Do you really practice what you preach?
By rosedust82
@rosedust82 (2066)
Philippines
August 13, 2008 4:55am CST
This has been one of the questions that have been floating in my mind lately. We teach children not to do this and not to do that. We also teach them what they should do... but really, my question boils down to this: do you really practice what you preach? I asked this because I often see parents telling kids "not to shout or be rude" but I see a lot doing the exact same thing. It seems pretty sad that a lot of people cannot stand by with what they say. Just wondering if you try to put a conscious effort in practicing what you say. Hmmm.... 
1 person likes this
6 responses
@tapnaroy12 (875)
• India
13 Aug 08
Hi rosedust82. Congratulation for starting a good topic.
My answer is that it depends on what i'm preaching. If i preach my teenager not to read an adult book, honestly, I don't find any reason for myself not to read an adult book. Similiar situations are there which cases i say 'no' but don't feel applicable to me.
The specific thing you mentioned like rudeness. Well its again depends on situations. I teach kids not to be rude. And in my life I try to implement it. But if someone take a chance to be offensive with me for my no fault and if he fails to go for a logical discussion, i may be rude if i feel violated. And normally such a situation doesn't arise before a kid.
My purpose is to say that I do preach and apply as much as logically neccessary. I just don't implement all the things I preach blindly in my daily life.
2 people like this
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
14 Aug 08
Point taken. There are some things that we teach that are not applicable to adults. And in instances like those, I would explain to my child why I can do such things. Same thing with being rude... Although I rarely am that way, the times that I am, it's usually because I feel that whatever was said or done was really unjust. So yes... I would have to agree with you on this aspect. thanks for sharing. 
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
13 Aug 08
Basically I think all most of us can do with this is to try.
We all can talk more than act and it is truly difficult to practice everything we preach.
Besides, there are things we do that we want our children to avoid, isn't there ?
So, we simply try.
@zmj176800 (66)
• China
14 Aug 08
As is said, parents are the first teacher of their children. Though I am not a parent yet, I do feel that my parents go against what they told me to do. I really wanna say that it is definitely important to practice what parents preach. HOWEVER, it is sometimes a little bit difficult.
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
13 Aug 08
yeah i do. when i believe about something but don't practice i don't preach it. i just stay quiet. cause i really don't want others say that i keep on saying things that i really don't do myself. so i just tell them which i know i myself practice. if i talk about honesty but i don't do it, it is really bad. so mostly i just talk about things that i can really do and i can maintain to do.
2 people like this
@valeria1 (2721)
• United States
13 Aug 08
I have a saying that is criminal accuse others of what they are doing, and I see that over and over, so what I really try to do most of the time, because I fail sometimes is whatever I ask another to experience I have to be able to experience myself.
1 person likes this
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
14 Aug 08
Very true... It should be something that you yourself are experiencing.
