what a tangled web we weave

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”

—Sir Walter Scott, from the 1808 poem Marmion

 

Spiderweb Image from Flickr

Image from Flickr by 55Laney69

Watching the media circus around the recent presidential election, I noticed an increase in fact-checking news segments.

Outright lies, deceit, half truths and, of course, gross exaggerations had many of us tangled up emotionally, stressed out, and completely disgusted.

Perhaps you are troubled by various levels of deceit in your personal or professional worlds. How do you handle these matters? How do you untangle the knots, or better yet, never tie them in the first place?

EXERCISE:

Where would more honesty, integrity, and good old-fashioned truth-telling and character set you free from the tangled webs many weave?

“In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story.”

“In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story.”

-Walter Cronkite, anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years

Photo from Flicrk by NASAHQPhoto

Photo from Flickr by NASAHQPhoto

Perhaps no television news anchor has ever or will ever be respected and trusted as much as Walter Cronkite. Millions of people watched him each evening without fail, knowing his reports of the news would be objective, balanced, and trustworthy. As an inquisitive and thorough reporter, he knew there were always numerous views and perspectives on every topic, and successfully rooted out and communicated the truth — with candor and his unique brand of professionalism and humanity.

EXERCISE

How can you demonstrate your openness and receptivity to the many sides of the stories you hear professionally and personally, to do an even better job of seeking and discovering the truth you desire?