E-couragement: Choose the Truth

“Only through knowing yourself will you be able to ask the key questions of your life: What is it that I am destined to accomplish, and how can I make it happen.” Eustace Conway I recall a time when, as a child, I had just created a huge mess by horsing around and knocking over my bowl of cereal and milk. Surveying the disaster and considering my role in it, I blurted out, “Mom, Uncle Roy is right. I am trouble.” These words originated from the way my favorite uncle would often welcome me into his home, “There’s Richard. Here comes trouble.” Unconsciously, I had made an agreement with his words and labeled myself…trouble.

The next time we visited Uncle Roy, my mom marched up to him and ordered that he cease calling me “trouble.” She could see that I was beginning to believe and act on it. That’s how it works. We accept other people’s labels for ourselves rather than knowing and standing on the truth about who we really are.

Here’s the good news: since you’re grown up now, you get to choose the truths and beliefs that fit you best. That means becoming more self-aware, trusting yourself, and letting go of old, worn-out labels that no longer serve you. You can create new programming and choose new beliefs that tell you the real truth about who you are.

Here are ten ways to assist in choosing the truth about yourself:

1. Create a personal purpose statement and life vision (see Success Principles by Jack Canfield, chapters 2 – 3). This reinforces the belief in who you really are and where you are headed.
2. Pay attention to your thought patterns. What current beliefs do you recognize regarding your success, finances, confidence, relationships, health, etc?
3. Schedule regular time for silence and thoughtfulness—begin to recognize, acknowledge, and listen to your intuitive voice.
4. Journal. Write something down about your life experiences as often as you can. Ideally, a few sentences per day. You are not being graded—spelling and sentence structure doesn’t matter.
5. Spend time with people who inspire and encourage you while provoking new thoughts. “Fire” those people who drain your energy and discourage you.
6. Ask people you trust for feedback.
7. Read. Check out my website resource page for recommendations.
8. Listen to inspirational music or personal development messages while driving.
9. Limit your time watching TV and reading the newspaper.
10. Engage in activities that inspire you. Gardening, sports, exercise, writing, theater, art, music…whatever moves you and makes you feel more alive. 

Which beliefs will you choose? Old labels or new truths? You decide. It’s time to be different. Quiet your doubt, change your inner conversation, be the engaging leader that already resides within you, ready to emerge through and as you. You will be labeled, let it go and choose the truth about who you really are.