Words By Which To Live

Everyone has advice for us. Our parents, grandparents and other family members, teachers, priests, pastors and possibly mentors are always doling out perceived words of wisdom in what they believe to be our best interest and for our protection. “Go to school and get an education so you can get a good job and have security.” “Be careful! Don’t fall!” “It’s better to be silent and thought a fool then to speak and remove all doubt.” Thanks, Dad, for that last one. Ad nauseum. And I’m sure that at least during some point in all of our lives we would say to perhaps add even a little more nauseum.

There is great truth, wisdom and value in a lot of advice, as long as it is solicited and you feel comfortable and confident in sifting through what works for and serves you and you recognize and politely excuse yourself from that which doesn’t. I believe the problem with much of this “sound” advice is that it inherently implies that you are operating from a place of lack.

Take the common and widespread beliefs of the aforementioned advice. What do they imply? You lack the ability to search for and find your own answers. You lack the fortitude to handle a disappointment or setback and turn it into a learning experience. You lack the charisma, eloquence or intellect to have anyone see you as positive contribution to any conversation. But do you? The only real answer is, of course, inside you.

If you believe that you are operating from this perceived idea or place of lack, then you are operating from just such a place, and vice versa, if you do not believe this, or better yet, if you believe in something with a more positive outlook, such as, “I operate from a place of abundance”, then you are living your life from that beautiful space. The truth of the matter is that only you can decide how you are living your life in this moment. The moments, this moment is the only one that matters and that which deserves your focus. So, how do we live this life of beauty, abundance, and awareness? (Fill in your own desired adjective.) That may be the most simple and yet complicated answer of all time.

A large part of this enigma (which has clearly become the socially accepted norm) lies in the words by which we choose to live. It’s the words we choose when speaking to ourselves. Pay attention today. You can give yourself just one day; you deserve at least that much for yourself. What do you say or think that comes in the form of the negative? Now ask yourself what you can do to change it to the positive. This is much more than just positive thinking. I don't think we need a bunch of Pollyanna's running around, but in every extreme there is a light that shines to the truth somewhere in the middle. Just try to monitor yourself today and see what happens. Don't judge, just observe. It's not about right or wrong. I am a bit of a nerd, so I personally like to think of it as an experiment, but follow what turns you on and resonates for you. Have fun, this is your experience in human form after all, act accordingly.