“Two words have become very important to me.  They are ‘current reality’.  There is little value in spending energy worrying about what might be or should be.  Leaders assess what is and go from there.  Get on with it.”  Fred Smith, Sr.

We spend too much energy worrying about the way we think things should be, or might have been if…  Closely related to that, we waste a lot of time trying to figure out who is at fault.  Very little is ever gained by those activities.  In fact, they prevent us from doing the profitable work of dealing with current reality. 

On the other side of the coin is self-justification.  We spend a lot of time there, too, and it is equally useless.  One of the Sunday school classes spent some time last Sunday thinking about what happens to relationships when we justify ourselves.  We decided that self-justification never improves a relationship.  It only deteriorates them. 

OK, so if worrying and talking about what might have been, or should be, fixing blame, and self-justification are all a waste of time and energy, why do we continue to do them?  But, we do.  So, here are some suggestions that might improve our relationships and our own personal spiritual development. 

Since, focusing on what should be, what might have been, fixing blame and self-justification waste precious time, distract you from making progress, and drain relational energy, refuse to spend time on them when addressing problems.  Instead, intentionally examine the current reality and honestly admit where things stand at the moment.  Then, develop a plan to achieve something better in the future. 

Here’s what this might look like.  Let’s say that on a personal level, current reality is that you are not where you need to be financially.  Don’t waste time worrying about where you should be or could be if “x” hadn’t happened.  Don’t self-justify yourself or fix blame.  None of that will add a dime to your bank account or reduce your debt.  Determine the current state of your finances.  Honestly admit how much debt, savings, bills, etc. you have.  Identify everything that is contributing to the problem.  Then, develop a plan to achieve a better future and implement it.  That will change your financial picture. 

The same approach works on a spiritual level, too.  If you are not where you should be spiritually, follow the steps above.  The same approach works when used in marriages, families, boards, businesses – you get the picture.