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Authenticity
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
- Mary Oliver
Authenticity is the courage to be true to who you are, even when it feels easier to conform or hide parts of yourself. It means honoring your values, expressing your thoughts honestly, and showing up in the world without pretending to be someone you’re not. When you live authentically, your relationships tend to deepen because people connect with the real you, not a filtered version. It also brings a sense of inner peace, since you’re no longer divided between who you are and who you think you should be. In a world full of expectations, authenticity is what allows you to live with clarity, confidence, and genuine self-respect.
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The Untethered Soul - the Journey Beyond Yourself
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Never Forget That Your Life is Happening - Right Now
One of the most powerful realizations I ever had was that I have no future. I don't mean that in a fatalistic way. Simply that the future isn't actually real. It is only an illusion or idea of what might or might not be real someday. So I have hope for things in the future, of course, but I don't have an actual future that can be owned, pinned down or guaranteed. A million factors could come along between this moment and a future moment to alter the outcome or course I am on.
Your Heart is Revealed in Your "Want-To's"
Who do you love? I mean really, really love? What do you love? Deep down at your core?
Sometimes it can be surprisingly hard to sort this out actually. Your brain may give one answer, while your actions are telling a different story.
Run For Your Joy
I ran and I ran and I ran, several times a week. I was seeing improvement at long last, but dreaded going out every day. I was pushing myself grudgingly along one morning, as usual, mumbling to myself about how much I hated running, when I suddenly just stopped in my tracks and started to laugh. Wait...what?? I hated running, I realized. Not because it was hard, or because I lacked drive or willpower. I had achieved many other fitness goals in other realms over time, that too
Follow Your Joy
Don't over think it. Don't judge it. Don't restrain it. Just follow joy where it leads and embrace the journey.
Be Who YOU Decide to Be.
Halloween is not the only day of the year that you get to decide how you want to look, act and be. That is your choice anew, every single day of your life. Masks are fine for occasional fun, but don’t wear one every day. The face of your true self is beautiful - so I challenge you to find it, embrace it, and let it proudly shine.
The Two Lies We Tell Ourselves
There are a couple of lies we frequently tell. I am speaking of myself primarily of course, but these are actually pretty common. Almost universal. We proclaim these falsehoods in an effort to excuse all sorts of behavior. We tell these lies to others, but even more destructively we convince ourselves that they are true.
The Deep End of the Pool
Only the courage to reach beyond the shallow will lead us to lasting love and friendship. To a life of true passion and purpose. To spiritual centering and peace. There is potential for pain in these areas of course. In fact, suffering is almost guaranteed. But also the most exquisite joy.
Are You Tough Enough?
I believe in urging ourselves to strive for goals even when they are really hard. I believe that to be successful in this life you have to be resilient. To be willing to do what others won’t. To be able to feel the burn and keep moving forward. However, (and this is a HUGE however) sometimes you also need to be wise enough not to. Sometimes it takes even greater strength to know when to stop. So are you tough enough?
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