Thanks to everyone who read, rated and commented on my last post. J

I talked about being authentic and how that has changed my relationship with me and with other people.  It makes a huge difference when you start communication on the basis of truth. That is the second part of my philosophy (see, this all ties together J ).

2. Speak and act with kindness and truth

Being authentic is great! It can be rewarding, freeing and bring you to some amazing places.  I believe that it is worth the effort that it takes. The big pitfall of being authentic is a doozy though. For the whole process to work, you have to avoid it!

It is easy to put yourself first and railroad other people. Even if you are a person like me who would give her last dollar to help another person, who would (and does) bend over backwards for the people she loves. Being authentic without being mindful of the consequences can leave people with a lot of pain, including you.

We must ask for what we need, we must seek what is missing, but we cannot do it at the expense of other people. That is why when following the authentic self, you have to make sure you are acting with kindness and truth.

Truth comes easy once you commit to being authentic. You are no longer lying to yourself or to others. The problem with truth is that it can hurt, a lot. I’m sure everyone has a story of when the truth, as well intentioned as the telling may have been, hurt them and cut them to the quick.

I’ve just found it best to speak with kindness and truth. Seems simple, but it can be excruciatingly hard.  There are times when I want to blame others when it is my doing, times when I want to hurt someone because they hurt me, times when I want to tell the whole ugly truth but I can’t. I’m not in this world to hurt other people or to make things harder. I’m not Karma’s bitch. I’m just me, just a person who needs to put herself first and make sure that she doesn’t hurt those around her.

That is the problem with pain – it multiplies like mould upon the soul. We hurt and so we dish it out to other people, either unknowingly because we are not conscious of it, or knowingly because it makes us feel powerful. By speaking and acting with kindness and truth in our hearts and minds and on our tongues we can honour ourselves and honour others.

Part three to come soon.