Am I Preaching?

Yesterday someone told me that sometimes my posts sound a bit preachy. I gave this feedback some serious thought. Am I preaching? In my eyes, that word implies a hierarchy; one who is holier trying to save the lesser, unholy people. As I believe we are all equals and that each of us is responsible for our own path and evolution, I have decided that I disagree. I’m not preaching. I’m most certainly strongly determined to speak my truth, passionate about a wide variety of subjects, and hoping to teach by example. Of course I understand that my forthrightness is a turn off for some (many?) people. Who wants to be reminded that each and every choice we make affects our future and that it is important to be constantly mindful of making choices that reflect our values? From what I’ve observed, not many. Yet, I have spent my entire life editing my words and actions to be liked and accepted by the masses, and that time is past. I am speaking to those who want to make the shift to awareness through action. There is plenty of material available for those who don’t.

My top three values at this point in my life are authenticity, self-care, and responsibility. It took me forty plus years, decades of soul searching, a lifetime of not belonging, and rivers of tears to reach this level of understanding. These are not values I was taught in school or saw modeled on TV. I figured it out myself with self-help tools, perseverance, and acute awareness. This is who I am, what I believe in, and the message I have to share. I make no apologies for that. If I can demonstrate to just one person that eating wisely and practicing yoga can eliminate pain, or that voting with our dollars is a powerful strategy, or that our thoughts shape our reality; well, then I consider this blog to be successful. If one person shifts from mainstream thinking to questioning everything and making choices that truly honor the highest good of all (which naturally includes the planet we live on and all its inhabitants); well, then I am ecstatic.

I welcome all feedback as it inspires new thinking and inquiry. I’m grateful for this comment as if helped me to clarify my message. Will it change what I have to say? No, absolutely not. Will it change the way I say it? Maybe so. I believe in tough love and at this point in our evolution, it’s crucial for beings to wake up and take a stand for their values. I’m not willing to sugar coat that. If, however, there is any question of judgement being inferred from my words, I need to be careful to address that. I have no intention to make anyone feel “less than” me or anyone else. We’re all in this together and it is my true desire to elevate the consciousness of those whose paths cross mine. If I can practice unwavering devotion to my truth, so can you. So, thanks for the comment. I appreciate the opportunity to re-examine my motives and clarify my stance on non-judgement. When I say “question everything”, this includes ME!

Discernment

I have recently come to realize that stagnation has been brewing in a few corners of my life lately. Activities and relationships that one time represented learning and growth have gotten stuck in behaviors and thinking that is no longer moving forward. Friendships that had been based on sharing deeply and understanding one another’s desires have gotten stale. I’m ready for the next step: responsibility and action. Listening and empathizing has become second nature for me and I want to progress to the next phase: what can I do to improve the situation?

In my on-going campaign to question everything, I want to know what, how, and where we can choose change. If I’m unhappy about something, I’m curious what I’ve done to create this circumstance in my life, how I can shift my beliefs or actions to benefit myself and others, where the opportunity for growth resides. I’ve become even more discerning about the invitations I receive, wondering if the event will offer me a chance to learn or share learning or merely engage in small talk. I’ve become even more discerning about the people I am willing to allow into my closest circle of friends. Are they willing to walk the path moving forward with me, or do they want company as they wallow around in their pain?

Obviously I don’t expect all of my encounters to be 100% positive or my friends to never encounter a crisis. We live in a world full of mystery and unexpected change. What I have begun to do is analyze if my relationships and activities are serving my needs for growth, taking responsibility for co-creation, and self- empowerment. As difficult as it is, I’ve come to acknowledge that I need to let go of some people and events that are keeping me tethered to the past or to the problem rather than the solution. I have to trust that if I make choices to encourage the aligning of my mind and emotions with my spirit that space will open up allowing for the arrival of something supportive. I vow to use my power of discernment to decide if I’m saying yes to something out of obligation, habit, or guilt or from the feeling in my heart that it is truly the best course of action for everyone involved.