If we don't - or won't - question our own capabilities and beliefs then what are we?
It should be noted that I am not a therapist, nutritionist, scientist, or psychologist. Nor am I a counselor, consultant, or coach. I'm just a person with a lot of questions.
In the articles on this site I write about my personal thoughts, beliefs and opinions, based upon my own perspective and my experiences.
These thoughts and beliefs and opinions come from years and years of self-experimentation and self-reflection.
They come from questioning and challenging MYSELF.
Your mileage may vary, your views may differ, and that's okay.
Not every thought or statement that I write is going to be 100% true for you. Some things work for one but not for another. Some things you can relate to while others can't relate. It's about perspective.
I most definitely have my beliefs and opinions, but I also know that these beliefs and opinions are subject to change. Just because I believe something today does not mean that I will believe it exactly the same way tomorrow.
I think it's perfectly normal, healthy even, to have changing and shifting beliefs.
There are those who would have you think that changing your beliefs implies that you are being wishy-washy. I suppose that if we define ourselves by our beliefs then that would be understandable. If our beliefs define us then challenging or questioning a belief would be like a threat to our integrity - to our very existence. But that is a post for another day.
My question would be, what is your relationship with your beliefs?
Where do they come from?
Why can't we question, argue with, or interrogate our own beliefs?
Why are our beliefs non-negotiable?
What kind of belief can't be questioned??
It's a belief, not a lifetime contract.
It seems to me that to hold fast to a particular belief is also to neglect or ignore other possible explanations. Again, this is a post for another time.
The point in my rambling is this; I share my writings to hopefully inspire you to look at things from a slightly different perspective, to provoke thought in the form of introspection. You are not obligated in any way to believe me. We are all moving through life at different speeds and therefore seeing things from different angles.
My advice is to simply know your physical and mental limits, your capabilities, then gently and little by little, stretch them.
There is an infinite number of ways to look at something and it's different for all of us. We call it perspective. There is an immeasurable number of ways to get from Point A to Point B. In my articles I share what has worked, or what is working, for me. That doesn't necessarily mean that what works for me will work for you, but maybe you will find something that will help you on your own personal journey of navigating through this amazing experience that we call LIFE.
I am not suggesting that you sell your home and all of your belongings, as I did, and live out of your vehicle.
I am not telling you to ignore your current physical or mental status to go do something way beyond your capabilities, either.
This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. DO NOT ignore your physician's or your therapist's advice. If you don't have one, but you feel the need to see a physician or a therapist or a spiritual advisor then, by all means, please go see them.
As for me; I frequently make the wrong choices or decisions. I am as prone to losing my cool as anyone else. I don't have it all figured out and as long as I live and breathe I never will. I know that.
I also know that accepting my current state as "that's just how it is", without challenging or questioning it, is a blind acceptance that does nothing for anyone - most of all, myself.
Why do we only challenge things that we DON'T want to accept?
Are our beliefs that fragile?
What are we doing to ourselves if we turn our backs on information only because we don't believe it or don't want to know it?
Pic by Coffee And A Map