Be True To Yourself
Putting politics aside, the Trump administration is putting forth a new concept (employed since early in the campaign, just recently codified) in the form of alternative facts. Don’t like what the truth presents? Just make up your own facts and hope that if you state them enough times - and with adequate enthusiasm if not sincerity - then some portion of society will latch onto these non-fact facts as truth.
That is ‘fine’ if you are a politician trying to fulfill some campaign promise, but when it comes to your own health – be it physical, mental, emotional, spiritual or otherwise – then shining the light of truth on facts is essential. Reality will rear its ugly (or preferably beautiful) head sooner or later, so being brutally honest with yourself about any areas of interest you are looking to improve upon, grow in, is essential in that journey. Asking yourself good questions – and answering with complete honesty – is one of the most effective ways to get to the heart of the issue and come up with positive changes you can implement for healthy growth.
Great Questions To Ask Yourself
What do I want? (eg a healthy, lean body. As with any goals, be as specific as possible, eg to lose 10 lbs of fat in 2 months).
What is the truth today? (where am I today on this – realistically, eg “…I’ve been saying this for 2 years….”)
What do I need to change in order to arrive at what I want? (this is where the real honesty kicks in – it is not enough to know, you must act…including involving others if you don’t know the answers, or feel you cannot implement them without support which is a great thing to accept).
Those 3 simple, powerful questions applied to almost any situation – if answered honestly – can lead to profound perspective shifts and outcomes.
Bonus Questions
For Those Who Want To Dig Deeper
Why can’t I make this change/achieve what I want? (this may seem like a rhetorical question, but I’m asking you to contemplate this quite literally. It is one of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself. Actually make a list of the things that come to mind – not enough time, not enough skill, not enough discipline, being ‘held back’ by others, not enough money, etc. Then – and here is the important part – really challenge yourself on each answer. For example, the common one, “… I don’t have enough time to work out…” Do you not have enough time, or are you simply prioritizing something else over this goal eg watching TV, surfing the internet, etc – or even something constructive like reading the paper? With some honest assessment, in most cases you can refute your own reasons for not being able to do something, and head down the path of growth).
What do I fear about this? There are many reasons why we don’t do things that we want to do, feel we should do, but one of the most prevalent – yet unacknowledged- one is pure, primal fear. We are scared of failing, we are scared of making a change, we might even be scared on some deep subconscious of achieving the goal. Fear is a natural, and at times healthy emotion, but it often inhibits us from fulfilling our true potential, the gifts we were given to pursue. Examining your fears will help you overcome them as often that scary monster hovering over your bed is just a shadow on the wall made by a beautiful beam of moonlight showing you the way.
It is easy to accept what is said as truth, even – if not especially - things we say to ourselves, despite if beneath the surface lives a different reality. When you feel a disconnect between what you want in life and how you are living it in any given area, break out an pen and paper and start asking yourself some questions. This will raise your consciousness about the issue at hand.
Don’t wait for your real life to begin, create it today!
