Saints and Scripture Sundays-Being Yourself

For years I was avid about my daily meditations but like a lot of things I have let this habit slip away a little at a time. This morning I decided it was time to get back to some "good stuff" for me. This is bits and pieces from a couple of my favorite meditation books.

Being Yourself

Often when we're being tough and strong, we're scared. It takes a lot of courage to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, to be soft.

We've developed defenses for protection because we have felt the need for protection from the abuses of others, parents on occasion, bosses,spouses, even strangers. And in certain situations, our defenses served us well for a time. However, they have taken their toll. Hiding behind them for long makes them habitual, and we move farther and farther away from our center, from the woman each of us needs and wants to be.

Exposing who we really are invites judgement, sometimes rejection, oftentimes discounting. It's a terrible risk to take, and the rewards are seldom immediate. But with time, others respect us for our vulnerability and begin to imitate our example. We are served well by our integrity, in due time.

Letting others see who we really are alleviates confusion, theirs and ours. We no longer need to decide who we should be; we simply are who we are. Our choices are simplified. There is only one appropriate choice to every situation-the one that is honest and wholly reflective of who we are at that moment.

Rewards will be forthcoming when I am honest.

Please visit The Kennedy Adventures for Saints and Scripture Sundays.