Re: I kinda agree with this and kinda don't, Luella...Re: Stop Defending Your Self-Image

I believe what Deepak is saying here, something that I deeply believe and try to live by daily is.........  Be who you really are.  This is the recipe for true happiness.  Get rid of all pretenses.  Take the mask off.  We can follow our daily routine, even while representing our employers, we can still be poised, organized, well groomed and effective communicators and be more effective if the real person shows through.

However, this may be a difficult concept because many of us don't really "know" who we really are.  We are too caught up in the facades of life to the point that sometimes, even we believe that we are this persona that we have created.  Getting to know the real person within sometimes takes a lot of work.  I know at one time, it did for me.  This applies to both men and women. 

Deepak also makes a very important point.  We should own up to our emotions at any given moment.  Know how we feel.  This doesn't mean that they should be outwardly apparent to everyone we encounter in our daily routines, but we should not negate these feelings.  This is who we are at the moment, what we feel.  We do not have a problem showing people when we are joyful, yet how do we deal with anger and hurt?  This can be done constructively, by effective means of communication.   Yet, all in all, this article is saying........  Be who you really are.

The last paragraph of the article is most important.  Once we take all the masks off and just be, we reach a certain peace.  If someone offends us.......  "Who cares?"  When we reach that point, we are able to still love that person for who and what they are.  We are all on the same journey, some of us are just at different levels.  Once we realize this, it is all okay.  We realize that no one is better or lesser than we are, for the truth is, we are all equal.  Money?  Possessions?  It's just "stuff."  It really has no bearing on true happiness.  True happiness comes from within.

Living life with all the facades torn down and all the masks removed really does make one's life more effective, and certainly more peaceful in all areas. 

Hugs,

Luella