do right or be right?

Is it better to BE right or to DO what is right?

I love to be right.
No I mean I REALLY love to be right.
And I’m married to a man who loves to be right.
I parent kids who love to be right.
I was raised in a family where EVERYONE loves to be right.

I’m an expert on being right. Or at least needing to be right.

But every once in awhile something comes up and sparks the question is it better to actually be right or to do what is right because really-there is a difference.

Being right is insisting you’re right, fighting to the death, not listening, screaming on Facebook in person or by text that by golly I AM RIGHT and YOU ARE WRONG to people who probably won’t even hear you. I’ve been here all too often-being SO “right” that the only space the other person can find is to defend themselves and close their ears. It’s a constant theme right now to BE right in the world.

That sounds like a recipe for success, no?
(Where is that sarcasm font when you need it)

So what does it look like to care less about BEING right and more about DOING what is right? DOING what is right is so much harder.

Doing what is right often means closing your mouth, opening your ears and softening your heart. It’s realizing that it’s ok not to fight back with your spouse when they’ve had a bad day and pick a silly argument. It’s scrolling past the Facebook post you don’t like. Its loving people even if you don’t understand them. It’s trying to understand or hear the other side. Doing right means responding when necessary with a listening heart rather than reacting with the urge to shout your rightness (that’s a word, right?). Doing what is right is going about your path, following your right and living the way you see fit while allowing others the same grace.

“DOING right is often much quieter than BEING right.”

Today I will focus on DOING the right thing rather than a desire to BE right.
Today I will be grateful for ALL the people in my life and love them however I can.
Today I will let things go that I feel are wrong because right is subjective anyway.

Just for today I will try to DO what is right rather than worry if YOU understand exactly how right I am.

That sounds like a peaceful day to me, don’t you think?