Good Morning, Lovely Universe!
There’s a sea of fog in our valley this morning, dancing with the bright, rising sun. Temperatures are cooling at night and in the mornings, signaling a turn towards fall.
With the school year starting, I’m getting up to see my wife off; so, I can see the need to reorganize my habits to get to bed earlier, even though I work later. So, I’ll be putting some attention to that puzzle. In the meantime, sleep was okay last night, but certainly not long enough – Sleep Scale: 3/5.
Dear One, I wrote yesterday about that initial step of becoming visible, with the fear being that we make the effort, yet might nonetheless be met with disagreement, disrespect, disapproval, or disregard. Even when we’ve become established and comfortable in our lives and areas of skill and mastery, the moment we set off to explore any new and interesting path, those fears can resurface. We feel vulnerable all over again.
I mentioned yesterday that we don’t get the chance unless we take a chance. We don’t get to see the view at the summit unless, at some point, we do the climbing.
One point I want to make is that we can, and should, find satisfaction in the effort we make. In terms of “Controlling the Controllables,” we can control where we put our effort, time, and energy, and we can consider “Why?” However, we have zero control over how others receive and react to our efforts.
I often use the terms Integrity and Authenticity – the philosophy of being true and honest, beginning with myself and extending outward to others, that frames and drives my choices and intentions.
It can get complicated, because we are social beings, and we value connection and community, being seen and heard, and valued as an essential part of the whole. At the same time, I need to be most true to, and with, myself.
I think Integrity and Authenticity represent that dynamic dance to be my best, balancing my social self and my essential self.
Today’s Prompt:
Dear One, look at the themes and turn-arounds you created yesterday. Pick one item, and write a paragraph each from your social self and your essential self about how you envision living out that item.
How would your social self do it, to please and connect with everybody, and to gain others’ approval?
How would your essential self live out that purpose with deep personal satisfaction?
Are there great differences between the two stories? What would something look like that satisfied both? Is that possible?
Using Integrity and Authenticity as part of my Internal Guidance System. Onward, My Dear Guides!
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