Let me put that another way. Are you the YOU that you wish to be or someone else’s version! A societal construct manufactured by demographic opinions. Or a person lead by those who feel they “know best” about who and how you should be.
It seems that too many of us conform to a certain mindset so we can be accepted and thought well of. In fact I know very few who don’t experience this type of thinking, at some point or other in their lives.
Some actually live there, though, dwelling in misery. That is to say, they try so hard for acceptance by performing to another’s tune, they end up unhappy within themselves; because they are not being the person they truly want to be, the one on the inside.
And in the process are losing themselves, and everything that they might be, by trying to be something they are not. Meanwhile going through all of the “acceptable” motions on the outside.
You know who you are, too. I know I was there – for quite awhile. Trying very hard to please, so I would be accepted. It didn’t dawn on me until much later that all of the people I really admired, weretheir own person. And I enjoyed being around them, because they enjoyed being around themselves and were happy, just because. They felt good about themselves and felt very little need to conform to the dictates of others unless it was something they wanted for themselves also.
I began to experiment being me, on the outside, in small little steps, a little bit at a time, and the really astonishing thing for me was (and still is) the day I realized that those whom I had struggled, (so very hard) to get the approval of, now admired and respected me (and told me so).
Quite the lesson, because I was now doing what I wanted to do for myself and while I was pleased with their comments, it was no longer important. Being myself was what was important. And finally, I learned to say “no” when it was healthy for me to say no, and “yes” when it was healthy for me to say yes! My own person, a struggle but I made it.
So I ask again. Are you … really YOU? And if not, what’s stopping you? Try some little baby steps, venture out from the inside. You may find the climate quite to your liking (a happier one, too). I find I now like “the me that I am” very much and I think you should feel that way about you – too! It’s a great and liberating feeling!
~
Try, if for no other reason than for the person hidden inside, okay?
There are some words that when understood and utilized actually activate your life’s energy flow. A proven fact. They can fortify your immune system (so you’re healthier), strengthen your resolve of things and assist you in overcoming doubt and other obstacles in your life.
Love – Unconditional acceptance and understanding empathy for the human condition.
Faith or Belief – The pure feeling and revelation of our relationship to creation and the infinite.
Trust – Confidence, believing in and relying on the qualities of integrity and goodness.
Gratitude – A feeling, a humble emotion of sincere and heartfelt thankfulness.
Courage – Bravery, the quality of the mind enabling one to prepare for danger even through fear.
Sounds good doesn’t it! Well if you’re in a store that stocks those items to purchase, you can say I’ll take one of each, just put it on my bill!
If they came in the form of a pill, we’d pop the pills into our mouth in a heartbeat.
Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. There’s a little more effort on your part required. The good news is that all are readily accessible, you just need to change your mind on how you view yourself and your capabilities.
So how can you accomplish this?
The “you” who is convinced of what you can’t do, and your head full of all the reasons why.
You believe you can!
You change your ATTITUDE!
You wake up tomorrow and say “I CAN DO THIS” !
You go through each day regardless of what happens believing you can do it!
AND YOU WILL!
The only one stopping you is … you,
your fears, your anger and your guilt.
So there you go.
The antidote you need, yours for the doing!
MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Have a great week,
~ Penny
Have you entered this weeksLīgo Haībun Challenge,
its for all writers and poets, Click on link to enter.
When you think, are your thoughts busily reviewing the list of “to do’s” that aren’t done yet? Are you dwelling on things that have already happened or are happening around you now? Are you thinking “awake” or thinking “asleep”?
Our thoughts, become words, (whether stated or written) becoming actions. And more and and more of us today are thinking asleep with our actions. We go through life’s daily chores in an almost robotic type of modality where even our emotions are repetitious in nature.
We are thinking asleep. We are mostly in a response mode. We are stuck in a groove. Yes, most especially the “I have too many things to do, so I’m not sure what to do next” groove. The other popular groove that many are caught up in today is the “poor me, I have too many problems to deal with and other people don’t care” or “I’m in a strictly reactionary mode as it refers to me personally, everything else I relate to is at a distance, from a position of security.” Voicing concerns but staying uninvolved at a personal level, because that’s what’s Safe.
Well guess what? Wake up! Life is happening all around you.
When you think awake, you think a thing and then YOU ACT ON IT! Put it into affect. You stop spending time on what’s wrong with yourself and focus on what’s right. The world’s problems begin with you!
No more thinking on what your missing in life (with a myriad of excuses you give to yourself and others each day) because (here’s the biggy)
… YOU DETERMINE WHAT DIRECTION YOU’RE GOING TO HEAD IN. HOW YOU’RE GOING TO FEEL ABOUT THE DAY AND WHAT YOU CAN MAKE OF YOURSELF IN THE PROCESS. THAT’S YOU. IT IS PERSONAL BECAUSE YOU’RE THE ONE STANDING GUARD OVER YOUR LIFE, AND IF YOU AREN’T, WHY NOT?
You belong to you before anything else. You came into the world and breathed in life as a single entity and you’ll depart the same way. This is a simple truth. No one’s going to crawl in the coffin with you, but I guarantee you there are many out there more than happy to help you dig your own grave, but only if … YOU LET THEM.
The Sleeper must awaken! (always wanted to use that line)
Start by thinking awake. Look directly at what you’ve decided you haven’t been doing AND START DOING IT!
