Have you heard any of these token phrases lately?
Please stay on the line, because your call is important to us.
Have a nice day.
I'm here for you 24/7.
It's not you. It's me.
How are you?
How may I help you?
It's a good thing.
At the end of the day...........
Let's do lunch.
It's been a pleasure............
Winning isn't everything.
In the grand scheme of things...........
It's time for change........
Your future is NOW
How now brown cow....?
I'm living in the moment.
What would Jesus do?
Change is a good thing.
A darn good start.
Ride that wave!
Not like there's anything wrong with that. It's perfectly natural.
I'll do anything for you.
Have your people call my people.
Trust me.
Don't worry.
I'm there for you.
Yadda, yadda, yadda...............
Don't go changing to try and please me................
You're perfect for this company.
I'll be in touch................
I love you just the way you are.
And your point is???
No wonder we're a bunch of skeptics! Cliches, slogans, dismissive sayings, throw away lines.....
we're engulfed by them. We're choking on those disrespectful tokens of trash. Has sincerity been tossed aside with manners? How do you know when someone is being sincere? What is it in their actions and/or tone of voice that resonate a purity of regard? When do you know that someone means what they say? It seems like it is getting more and more difficult to be able to trust your own instincts when you finally meet someone who genuinely cares. Is sincerity a parody? Is it really just bullshit?
It's true that we're surrounded by phonies who are only looking out for themselves. The people who won't look you in the eye, who can only offer you a limp handshake, who would sell their souls. But, I still believe that there are genuine individuals who do care, and who don't have an ulterior motive. Where are they, you ask? Sometimes in places you least expect.
How do you know when you have encountered someone sincere?
You gotta be awake! If you're fast asleep, going through the motions, you're never going to be able to distinguish between the phonies and the one's who care. Sincerity is shown through actions not words. Look for it. Sometimes, you may get it wrong............there are lots of clever manipulators out there. Stay awake...........don't let a manipulator force you to put your head down and not believe in the goodness of others.
You have to learn to trust again. This takes time, and will only happen if you can find the strength to be just a little bit open to a positive connection. Maybe you are able to trust others. Maybe this comes natural to you. But maybe, like most who have been burned too many times, you don't trust anymore; that your belief in others has been polluted by the "nasties." Sincerity is shown through unspoken emotions, like when someone allows you to look into their eyes. It's shown by the way they shake your hand, by the confidence that they display when they are listening to you.
You have to continue to live your own honest, respectful life and to be true to yourself. People respond to this. Sad but true, most people are sound asleep, sludging through their lives oblivious to the world around them. They won't be affected by your genuine candidness. But, the ones who are awake - the ones who are seeking truth and honesty, they'll respond. They will recognize a kindred spirit who is aware that manners and caring for others still matter, and they will warmly acknowledge you.
Who knows, maybe even a Walmart Greeter is sincere. Gotta be open to the possibility.....
Hmmmm..........Don't think I'm there yet.
There's nothing so delightful as being aware. Would you rather live in
darkness? Would you rather act and not be aware of your actions, talk and
not be aware of your words? Would you rather listen to people and not be
aware of what you're hearing, or see things and not be aware of what you're
looking at? the great Socrates said, "The unaware life is not worth living."
That's a self-evident truth.
Most people don't live aware lives. They live mechanical lives, mechanical
thoughts--generally somebody else's--mechanical emotions, mechanical
actions, mechanical reactions. Anthony de Mello.
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