Choose a Better Life

I’m sure you are familiar with the phrase, “It’s easier to get forgiveness than permission.”  People often use this as justification to take action before clearing that action with the people directly involved.  I know I have.  But sometimes it is just not ethical to do so.

Our family dealt with this dilemma over the past week.  Our youngest daughter desperately desired a specific outcome to a situation.  She had been striving for something for several years and we found ourselves in a place of temptation.  (I say “we” because as her parents my husband and I would be participating in this event.)

The way the situation was unfolding our daughter would be able to get half of what she wanted.  However, with a little bit of manipulation on our part, we could make the outcome what our daughter really desired.  After the fact we would have to address the third party involved and share what we did – which could not be undone – hoping for forgiveness because we did not have permission.

Although the manipulation was a temptation, I knew in my heart it was not the right thing to do.  Knowing my daughter would be deeply disappointed I told her we needed to stick to the original plan.  I explained that moving ahead without permission would be wrong and that it could cause the third party additional hurt and possibly a deep rift in the relationship.

Even though my daughter was not completely “on board” with the decision I felt confident that the right one had been made.  As a result, we could walk away from the situation with our heads held high knowing we had overcome the temptation to be manipulative.

Choose a Better Life by choosing to do what is right, not necessarily what is desired or easy.