We get advice for how to live our life, what we should do, and what we shouldn’t do from many sources such as family members, friends, mentors, teachers, gurus, and even celebrities and other strangers. It can be very difficult to find our deepest, most aligned truth in the barrage of others’ opinions and outside information.

I personally have found that when I’m entering new territory, I often look towards the experience of other people that have already entered that territory. Frequently, the scenario is that the people that I’m consulting may not be doing “that territory” in the same way my heart is pulled to do things.  Sometimes, I feel a roil in my belly when I try to take on their perspective and do it “their way”. I often can’t hear my own deep truth because I’m looking so intently outside of myself to determine what to do.  It's also not uncommon for me to question myself when I put so much faith in what other “experienced” people are saying.

I’ve come up with a kind and gentle analogy to help me return to more clarity and find my truth even if those truths are subtle. I see myself in a dressing room where folks are bringing me clothing and outfits to try on. In this analogy, it’s easier to see that people bring what they think I would look good in or what they think I should wear. Some may even be trying very hard to bring clothes that they think would match my style. Yet, in this dressing room of life, the bottom line is that we each get to decide what we’re going to keep, what we are going to try out, and what is going back on the racks. Getting opinions and information about how to view, experience, and live life is exactly the same. We get so much feedback that it becomes our responsibility to discern what is right for us and what is not. Just because other people might have strong views or have a great deal of experience in something we’re just beginning, doesn’t mean that the advice they’re giving us is right for our “essence style”.

This simple scenario can become more complex as we get into life’s predicaments or new territories that we haven’t yet sorted out for ourselves.  In these cases, we have the opportunity to become even more connected to our essential truth, become more discerning in service to that truth, and open ourselves up to wisdom that resides in others. As we traverse this journey, it is important to give ourselves love and kindness as we allow ourselves to say “Yes” or “No” to the offerings we receive from the outside world and as we deepen in our journey and embrace new understandings, discover new things, and become more aligned with our essence.

If you do find yourself reading the articles that I write, let them be a place of practice for your personal discernment.  I invite you to see it as me bringing options to your “dressing room of life”. My offerings are just my current ponderings and explorations of my experiences of life at this time. Instead of seeing anything I say as a reference point to be taken at face value, I suggest instead that my thoughts, ponderings, and experiences be fodder for your own curiosities, explorations, and self-discovery. For example, I may bring some very unexpected styles to your dressing room. These “styles” may not be ones that you would have oriented to, but they may get your creative juices flowing and help you find new things that are right for you and help you expand into a new expression of your True Self. Finally, I hope my ponderings are of service by opening up areas for exploration that you may not have considered before.  Most of all, I hope that these articles help deepen your relationship with and trust for yourself.

Now dear friend, go be brave, true, and completely your Essential Self as you do life rooted in your wisdom and Truth!