Being True to You
by Leslie Sann
When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life.
~ Greg Anderson
Life is a journey, a process, NOT an event. It is an art, a creative endeavor. There is no wrong way to do it. There is no right way to do it. We do it the way it works for us. The important thing is to learn to discern what it is that works for YOU, because each one of us is different.
Every human being has a unique DNA coding. There is not another person on the planet that has the same fingerprints as you do, or the same footprints or lip prints or voice that you do. You are totally unique. Therefore your experience of life is unique. You’re the one that gets to decide what kind of life will fulfill you. Are you up for the challenge? Of course you are!
Taking conscious control of your life’s direction isn’t easy. There is so much outside influence. We are continuously bombarded with images, thoughts and programming telling us what to wear, how to think, who we should be. Self-help books, social media, motivational speakers, schools, media hype, religious organizations, all attempt to shape our thinking and tell us who and how to be. But remember, none of those is an inner yearning, but, in reality, an outer imposition.
It’s important to stop and consider, from your own heart, what fulfills you. It’s OK to “think BIG,” but remember BIG is relative. Many people think they have to have BIG goals in order to live a significant life. Yet what is BIG?
One person may find tremendous value from growing a garden, and another person could look at that and think, “That is so boring, what I want is to learn how to fly planes and be an acrobatic pilot.” Someone else may want to teach children and another may want to create a lot of money. Who is to say one person is more fulfilled than the other. What is true is that each is doing what feeds them. That is what is essential.
I often coach clients about the value of coming present with where they are in their lives, and in learning to honor the essence of who they are. Living our life in a way that brings enjoyment and fulfillment is the ‘right’ way for us. It doesn’t really matter what we do. It matters how we do it.
When we create our own fulfillment, we can give in to the world (give in to the world — not take from the world) the essence of our enjoyment and our satisfaction. When this happens, the world becomes a richer, more beautiful place to live.
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING:
When working on uncovering what it is you really want to create in your life, it is sometimes helpful to look at your immediate circumstances, what you are involved in on a day to day basis.
Observe your life. Notice where you see your time and energy and ask yourself “is this how I’d really like my life to be in this area?”
Become aware of how you feel about each endeavor. You may even choose to assign yourself a score where “0” is “no fulfillment or satisfaction” (a.k.a. lousy) and 10 is “completely fulfilled.”
(Note: 10 does not mean it cannot be improved or that it will not require continuing attention to maintain this level of satisfaction, it means that, for the moment, you are feeling complete.)
If any area is less than a 10, ask yourself, “Hmmmmm, what would a 10 be for me?” and then write it down.
Let’s say, in the area of recreation, you are at a 7. Now ask yourself, what would it take to get me to an 8. (The key here is taking one step at a time on our way to a 10 . If you know another way to do it, let me know.)
Now you have a game plan. Next stop — an 8. Incorporate those actions into your life in easy and graceful ways, until you find yourself at an 8, at which time you can figure out what it will take to get to 9!
Blessings,
