There is a great lie that has been told which has kept us in chains – both literally and figuratively speaking – since the dawn of civilisation. It is a lie that is so big we cannot see it – we do not even know it is there – so we can scarcely challenge or question it. But it is there. It is the lie that has plagued us from the cradle to the grave, from one generation to the next, across the whole of the supposedly civilised world.
We believe this lie – implicitly – unquestioningly, unfailingly.
We love this lie because it gives us our identity and our place in society. Whilst it doesn’t always make us happy it at least affords us some comfort from the security of our daily routine of life.
What is this lie?
It is the belief that we are not perfect. We are not good enough the way we are. We are never enough. It is the belief that our happiness and fulfillment lies outside of ourselves. It is the belief that there are others who know what is best for us. It is the belief that we alone are never enough and that we are unloved, unlovable. It is the belief that we are never good enough.
And it is a belief that has probably caused more misery and unhappiness on this planet than anything else. For without that belief in the self, without that self-love, self-affirmation and self-knowing, we are incapable of truly loving anyone or anything outside of ourselves.
If you don’t love yourself, how can you love anyone else? How can you love and care for our world?
Everyone talks about fixing the planet. The planet isn’t the problem. We’re the problem. Fix ourselves first. All else follows from that. Rainforests don’t cut themselves down. We’re the ones who constantly crave stuff. We’re the ones who are stealing from this world and going against nature because of that empty void inside – which all stems from lack – lack of self love, self-esteem, self belief. This leaves us wide open for others to step in and reprogram our minds for endless, mindless consumerism and materialism and a never-ending spiral of “more-faster-cheaper” that is an insult to our true nature.
When is it enough?
So where to start? Take the first step. Know yourself. Learn to meditate. Ten minutes a day. Ten minutes to change your life. Make it your business to find out how. You’re not stupid. If you can negotiate your way around Amazon (the website, not the rainforest), drive a car or use a phone then you can learn to meditate.
You owe it to yourself. We owe it to each other. It will be the greatest investment you ever make. Investment in yourself. And it will repay you in ways in which money alone can never do.
You can never ever be anyone else – no matter who you are, where you are, what you are, what you own, what you say or do. You can never ever be anyone else.
So you may as well get good at doing what you were brought here to do – being yourself. Be so good at being yourself, be so authentic and real as far as is humanly possible. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. It never has mattered. You’re the only one who thought it did! Everyone else is too busy doing what the hell they want to worry about you.
Do it. No excuses. Be your own best friend. Coach yourself. Look after yourself. Cherish and nurture yourself. Stop depriving yourself of the life you’re meant to have.
You have a choice.
It all starts from that. It costs nothing but time and the will to do it. If not now – when?
