence on Western philosophy. Socrates was committed to searching for the truth and that which was “good.” He was so devout in his quest for the truth, that he would not allow someone to give him information about another person without having passed his “triple filter test.”

The first of the three filters is Truth. Socrates would ask the person, “Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?" Even if the information was not known to be true, Socrates would cautiously proceed to the second filter

The second filter is Goodness. Socrates would ask, “Is what you are about to tell me about this person something good?" If the information was considered to be bad, Socrates would proceed to the third filter even more cautiously.

The third filter is Usefulness. Socrates would ask, “Is what you are about to tell me going to be useful to me?" If the information was bad news, not known to be true, and not useful to Socrates, he would refused to listen to it.

Talk about wisdom of the ages, the “Triple Filter Test” may be one of the best. Every parent should teach the “Triple filter Test” to their children. If we learned at an early age to search for the truth and only look for the good in others, just think of the type of world we would live in; no more gossip, no more rumors. Schools would see less bullying and happier children. Work places would be less negative and more productive. Neighborhoods would see less conflict and more cooperation.

How about you? When you talk about others could your information pass the “Triple Filter Test?” Do you make sure your information is factual? Is your information good news? Is your information useful? I urge you to put any message about someone else to the filter test.

Now that you are aware of the Triple filter test, let today be the day that you begin using the Socratic method of searching for the truth and the good in people. Remember, the most important filter is the first, the truth. If what you speak of is not known to be true, you should be hesitant to speak unless your message can pass the second filter; that which good. If your message is not known to be true and certainly is not good news; stop right there! If the wisdom of the “Triple Filter Test” is not enough, remember that the Good Book tells us that we shall not bear false witness against our neighbors.

Think of how much better the world would be, if parents and schools taught, reinforced, and modeled the simplistic, yet powerful “Triple Filter Test.”

Here is to getting an A+ on your test!

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Its your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!

Hustle & Bustle

"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."
-- Unknown

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One would not characterized the weeks before Christmas as peaceful; it is anything but. You often hear of, "The hustle and bustle of Christmas." There are cards to send, decorations to set up, gifts to buy, gifts to wrap, cookies to bake, the list goes on!

Why do so many find it difficult to find peace at Christmas? After all, Christmas is suppose to be a time of hope, peace and goodwill. Maybe it is because we tend to lose focus of the real reason for the season. Each year, the secular version of Christmas seems to become more important than the spiritual version. It seems the more secular Christmas becomes, the more we have to "hustle and bustle." The more we "hustle and bustle," the more anxiety we experience. Anxiety and peace are polar opposites, and it is impossible to experience peace when you anxious.

This year when the "hustle and bustle" of the seasons starts to take it toll on you, spend a little time with spiritual version of Christmas. The Great Teacher once said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." This Christmas if you seek peace amongst the noise, trouble and hard work of the season, put Christ back into Christmas. Remember, when the Christ child was born there was a multitude of heavenly hosts saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Peace!

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Its your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!

Someday: A Lesson on Living

“I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I live just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.”

- Diane Ackerman

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Everything in the world has a polar opposite: there cannot be light without darkness; there cannot be love without hatred; there cannot be peace with war; there cannot be life without death.

There cannot be life without death. From the day we took our first breath, we were born to die. But, before we can die, we must live. Are you truly living your life? I ask you, would you live your life differently, if you were told your life expectancy was less than six months? Would you stop complaining about people and things and start appreciating them? Would you do the things you always wanted to do but have never found the time? Would you mend a broken relationship? Would you truly live in the moment and not worry about yesterday or tomorrow?

I do not pose these questions in a morbid sense. To the contrary, I pose these questions to make you think about living your life. Life holds but one guarantee, and that guarantee is that someday we will die. The question is: when is someday? Because we cannot predict when someday will happen, doesn’t it make sense to live each day as if it were our last? You would forget about the past and not worry about the future. A grudge would no longer serve any purpose. You would not let urgent things crowd out the important things in your life. And, you would learn to appreciate every single moment for what it was worth.

I have heard far too many people say, “If only I can get through this day.” That is not living. That is reactive participation. If you lived each day like it was your last day, you certainly would not be saying, "If only I can get through this day." lnstead, you would be saying, “What can I get from this day.” I urge you to live each day, each moment to its fullest. In the song, Live Like We’re Dying, performed by Kris Allen and written by the Scripts , the lyricists tell us:

Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

You have no control over the length of your life, but you certainly have control over the width of your life – so begin living today and everyday as if it where you last. And, when your someday comes, your life will be a tribute to a lesson on living!

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It's your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD