remember the smiling sink.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
being independent and authentic is hard. it's so much easier to go along with the crowd. to get swept up in the momentum.
even when those assembled claim to be living outside the box. to be rebellious thinkers. to be revolutionary trailblazers.
at times the concept of group individuality seems like one big oxymoron to me. i'm talking about when people gather together to shout out their uniqueness to the world. and then end up agreeing with one another on almost everything.
do they ALL really think that way?! some of them do. some of them are naturally expressing their authentic selves. but there are always a few who will conform just to fit in. for fear of being left behind.
why is there so much similarity in behavior and response? what happens that convinces people to jump in and join the club? why does self-professed originality tend to disappear?
recently i had to make a difficult financial, intellectual, and emotional decision. financial because it would involve a large investment. intellectual because i had to use my brains to determine if it was best for me. emotional because i had to wade through the conflicting feelings that were coming up. especially as i contemplated being left out.
in the end, i made the right choice for me. i processed the dichotomy between "i want to belong" and "i need this." i discussed it with my husband. a lot. i pondered the different angles, the pros and cons. i even cried a bit.
but, most importantly, i remembered who i was. me. april. not the woman sitting next to me or the man sharing his personal story. i connected with my deepest essence.
and i made up my mind. decisively. and stuck with it.
at the precise moment that i said to myself "no this is not for me," i felt a sense of calm and all-is-right-with-the-world-ness.
i happened to be brushing my teeth when the realization came. i was just about to leave for the event where i would reveal my dissent.
and i was given a silly little sign. a you-did-the-right-thing confirmation.
if you know something is not right for you, do not be swayed by public opinion. take an honest assessment and stand behind it. don't compromise yourself.
do what you know you are supposed to do. take the appropriate action or non-action. be real and genuine and true to who you are.
live your life with pure integrity. in every aspect of your existence.
and the next time you're grappling with a tough decision . . . remember the smiling sink. :) it will add a moment of comic relief to your circumstances. and direct, perhaps redirect, you along the right path. have you ever grappled with a difficult decision? a situation that it seemed everyone else was saying YES to? but one that you knew, when you looked deep down inside, was not ideal for you?
please share your experience. i would love to hear from you. [maxbutton id="1"]