The single most important key to living a happy and healthy life is our ability to be dedicated to the truth at all costs. This may seem like a simple thing to do but the reality can be very different.
Why? Being honest with ourselves about how we feel and what we want may not be what we were brought believing we should do. We may have put our own thoughts and feelings to one side to fit in with what other people expected of us. Perhaps this is what we are still doing to this day.
We will know that we are not following our heart whenever we are doing something does not feel right for us. That knowing feeling in the pit of your stomach!
"Every time I've done something that doesn't feel right, it's ended up not being right." Mario Cuomo
But what do the majority of people do when they have that dreaded feeling? They carry on regardless, continuing to please others or doing what others expect of them! The thoughts and feelings do not tend to go away so we will find a way to manage them.
We will find a way to suppress the feelings. Some people will give their power away by taking on the belief that they are not in control of how they are feeling. That there is some unexplainable reason why they feel the way they do and the only answer is to take anti-depressant medication.
This is not the only way that we block these emotions! Some people will rely on food or alcohol to get them through the day. Others might appear more "together" but really fill their time so much so that they are never really alone with themselves. They never have to listen to what their mind, body and spirit is communicating a daily basis. We all have our way of avoiding the truth.
In the past I would keep myself very busy jumping from one project or job to another. I never really felt happy and content. I can now see this was a sign that I didn't want to stop for long enough to really listen to myself. I now know that this meant that I would have to change and unravel the mess I had created.
We also avoid the truth of other people in our lives. We avoid talking to other people about their truth! If we can't cope with our own, we certainly can't handle the truth of others. So what we do is we avoid asking questions or we avoid talking about some situations. Rather than opening our ears and LISTENING we project how we feel or our beliefs on to the other person.
Why do we do this? Listening to either ourselves or others can often lead us to change how we are living our lives. This thought terrifies most people so instead it is easier to try and block these feelings. However, this can cost us dearly! The question is whether it is worth the price you are paying. Only you can decide! You have to live with yourself and your choices.
Scott Peck was a famous Psychiatrist and he wrote about people and their maps. He informs that so many of us have mapped out our entire life. We believe we have a certain path to follow and often we stick rigidly to this even when we find out new things about us and others. He very wisely says that for us to have a healthy mind it's "an ongoing process of dedication to reality at all costs".
So, is it worth changing? It may be the road less travelled and it may mean changing that outdated map that you have. But at least you will be able to live with yourself and who knows at the end of the day you may even like yourself!
Kelly Menzies, Change and Personal Development Leader has been working in HR, Change Leadership and Learning and Development for ten years. She is currently working with fitness and nutrition professionals, using personal development techniques to help them attract and retain more clients and build their business. Get started today with her FREE 7 Day Training Series, "Build Your Client Base and Make More Money" http://www.life-is-now.co.uk/
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