Being and Doing

I just read this really wonderful talk from April General Conference on being and doing. The speaker said that we should not confuse an action with who we are. So, for example, I tell a lie. The lie is an action. What if I then go about calling myself a liar? A liar is a state of being - something I am. But is telling a lie enough to make me a liar? Someone who is dishonest always? I don't think so.

And yet I do label myself with words like "lazy" or "uncommitted." If I really think about it, those words are not who I am. Certainly sometimes I don't do the work I need to, or I can't make up my mind. But those words don't define who I am. Laziness doesn't beget a law degree - nor does uncommitted. Of course, there is the temptation to label others as well...based solely on one incident or action.

So for me, the take-away is this. Actions do matter. But I need to be more careful about the way I talk to myself about who I am. If I do something that I know I shouldn't, I need to be careful that I don't then label myself based on that one action but instead make a commitment to do better. Conversely, I do need to notice patterns of behavior that are consistent - either good habits or bad habits. Those things I need to watch. Those things I need to either foster or discourage.