Have you ever noticed that when you are faced with a difficult decision, people come out of the woodwork with advice?Or, if it's a life-changing situation you are going through, such as expecting a child or getting married, suddenly everyone has an opinion based on their own experiences and is happy to tell you their version of 'how it is' or 'how it's going to be'.
Why is it that we have difficulty letting others explore and experience things for themselves?...Perhaps because when we speak of things we have in common, it helps us feel connected...and maybe it makes us feel like the other person we are 'helping' will respect us because because we've 'been there'.
We must remember that everyone handles things differently, and they really are not interested in our version of things, except to the extent that we can assure them they will be OK no matter what happens. Experience is a great help when you are mentoring someone, but not when they are simply going through their own explorations and discoveries.
In our own lives, because we hear the advice and stories of others so often, the voices can sometimes drown out the one we need most to listen to: our own. Unless we can ask questions that determine what is right FOR US, we will always be following someone else's plan, and living into someone else's design for our lives. This will NEVER make us happy, no matter how much of the martyr we carry in our hearts.
The best trick we can learn is to find a balance between lovingly accepting and appreciating the advice of others, and not necessarily following it - because we are listening to our own voice. We must offer ourselves respect and trust. If you think about it, some of the people you admire most in your life are probably those who follow their hearts and do what they really feel led to do...so why not follow your own path and enjoy creating the life you were meant to live?
"I am what I am because early in life I decided that I would please at least myself in all things." ~ from Cyrano de Bergerac
Thanks for visiting! Subscribe here to read new entries when they are posted.
1 comment:
This was a great read for me, as I need to dive into the final stages of an important project that will hopefully open new doors for me soon. Fantastic!
Post a Comment