Choosing to be True

Searching for a job in a depressed economy is, well, depressing.  But this week a prospective employer asked me to do something that just did not feel right.  I wrestled briefly with the ethics of what they were asking.  It was not anything immoral or illegal but it did involve a level of deception.'

In the end, the choice was a no-brainer for me.  I chose to be true to myself.  I chose to be authentic.  I have lived with enough deception to last a lifetime.

When I was in 9th grade I won several speech contests sponsored by the Rotary Club.  The speech was to focus on the Rotarian 4-Way Test, a moral code for personal and business decisions.  The four questions of the test are:

1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

I had forgotten the 4-Way Test until this morning when I was wrestling with the request from a potential employer.  By choosing to be true to myself--to follow my own moral compass--I am choosing myself and reconnecting with my gut.  I am honoring my own true self.  And, I got the job anyway!