Discovering your own truth is brutal at times, because it means being totally honest, and not making excuses for what seemingly ends up being your blurred vision of self. I'm sure rose-colored glasses have their place, but not in the journey to self which requires a wide screen and consistently clear path, unobstructed by self-preserving clutter that doesn't work any more. So what does that mean? That it takes more than a broom to clean out the cobwebs.

In my own personal journey, I utilized every resource available to me, and then incorporated that new knowledge and wisdom with the ability to open up those parts of me that needed attention. It was my time to listen and figure out who I was, but I am far from finished. As a matter of fact, I never want to be finished, nor reach some final destination, because it's just too much fun discovering how whole we can become. I feel that we are always in a state of soul construction, and that our story just gets updated as we peel off those layers that no longer serve a viable and healthy purpose (much like exfoliating).

It was amazing to discover just how much of myself I gave up to the needs of others, and just how much I wasn't getting back. I tired of living my life for everyone else and knew I had to make a change if I was to free myself from the prison only I had the key to. I had to discover my own truth instead of satisfying everyone else's. It's one of those "inside jobs" but well worth the effort. It stabilizes and even fortifies self-esteem, and minimizes the questioning of self-worth. Worth should never be questioned, only behaviors, because we are born with worth and only temporarily lose it when we give it up as a result of our skewed view of the world and self. It took a long time to realize that no one had control over my choices but me. I was unsuccessful at being "world manager" and satisfying everyone else's needs but my own. I'm still that unselfishly caring, giving and loving person I've always been, but I have a different perspective now, and I also reserve energy for my ! own nurturing.

One statement that keeps me grounded more than anything else is: "What other people think or say about me is unimportant, until ¡°I¡± attach meaning to it." It¡¯s amazing how much importance we give to the opinions of others about ourselves. Please understand that I graciously welcome feedback in it's most open form, because we never see ourselves or judge our work as others do, but there's a level of intellect I feel that is necessary in filtering out those who criticize and judge based on their own hidden agendas, and those who genuinely wish to mirror us in truth for our own personal benefit. The more aware and observant one becomes, the easier it is to detect genuineness. Human behavior is nothing less than complex, and even after studying it for 18+ years, I am still amazed at how much I have yet to learn.

Time is never guaranteed, so wasting it isn't an option. It's too bad that it takes some of us a long time to get started, but no matter when we start, it's our obligation to ourselves to open the flood gates and let the healing begin. The mind is awesome in its ability to be flexible enough to paint a new canvas, and I for one have multiple colors in my brush stroke just waiting to create that new horizon. Have you purchased your palette yet?

Author's Bio: 

A late bloomer in the arena of writing, but I'm in the midst of exploding from the passion that drives the need to self-express into readable print. Motivational writings are at the top of the list, along with poetry and a desire to write a book or two on self-discovery and relationships.

Professionally edited "Heaven Can't Wait" by Stephen Paul Edwards (friend and national motivational speaker previously with the Tony Robbins organization). I hold degrees in Criminal Justice/Psychology, and about to embark upon yet another educational journey into the realm of psychodynamics. My goal is to work mostly with young people, but offer a wealth of valuable information and tools to assist all ages in their never-ending quest toward discovering themselves and becoming more whole.

The writings I offer are both straightforward and humorous. I am humble and respectful of the educational process (both academic and personal) and want to share the wealth. If you put that together with years of experience (my own and others), you come away with an awesome insight into how skewed our thought process is, how much of ourselves we need to stop giving away, and how critical it is that we get ourselves back.

The journey can be just as exquisite as the destination, so take the time to become enlightened in ways that will certainly make you think, if nothing else. Time is never guaranteed, so wasting it isn't an option. Take "The Journey Within" . . . life has many lessons to offer, we just have to be willing recipients.

View some of my other writings at my website:

http://www.geocities.com/authorlf/

Send comments or inquiries to my email address: AuthorLF@aol.com