Sincerity is a word that is often used without much thought about its meaning. Most individuals would describe themselves as sincere, but what does it really mean to be sincere?
Sincerity is defined as doing what is right with transparent motives. It is the virtue of one who speaks and acts truly about his or her own feelings, beliefs, thoughts and desires. Sincerity is a mix of seriousness and honesty. If you do things with sincerity, people will trust you. Sincerity, along with patience and compassion, is one of the qualities we all probably wish we had more of and wish other people had more of too. People who show sincerity are being genuine, kind and truthful. When someone acts with sincerity it means that their walk matches their talk and that both are coming from the heart. There is a wholeness about their attitude and actions that make everything seem to fit together. When we act with sincerity it shows that we have taken the needed time to develop sincerity in our heart. Just remember, sincerity is not saying everything you think, but meaning everything you say.

THE STORY OF THE DOG AND THE RABBIT
A dog spotted a rabbit on the hillside and pursued her for some distance. At one time the dog bit her with his teeth as if he would take her life and at another time he played with her, as if he was her friend. The rabbit said to him, “I wish you would act sincerely to me and show yourself in your true colors. If you are a friend, why do you bite me so hard? If you are my enemy, why do you play with me? No one can be a friend if you don’t know whether to trust or distrust him.
We have all known people who have acted like the dog in the story and it usually leaves us feeling very uncertain of the person’s character. Sincerity of feeling, intent and presentation touches the hearts of everyone. The best formula for sincerity is to just be yourself, rather than try to project something that you are not!
Do things out of the goodness of your heart and not for a reward or to get things from people. When you give without expecting the boomerang effect to occur, the giving becomes an act of sincerity and an expression of your genuine concern for and interest in others. Don’t try too hard and remember that sincerity is about immediacy, spontaneity, spur of the moment responses that well up from your genuine self.
A poem that gives us all a lot to think about…..

The Man in the Glass by Dale Wimbrow

When you get what you want in your struggle for wealth,
And the world makes you King for a day.
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn’t your Father or Mother or Wife,
Whose judgement you must pass.
The person whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He is the one to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear up to the end.
And you’ve passed your most difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats of the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.