What we see as a truth, is only a truth for us when we believe that it is true, otherwise it is simply an opinion or idea.
Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live it is asking others to live, as one wishes to live.
Oscar Wilde
For many years, I used to believe that I was a flawed and defective human being holding onto a perception of my truth, because I wanted to present more feminine than many of my male school mates, something frowned upon by some family members as well as those around me.
The guys I hung out with did not want to wear makeup or dress girly; it was a consensus on the army base where we lived at the time. Conformity was one of our house rules and was reflected well by the greater community around us.
In our family of origin, any showing of non-conformance, as opposed to being creative, was swiftly dealt with through some form of punishment; usually with the military web belt of my Dad which lived atop the refrigerator for quick access.
So, after a few repetitions of being punished for non-conformance, I learned the skill of ‘adapting to please’. I practiced conformance so well that I forgot how to create for a while.
I submitted to others ‘should list’ and checked my wishes at the door; I had been taught and I believed, that I must be a selfish ungrateful person to want what I desired from life, which was simply to be myself. I was taught that wanting to express my authentic self was a selfish and greedy gesture; that is not a truth, it is simply an idea, that through repetition I began to accept as a truth.
Many of us have struggled and suffered into adulthood under a belief that we are flawed and defective for whatever our reason. It is a story we tell ourselves and believe as a truth. Through repetitions of the idea, we slowly give in to the message that we are not good enough in some way, and we develop a habitual state of being.
Therefore, believing it is wrong and bad to want what we want, we adapt and conform, all the while quietly building resentments, bitterness, and self-destructive behaviors, or we choose another belief.
When we choose to change what we believe as a truth, we ignite our ability to transform our lives instantly.
It is selfish to ask others to live as we live, but it is not at all selfish to live ‘our’ life, as we choose to; I like to add, ‘so long as we are not violating the basic human rights of the other(s)’. Many of us have even been bullied into conformity when our basic needs for survival are threatened; it is happening all around us every day.
No matter what the opinion of others, the only opinion that matters is the one we have of ourselves, this is our self-image.
When we have a clearly defined image of how we want to show up in the world, and we accept this as our truth, by natural law of the universe, we become that.
Reset your mind this week by repeating the idea that you are, allowed to have, do and be, whatever you choose for your life experience. We do not have to practice getting good at conformity any longer.
Each day do one thing no matter how big or small to move toward your desired goal and the universe will get behind you and support your vision.
Be selfish; it is okay to want what you want; you are worthy of your dreams.
Shifting this one belief will improve not only your life experience but also the lives of everyone who is watching you every day.
Namasté
n huggles
Char
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Char- reading your story-Two quotes come to mind. The first from that great sage Popeye who proudly said “I yam what I yam"! The second I read just the other day on Pinterest- “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom" (Anais Nin). It is only when we give up the comfort of where we’ve always been that we can enjoy the wonders of the larger world that has only been waiting for us to enter it.
Cyn
Hi Char, Let me say, all of your articles are great! I confess I don’t always respond, however, I do read them all and look forward to them. You do make me feel good about myself. I am working on this very issue and am trying to come to peace with who I am. I never faced a belt or fear of punishment. I just felt I would be letting my family down, especially my single mother and I could not face that from within. She never said anything to me about this issue, but just feared disappointing… Read more »
Char,
I really like your article!
Thank you,
Kay
hahaha I love that one, I’ve used it many times hahaha Good ole Popeye haha aaaand Ohhhh that second one, I LOVE that!! It is now in my quotes folder haha That’s a powerful practice in expansion hey Cyn omg… I have omg so slowly grown to enjoy the feeling of the stretch. The challenge of courage and detaching with love. As long as we stay in our comfort zone, we will remain comfortable. Even if that’s in an abusive relationship, if that is a comfort zone as it was for me for years. There’s a kind of rush I… Read more »
Awe Thank you Lisa; I am so grateful for what you said above. I love that the articles are helping dear, I am so gratful when that happens!! Thanks Lisa You know, I have created sooo much suffering for myself over the most of my life but never understood that first, “I" was creating it, and 2nd, “how" i was. Once I got that figured out, I started creating waayyyy more fun life experiences….and the adventure continues hahaha What I came to realize, was that not being authentic, was the most dishonoring thing I could do… and that inspires an… Read more »
I am really glad and very grateful Kay, thank you so much dear soul
Namaste’
n huggles Kay
Char