No, life isn’t safe, it’s filled with risks (going after most worthy things have risk involved.) No, life won’t suddenly become wonderful, but it will begin to head in the direction you want it to.
Life happens whether you involve yourself in it or not. You decide how much control events will have over you. YOU DO!
When you start thinking awake a whole new world of possibilities awaken. You become energized with renewed feelings of hope and anticipation.
And you’ll be living your life to it’s fullest, not regretting in bitterness or sorrow what you didn’t do, when you could have, because you were thinking asleep !
The crowd began to gather at dusk. On the far end of the city park. The local community had been doing this, once a week, for over a year now. Ever Friday evening, various individuals and families would show up, quietly holding lit candles to remind them of someone they had lost to inner city violence so widespread on the city streets today.
This evening was no different and as it became darker the crowd grew larger, each person carrying a lit candle. There was a small stage with a platform set up in the back. One by one they’d walk up to the stage, turn and face the crowd, reverently mention the name of his or her “lost” relative or friend, turn and place their candle on the platform with the other candles and then leave the stage to make room for the next person.
As the sky darkened overhead, the amber glow from the stage increased. Those in the large crowd still holding candles waited patiently for their turn, while the ones who had placed their candles on the platform stood nearby towards the back, heads bowed.
At the very edge of the crowd there appeared a single candle glow, much brighter than the others, and all those standing and waiting, turned to view this candle being held by a young girl, weaving very slowly between the people in the crowd. They began to part, clearing a pathway for her as she made her way, candle held in both hands, to the the front of the stage.
She was given a helping hand up onto the stage steps and then she walked to the center and turned to face the gathered crowd. She spoke not a word just lifted the candle high in front of her. An adult walked over to her and said, “Would you like to say who this candle is for my child?”
She nodded, still holding the candle strongly out in front of her. The candle glowed more brightly than ever. Softly but clearly she spoke.
“I live around the corner, in a small house. It is just my mother and myself. My mother works long hours so I spend a lot of time alone. When you started your candle light tribute a year ago I began to watch and I’d come and listen to each person speak of those they had lost. And then the other day I realized someone had been forgotten so I am here tonight for that one.”
She paused at this point, still looking out at the silent and spell bound audience. They, enchanted by this young girl standing there so solemn, her candle flickering slightly in the evening breeze.
The adult leaned over again and asked her, “And who might this candle be for my child?”
The little girl’s answer was quietly spoken yet heard all the way to the back of the gathering.
“I hold this candle for the one no one remembered. The one who had no one who cared. Who came and went alone in life. For this person then do I hold the candle.
So none be forgotten, this candle is for that one.”
~
Millions of children, in the United States alone runaway each year. Many are never found. Many many more millions of children around the planet are homeless and all too often also end up being alone. It is a sadness beyond belief that on our (civilized?) planet today so many children suffer and die needlessly and alone.
John Muir (1838 – 1914) John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir, 1938 - is a famous naturalist and author. During his life he became a well know advocate for the preservation of wilderness. His views on nature and his written words can serve as a remind to us of how freeing and uplifting being with nature can be. Today I share some of his words with you.
Written one hundred years ago,
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into the trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves – John Muir
“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found was really going in. – John Muir
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” John Muir
~
~
Thank you, enjoy your weekend, the closer to nature the better!
In most plants (such as the tree) the roots are the part of the plant that attaches it to the ground to convey nourishment to the plant so it can grow. Strong roots are essential for the well being of plant life.
Humans need roots too. Might I inquire as to the nature of the roots that human beings are utilizing right now?
Roots of ancestry are less and less important as cultures combine with others in the ever increasing migration of peoples to different countries and lands.
Roots of family ties have been pretty much pushed usunder by societal changes where individuals are grouped by ages, and employment as to where they will be, becoming separated from the nurturing of a rich, healthy family environment (of all ages, young, adult, elderly).
Roots from comradery within the workforce where people used to get a job or hire on for their career for most of their working years. This happens rarely now.
Roots from the community and organizations where change is constant and many organizations (including churches) are failing because of monetary considerations, and different values and interests by local individuals.
And as a result of all the above, more and more of us prefer to connect with one another via the instant connection of modern technology.
Politics – local, national, and international? Well, let’s not even go there, shall we? So what are we left with then!
Where are the roots to be found for humanity to come together, and grow on? And how can we find them?
We create our roots. Beginning at the heart of things. The heart of the human being and who we really are. Remembering that some things are of a natural order. No special studies or double blind testing needed to just “know” how you feel about yourself and those around you.
And we are at the beginning of awareness again. The hearts are gathering around the world. The roots are beginning to spread. We, many of us, are remembering. More time is needed, but it is happening.
In the meantime civilization goes on it’s way, not necessarily expanding humanities capabilities but running parallel with technology, nudging us, reminding us that this isn’t quite right! that at some point in time, we lost our way.
And it’s time to get our roots back again, so we can finally begin to realize our full potential in life as human beings! Past time, actually, but not too late!
Thank you for stopping by, have a wonderful Friday!
construct manufactured by demographic opinions. Or a person lead by those who feel they “know best” about who and how you should be. 
their own person. And I enjoyed being around them, because they enjoyed being around themselves and were happy, just because. They felt good about themselves and felt very little need to conform to the dictates of others unless it was something they wanted for themselves also.
