Learning to live

"Would it surprise you if I said that most people live their lives without being completely honest with themselves? We all have parts of our personalities we want to hide because we are afraid that if people see "the real you," they won't like it.

Some people have become so good at hiding parts of themselves that they don't even realize a part of them is gone and has been replaced by an empty feeling. And we all do it. We suffer from insecurities, we don't accept who we are, and we self-sabotage ourselves through addictions and other behaviors that don't get us what we truly want.

When you have a strong sense of self, when you feel like you are a worthy person on this planet, it doesn't matter what other people think of you. You don't feel the need to be judgmental of others or gossip about others because you are secure with yourself and therefore grounded in acceptance of yourself and other people. Just take a moment to imagine what it would feel like to truly be free to be who you are. If this exercise makes you feel really happy, then you may not be hiding too much. If it makes you sad, then I'm guessing you have an inner longing to be your authentic self. Being honest with yourself is a bit like being naked, and few people are really comfortable being naked. Being honest with yourself is having naked emotions.

You can take back your life today by bringing back those parts of you that now need to be revealed to both you and your loved ones. It can be very shocking when you come to the realization that you may have been simply going through the motions of life rather than living your life. It will take courage to step out and let your light shine fully to all that know you. Just remember: True friends take the good with the bad, the great with the not-so-great, the yummy with the icky."

By Madisyn Taylor