The Power Of You

"Peace comes from within.  Do not seek it without"

~Buddha

Life can hurl all sorts of insanity your way.  You have probably seen successful people who have your dream job, are in great shape, or seem to have the world at their fingertips.  These things are wonderful, but they are nothing compared to an inner sense of unshakeable confidence.  If you have ever secured something you really wanted- a job, a home, a girlfriend- it feels great for awhile, but that initial euphoria eventually fades.

Living well embodies much more than simply achieving a goal every once in a while.  It is crucial to have goals, but to live an authentic life, you must strike a harmony with your inner thoughts, feelings, and passions and the outer world of work, relationships, home, and community.  Your inner self and your outer world must interact with each other to support and energize you.  Once you have discovered you are a human being filled with inner wisdom, nothing can touch you.  Sure, you will have hardships, but problems, no matter how intense, will always be manageable.  

I believe asking tough questions is central to a human being’s search for meaning.  Once our basic needs are satisfied, our minds turn to the deeper questions of life...

-Who am I?  

-Why I am here? 

-Where am I going?  

-What am I supposed to do in my life?

Plenty of people don’t often consider these questions, but you are the only person who can answer them.  You are the only person to have lived your life from the inside out.  Only you fully understand your unique set of emotions and experiences.  The grand totality of your life is only available to you.  This is why you must treat yourself as an equal.  Generally, we are either brutally harsh on ourselves or we inflate our own egos to the moon.  We like to criticize, berate, boast, and reassure ourselves.  Here’s an idea- reach out a warm hand of friendship to yourself.  Be willing to accept yourself- strengths and weaknesses.

Loving yourself starts with growing closer to the people that love you the most.  Here’s an exercise for the day- Who do you consider to be your family?  How many families are you a part of?  List every person you feel can be considered your family.