Are we living a life that reflects the
authentic nature of our true spiritual being,
which is love, peace,
creative power, wisdom, beauty, joy, and light?
Or are we living a life that
authentically reflects false ideas
about who we are, who we are
expected to be?
Do we live via our acceptance of other people's
opinions, rules and expectations of
who we should be, how we
should act, the work we should be doing, the lives we
should be living?
We all are on a spiritual journey from
the day we are born; but most people are not aware of it. Most
people are living life in a dream state, completely unaware of their
purpose for being in this human experience. I awakened in my spiritual journey fourteen years ago. I woke up to the
realization that my (our) purpose is to re-member the Truth and
Essence of who I am (we are) as a child(ren) of God. I re-membered
that my (our) mission in this human experience is to reconnect with
that Truth and Essence through the process of healing consciousness.
Consciousness means becoming astutely aware of how we live under
false pretenses. We live these lies we learned from the influential
people in our lives (parents, family, significant others, teachers,
etc.), personal experiences, society, media, religion, culture, and
from our own incredibly convincing negative self-talk.
What do you believe about yourself?
For decades, I believed I was not worthy of being heard, and that my
feelings did not count. I believed that to be loved, I needed a
man's validation, beginning with my father, then every boyfriend
thereafter. I sought external approval from everyone in my life,
because without it I was unwanted and unlovable. I believed that God
was “out there” somewhere watching my every move, ready to punish
me if I displeased Him. I believed I was fat even when I wore a size
8, and that food was my only reliable comfort and friend. I believed
I was incomplete, and looked to everything outside of me to fill that
void.
Ever lose something only to realize it
was never really lost, but right under your nose the whole time?
Little did I know I was never lost, but just looking in all the wrong
places to be found!
When we understand that we have
adopted, and accordingly lived up to other people's perceptions,
ideas, and beliefs as our own, we realize we are not who we think we are!
This realization becomes extremely unsettling and uncomfortable.
Suddenly, we face a life-changing choice.
Do we step out of our comfort zone
and explore who we really are?
Or do we keep chugging along feeling
unsatisfied and exhausted
from living up to the false pretenses that
others project onto us?
The first choice requires change, and
leads to “oh shit” moments of emotional discomfort and purging.
Initially uncomfortable, we soon move into the liberation of the
immense burdens we carry in the way of guilt, shame, anger,
resentment, and grudges. In releasing all the emotional baggage, we
feel exposed as the facades of victim, persecutor and/or martyr crack
under the healing process. We become keenly aware of how we have
given our personal power away to so many people. In this effort
towards authenticity, we wrap ourselves with self-love, compassion
and forgiveness. Once stripped of all our baggage, we are freed to
create the lives that we quietly desire, filled with love, joy, abundance,
and peace.
The second choice is easier, more
comfortable than change. It keeps us chained to life as we know it,
cozy in our cloaks of victim, persecutor, and/or martyr. We remain
bogged down, exhausted and drained by the guilt, shame, anger,
resentment and grudges. We know what to expect, taking comfort in
the belief that the world and life itself works against us. We
continue to allow our lives to be run by circumstances, experiences,
and events. We steadily move forward against strong winds pushing us
back, anchoring us deeper in our belief that we never get ahead in
life. We dutifully bear the cross of our emotional baggage, feeling
burdened, down-trodden in our lives filled with drama, upheaval, and
energy draining chaos.
If you had to choose, which would be
more appealing?
When I chose to liberate myself of
false pretenses, I willingly conducted a mental inventory of what I
thought and believed about myself and everything; and how these
showed up through my life's choices, behaviors and actions. Today, I
love, respect and believe in myself, and now create healthier love
relationships. I laugh with abandon, cry without shame, and I
confidently express my feelings without fear of another's
disapproval. I validate myself, and believe I offer great value in
this world. I know God is ever present within me, guiding me and
operating through me as love. I experience human moments and slip
now and again; but the difference from ten years ago is that today, I
am centered in knowing the Truth and Essence of who I am. When I
stumble, I get up, regroup, and I move ahead centered in my authentic
self, making new choices, changes that reflect the Truth of who I am.
I long ago retired the stick I used to beat myself up.
Living authentically is a choice. It
takes a great deal of courage to look at our personal stuff, to
inventory unproductive belief systems, thoughts, habits, and choices.
Even more courageous is the decision to say “I want something
different,” and to step into changing how we think, choose and show
up in our life. In doing so, we strip ourselves of the false
pretenses, and don the Emperor's new clothes to reveal the beautiful
authenticity of our Essence to the world. You discover who you truly
are, your own personal truth, and embark on a new way of being,
living, and showing up in your life.
Are you ready to live a fabulous life
of authenticity?
Author's Note: If you are interested in discovering how you may living life under false pretenses, and how to step more fully into your authentic life, you're invited to attend a FREE information session called Infinite Possibilities on Friday evening, August 30, from 6 - 8 p.m. in Owensboro, KY. For more information and/or to reserve your seat, please contact Carolyn at journeywisdomblog@gmail.com.
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