Lessons in Gratitude Day 952-–Being True

I have to think that to be true to oneself is an incredibly difficult task. I like the idea, though. If you are true to yourself, then you can’t be false to anyone else. Hmmm, another difficult task. Every once in a while I hear my own words coming back at me. It’s a good thing that I basically consider myself a pretty smart, wise person and that my words are wise and sweet, especially given how often I end up sampling them.

I believe it’s a principle of sorts that I can see others people’s situation much more clearly than I do my own and thus can offer sage advice and wisdom on how to help them deal with it. I tell them pithy (and true) things like, “Be true to yourself,” or “Be sure that the decisions you’re making align with the direction you want to go in your life,” or “follow your bliss and do the thing you love to do no matter the cost.” They all are very deep and profound and wise and yet I when it is time for me to take action in my own life, I do not remember my words and definitely not how to apply them to my own life. It takes someone outside of me to tell me what I am not able to see for myself.

I am grateful for the reminders that are all around me that as best I can I have to be true to myself. Sometimes I am not entirely sure what that means or how to do it. Sometimes other people mirror for me what I need to see for myself. I notice in myself issues and behaviors that I see playing out in front of me and try to make the appropriate adjustments.

I repeat: it is really hard to be true to oneself, hard but not impossible. I try to work at it every day, and every day in small ways I fail. But I keep trying. Being true to oneself, being in integrity as best we can is something to work toward. And so it continues. I have to believe too that living with a grateful heart is also connected to being true to oneself. At the very least it too is something I strive to do in my life as best I can. And so it is.