Three Dangerous (and Common) Traps to Avoid

Here are three dangerous (and common) traps we must be careful to avoid.

• Attractive Lies: Things that look good but aren’t good. 

• Undisciplined Passions: Things that feel good but aren’t good. 

• Misguided Ego: Things you think will make you look good but aren’t good.

These traps are common and easy to fall into. Why? Because we are attracted to things that look good; we are stimulated by things that feel good; and we desire things that we think will make us look good.

Avoiding these traps is no small challenge. It requires the discernment to see beyond emotional stimulation and recognize that not everything that feels good is good for you, and not everything that is good for you feels good. 

It also requires the discipline to make something other than “feel good” the reference point for what you do. In order to make good decisions you need good information. Sometimes your emotions give you bad information.

Here are some questions that will help boost your discernment and discipline. Keep in mind that answering these questions requires deep self-reflection. 

• What attractive lies have you embraced? 

• What undisciplined passions cause you to stray off-path? 

• What do you do that feels good but isn’t good for you?

• What do you avoid that is good for you but uncomfortable or difficult?

• What things do you do to boost your image and impress people, but it’s really just about your ego? 

Again, I am fully aware these are not easy questions to answer. However, if you have the courage to do the deep inner work of self-reflection, these questions are transformational. 

Do the work.