I find it exhausting not to be my authentic self. It’s also exhausting to be with people who are trying to maintain a persona. I think this is why my circle of friends has shrunken as I’ve got older.
I also liked what you said about forgiveness. Ultimately, each one of us have the responsibility to look after ourselves, and to take accountability for our lives. Holding on to bitterness and anger can become a habit, and it obstructs our growth. Letting go of bitterness can become hard, so this is where we can work on building our own strength. And yes, we may need help to deal with this. Life is a big place I want to experience it without the millstone of resentment around my neck.
I appreciate this post, Patricia. I have done a lot of inner work since leaving my corporate woke early last year, yet I always find more! I just made my second solo retreat of the year to a monastery not far from me. I felt compelled to go, and realize a big reason is that I am there to 'rinse off' all of the conditioning I absorbed throughout my life (I am 54) so I can show up authentically everywhere I go.
I shared this with my 86 year old mother, as we were just discussing a related topic yesterday.
I'm so pleased you enjoyed the post, Maria, and that you shared it with your mother. I'm envious that you live so close to a monastery and have taken retreats there. An ideal place to concentrate inwards. Thank you for your response, and all good wishes for clarity and insight with the self-growth you're working on. 🙏
Love this Patricia, we speak the same language! I never came across backwards walking, I can imagine it would have so many benefits both mind and body! ✨🧡
It's good to know you speak my language, Kate. You understand where I'm coming from. Backwards walking is something I'm going to be doing every week throughout April and will, hopefully, feel the benefits. I researched it before deciding this will be the April challenge and so know that it does have many benefits, particularly for the knees and lower back. Who knew there were so many ways to walk!
I agree so much, Patricia, that we are meant to be our own most authentic self -- the most purely unique version, the better. Each of is here to fill a specific little part in the mosaic, I think. Whenever I doubt this, I think of those in history and around us, who truly have made an impact and each of them, is different, often quirky, always a trailblazer in some way. Sometimes ... the trailblazing is simply that they have the audacity and bravery to be fully themselves, and damning the consequences.
I really enjoyed this post, Patricia. Your urging to let go and forgive, I agree with as blaming can really consume our daily existence, but letting go may require deep work. As a person recovering, slowly but surely, from long covid, I have made more authentic connections in the time of my illness and it has, bizzarely helped me to uncover and reveal my authenticity which I like very much. Perhaps illness removes the walls, making us more vulnerable and more real? It's not to say it doesn't bring loneliness and isolation, but at the same time I have learned to sit with myself and to be more forgiving and accepting of myself and others. I'd love to hear any thoughts on this. Love your work 🙏
I'm sorry to hear you had long covid, Valerie. I had the short version and it took me several weeks to feel 'normal' again afterwards, so I can only imagine what you've been, and are still going through, as you recover. It sounds as though you have spent a lot of time alone in your recovery. I've spent much time alone, after divorce in the last few years and I feel I've benefitted from it. I learned that being on your own allows you to think more clearly about who you are, to dig deeper perhaps. Maybe you, too, have experienced this in your long recovery from illness. Having the space to find and accept who we are enables us to be more authentic and forgiving. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Take care :-)
Your being authentic article is very informative with great ideas to forgive ourselves as well as others. The backwards walking challenge is something I have done for probably a minute. I’ll have to give that practice more consideration.
Thank you! It's good to know you found the post informative. Backwards walking is particularly good for the knees and lower back, so worth persevering with if you have issues in these areas. Join us in the group on the Chat thread.
Thank you Pat. I really enjoyed this post.
I find it exhausting not to be my authentic self. It’s also exhausting to be with people who are trying to maintain a persona. I think this is why my circle of friends has shrunken as I’ve got older.
I also liked what you said about forgiveness. Ultimately, each one of us have the responsibility to look after ourselves, and to take accountability for our lives. Holding on to bitterness and anger can become a habit, and it obstructs our growth. Letting go of bitterness can become hard, so this is where we can work on building our own strength. And yes, we may need help to deal with this. Life is a big place I want to experience it without the millstone of resentment around my neck.
I appreciate this post, Patricia. I have done a lot of inner work since leaving my corporate woke early last year, yet I always find more! I just made my second solo retreat of the year to a monastery not far from me. I felt compelled to go, and realize a big reason is that I am there to 'rinse off' all of the conditioning I absorbed throughout my life (I am 54) so I can show up authentically everywhere I go.
I shared this with my 86 year old mother, as we were just discussing a related topic yesterday.
Thank you!
I'm so pleased you enjoyed the post, Maria, and that you shared it with your mother. I'm envious that you live so close to a monastery and have taken retreats there. An ideal place to concentrate inwards. Thank you for your response, and all good wishes for clarity and insight with the self-growth you're working on. 🙏
Thank you Patricia!
Love this Patricia, we speak the same language! I never came across backwards walking, I can imagine it would have so many benefits both mind and body! ✨🧡
It's good to know you speak my language, Kate. You understand where I'm coming from. Backwards walking is something I'm going to be doing every week throughout April and will, hopefully, feel the benefits. I researched it before deciding this will be the April challenge and so know that it does have many benefits, particularly for the knees and lower back. Who knew there were so many ways to walk!
I agree so much, Patricia, that we are meant to be our own most authentic self -- the most purely unique version, the better. Each of is here to fill a specific little part in the mosaic, I think. Whenever I doubt this, I think of those in history and around us, who truly have made an impact and each of them, is different, often quirky, always a trailblazer in some way. Sometimes ... the trailblazing is simply that they have the audacity and bravery to be fully themselves, and damning the consequences.
I absolutely agree, Gayle, 'the most purely unique version, the better.' Thank you for your insightful comment.
I really enjoyed this post, Patricia. Your urging to let go and forgive, I agree with as blaming can really consume our daily existence, but letting go may require deep work. As a person recovering, slowly but surely, from long covid, I have made more authentic connections in the time of my illness and it has, bizzarely helped me to uncover and reveal my authenticity which I like very much. Perhaps illness removes the walls, making us more vulnerable and more real? It's not to say it doesn't bring loneliness and isolation, but at the same time I have learned to sit with myself and to be more forgiving and accepting of myself and others. I'd love to hear any thoughts on this. Love your work 🙏
I'm sorry to hear you had long covid, Valerie. I had the short version and it took me several weeks to feel 'normal' again afterwards, so I can only imagine what you've been, and are still going through, as you recover. It sounds as though you have spent a lot of time alone in your recovery. I've spent much time alone, after divorce in the last few years and I feel I've benefitted from it. I learned that being on your own allows you to think more clearly about who you are, to dig deeper perhaps. Maybe you, too, have experienced this in your long recovery from illness. Having the space to find and accept who we are enables us to be more authentic and forgiving. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Take care :-)
Your being authentic article is very informative with great ideas to forgive ourselves as well as others. The backwards walking challenge is something I have done for probably a minute. I’ll have to give that practice more consideration.
Thank you! It's good to know you found the post informative. Backwards walking is particularly good for the knees and lower back, so worth persevering with if you have issues in these areas. Join us in the group on the Chat thread.