What Do You Stand For?

As I read a newsletter in the beginning of the week it posed a very pointed question – what do you stand for?

I know what I stand for but I don’t often speak up about some of it because I don’t want to be seen as political or misunderstood. I have had a recurring thought most of the week which is never a coincidence. And that recurring thought was that if I say nothing how can I stand for something and if I stand for everything I still stand for nothing.

Here is what I know: I do stand for justice and freedom, I do want my children to have the same opportunities as I have had to make something out of nothing. But in order to do that sometimes I may have to speak up and stand for something. I may not be the most popular and I may not feel completely comfortable or I may choose to speak up to only those who can affect change in the area I feel needs changing.

I stand for peace. The world may be in chaos all around me but I have a choice. And I choose to put on the shoes of peace, peace is a choice each one of us has – we can have chaos, unknown, fear and uncertainty swirling around us but we can still choose to remain at peace.

I choose to be confident and that confidence is in knowing that there is only so much that I can control and that is OK – I will pray and trust for the rest.

I choose to speak up – again I may speak up in my own way which may be far quieter than someone else that people look to and say “boy she really brings it.”

I choose to have unwavering integrity. I choose always to conduct myself in a fair and honest manner wherever I am and whatever I am doing. If I win along the way great and if I don’t that’s OK too because I know that I have always handled myself with honor.

And most of all I stand for faith over fear. I choose to keep going even when there doesn’t seem to be a way. I stand for opportunity and risk/reward.

Can you look yourself in the mirror and name at least 3 things you would stand for no matter what? If not perhaps it is time to shed doubt, fear, self-sabotage or other emotions that are keeping you stuck.