Friday 23 August 2013


Discretion,' they say, 'is the better part of valour'. It is enough to make you stop and wonder what, in that case, is the worst part of it? There are, of course, times when it is wiser for us all to keep our opinions to ourselves. It may be appropriate, under some circumstances, to withhold information that might provoke an unwarranted response. But surely, in most situations, the braver, better thing to do, is put cards on tables and clearly communicate truths. Make that your highest priority, wherever possible.
We live in a world of apps and add-ons, monitors and measuring devices. We can detect and determine almost any information. Machines use complicated algorithms to give us accurate readings. So why don't we all wear bands around our foreheads transmitting, in bright LEDs, up-to-date information about our mood and mindset? Why must we guess if someone is likeable or trustworthy? We are already equipped with the perfect instrument to establish this. Trust your intuition this weekend; it is really all you need.
We all seek security. Yet none of us want to feel overly restricted or restrained. Ironically, when we strive too hard to find only the safest options, we effectively imprison ourselves in a cell of our own creation. Who then can set us free? Nobody can negotiate with our jailer, for there is no such third party in the equation. The big question you face this weekend, is why do you now seemingly face so many limitations? And how are you going to find the courage to liberate yourself from these,this is possible.
It's not what you do, it's the way that you do it.' That's what we hear said. It must be based on an element of truth. A further popular phrase along similar lines insists that, 'It's not what you've got, it's the way that you use it.' And that makes sense too. But isn't all that a little harsh on those who have been born blessed with such talents and advantages that they hardly need do anything other than to proudly parade their assets. Not at all! You now have the power to make a lot from a little.
Many years ago, Gene Rodenberry created the original Star trek TV series and, in the process, he introduced a new idea to the popular public imagination. How would it be if whenever we found ourselves in an awkward or uncomfortable situation, we could just unclip a communicator from our belt, whisper the magic words, 'beam me up, Scotty' and find ourselves spirited away to a place of safety. The forces which ride to your rescue this weekend, may not appear quite so dramatically, but they are on their way.
If you feel that you face a situation in which roads are blocked and options are prohibited, it may be time to look more closely at why those obstacles exist and whether it might be permissible to alter some of these. What degree of discretion are you entitled to use? Don't your circumstances justify an extraordinary approach? Aren't there loopholes in a law that it may now be considered acceptable to exploit? You may reach the conclusion that no exceptions are appropriate. But it is also entirely possible that you may not!
When we eat, do we really taste every mouthful? Most of our inner assessment takes place during the first morsel. Our palates then tell us what to expect - and, unless something in the meal surprises us, we pay ever less attention. Many of our other experiences are shaped by an initial impression. Once formed, it is rarely questioned. One awkward side-effect of this is that it can sometimes cause us to ignore important, potentially crucial, detail. Events this weekend, alert you to a vital discovery within a seemingly familiar situation.

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