Positive Reflections - Being Mindful of Who You Represent

For many of us our routine interactions with each other are not given much thought. We assume that how we conduct ourselves in our private and personal lives is a reflection of the actions, behaviors, and decisions that we make under our own volition. After all, we are the ones exhibiting the behavior and engaging in the conduct, so who else could our actions reflect upon?

The answer is more people than you probably acknowledge.

From the time that children can interact with others, they represent their parents. Their attitudes, mannerisms, and parlance are all a representation of the parenting that they've received, or in some cases, have not received.

This does not change as people get older. From the contentious child that you see "acting-up" in the grocery store, to the politician who engages in extramarital affairs, our actions link us to our mothers, fathers, spouses, siblings, and children. It also extends to teachers, mentors, supervisors, managers, and leaders.

Because much of our behavior is driven by the risk of punishment and the promise of reward, one would think that the various forms of social punishment such as embarrassment, shame, guilt, and general public ridicule would be enough to deter people from engaging in many of the sordid behaviors that they are known to do.

But that's not the case. All we have to do is to watch the news for 5 minutes, flip through the reality tv shows of the moment, get on MySpace, or just walk down the street to find evidence of this. Decorum-which is defined as propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance-appears to be a thing of the past.

As much of an old-school notion as it may seem, and despite the selfish nature of those who act with recklessness or even ignorance, a teacher's actions reflect on his school. A politician's actions reflect on his community. An executive's actions reflect on his company. A husband's actions reflect on his wife. A wife's actions reflect on her husband. No matter who you are your actions reflect on somebody.

As a teenager I engaged in some juvenile behaviors like all children do. What I remember most vividly about those activities was the resulting disappointment and pain it caused my mother. Watching her experience the agony of my indiscretions was greater than any punishment I could have received. I became painfully aware of how one's actions reflect on others-especially those you care about, and those who care about you.

While growing up, in my mind, my mother provided me with the best of everything: food, clothing, shelter, values, direction, education, opportunities, support, and love. Whenever I get compliments I usually say, "Thanks, I'll pass that on to my mother." If I don't say it, I'm thinking it because my mother is who I represent as I navigate my way through the world and my relationships with other people.

So at the end of the day, the question arises: Who do you represent? Who would be proud of how you conducted yourself today? Who would be disappointed in your actions? Who did you positively, or negatively reflect upon?

The answers may surprise you...they may also help to guide you.