by Julie at http://www.julietkachuk.com/blog
In The Dark Side of the Enlightenment, author John V. Fleming writes, “The great impediment to human progress …was not incapacity but mental timidity or cowardice, the fear of independent thinking and fear’s vicious sibling, a comfortable habit of settling for second-hand authority.”
Fear of independent thinking and settling for second-hand authority looks like: following the advice of others; blindly accepting how things have always been done; unquestioningly believing statistics; assuming that others know what’s good for you better than you do, etc. And sure, in this instant, constant barrage-of-information age, we can’t help but see and hear what others are doing, experiencing, fearing and believing. However, in all cases, listen, question everything and ask, “Does [this] feel right for me?”
Consider the source of everything you hear. A participant in one of my E-classes for youths wrote that his father constantly told him he was useless and would never amount to anything. I saw this as a great opportunity for the young man to experience personal empowerment by shifting his focus. I asked him to ponder the following questions, “Do you really believe what your dad is telling you? Is he someone whose behaviour and life you want to emulate? Now stop thinking about your father … what do you consider to be your gifts, talents, skills and strengths? What are you passionate about? What are your dreams and goals?”
Always remember that statistics are for groups and you are not a group. Furthermore, the people who come up with statistics usually have something they want you to believe, something they want to sell you, some group they want you to join, some activity they want you to take part in … because your doing so will benefit them in some way. The bright side is that this all provides valuable information to help you get very clear about what your own beliefs, desires and values are; what to say no to and what to say yes to.
What others say, desire and do may well be something that resonates with you. If so, great. But you will know. It will feel right. It will feel peaceful and joyful. Listen to your Higher, Inner Self because it always knows the Truth. As one of my clients said, “When you know, you know.”
What was so eloquently written by Fleming in the first paragraph, Frank Zappa stated in his own blunt, inimitable style: “If you end up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest, or some guy on television telling you how to do your s**t, then you deserve it.”
You are powerful beyond measure. What you believe, what you accept as the truth about health, prosperity and yourself, what you mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually say yes to … all create and draw to you the people, places and experiences that will determine the direction and events of your life. As much as possible, make choices based on the promptings of your Inner Knowing. If you do that, you will be choosing well.
Copyright 2019 © Julie at www.julietkachuk.com/blog
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