The word truth holds so many meanings. When we hear it, right away, most of us think about telling the truth. We may remember some loving adult reminding us of the boy who cried wolf or the girl who told her mother she was meeting her best girlfriend when she was meeting a guy. This would be the guy her Mama and Daddy wouldn’t like at all. No. Not. At. All.
Truth is also associated with integrity, authenticity, character, and purpose. One of my favorite Osho quotes says, “Though society exists on phoniness. In your relationships where you can be true, don’t allow phoniness”.
If you’re like me, the last thing you want is to be around someone being phony.
And you don’t want to live in a way that leaves you feeling phony, less than your true self. You want to be all of you. You’re a dancer, Mom, banker, Uncle, entrepreneur, Auntie, mad-cookie-maker, runner, Dad, yogi, author, manager, cousin who’s full of all kinds of emotions and thoughts.
Your body is unique to you. There’s not another one like it. And thanks to unique-body-magic, even some identical twins have birthmarks that distinguish them.
And there’s no way to measure the good you came to do in the world. Your purpose is yours and yours alone. You will impact the world in ways that nobody else can. Why? Because they’re not you.
You’re a living quilt of talents, gifts, feelings, thoughts, abilities, questions, strengths, challenges and insights all perfectly blended into a unique pattern. When you unfurl your genius, you warm the world in your own special way.
Janet Mock says, “Owning who we are is power”.
So let me break it down for you.
Truth is a source of energy for our body, mind, and spirit.
Put the power of Truth into action with three simple practices.
Use your body wisdom – I grew up hearing the bible verse, “Your body is a temple for the spirit of God”. The body and the spirit have an intimate relationship.They’re partners in your life journey. My Taoist teacher says that each spirit chooses the body that is perfect for the purpose she came to fulfill. He also says, “The body never lies”. Aches, pains, tension, butterflies, tingling, gurgling belly, vibrations, all our bodily sensations are information. Our bodies tell us stories about what’s happening inside us as well as how we’re responding to the world around us. Take some time each day to check in with your body. Notice the sensations. I invite you to make a game of it. Compare what your body says when you’re with your boss versus when you’re with your boo. Now this could be challenging if you boss is your boo or you have a crush on your boss. But I think you get the point. Keep track of this information. Your body wisdom will tell you when it’s time to rest, eat, dance, move away from something, or move toward someone. Get to know your body’s language. You will find it useful in making decisions that support your life, health and well-being.
Use your awareness – Our minds have great capacity to notice the world around us. We take in light, sounds all kinds of information and we make sense of it. We transform what’s out there in the world or even what’s happening in our bodies into something that makes sense to us. We’ve got a built in filter system. Begin to notice what catches your attention. Use it to get clear on your values. Do you value love, family, compassion, or humanitarianism? What are the deep-down values that drive where you place your awareness? If you don’t like what you see, change it. If you value, “being good enough”. But you only notice that you’re not good enough or you think others are so much better, it’s time for a change. Comparing yourself to others drains your energy. Everybody is good enough. Life is not a competition. Put your values to work so that you can be your best you.
Fulfill your purpose – Your spirit came to life in your body for a reason. At your deepest level, you are here to do some magical good that only you can do. Some cultures have rituals to learn a spirit’s purpose during pregnancy. And at birth, children are given names that reflect their purpose. If you’re like me and you just can’t get enough of ancient wisdom traditions, check out Sobonfu Somé’s, Sprit of Intimacy, to see an example. Imagine a world where every time you heard your name, you remembered all the good stuff that only you can bring. You remembered that you came equipped to do your purpose. That’s some serious jet fuel for your life! If you don’t know your purpose, please check out the Life in 4-Part Harmony Truth page. There are numerous how-to’s, games, and roadmaps to help you discover your purpose. Have a purpose finding party. Make everyday a Purpose Day. Do a different activity each week until you feel and know your passion. You need to know your purpose. It provides unlimited power to live your life and build your dreams. Everyday.
I tell my students that the day I wake up and cannot determine what teaching has to do with why I came to the world, they will get an emergency alert text. It will simply read, “Class is cancelled. Dr. Lewis has left the building”. My truth energizes every part of my life. If I can’t see how it fits, there’s no need to keep going down that road. The first thing to do each morning is say hello to your truth. Before your feet hit the floor say a short good morning to the one and only you. If your purpose is to teach, you could say, “I am a teacher. I inspire people to explore the wonders of our world and to love learning. It’s good to be me.” Remember, your job is not your purpose. You can teach in a classroom, a church, a yoga studio or on a subway car in a chance encounter. Your purpose is not bound by titles or job descriptions. Your purpose is infinite.
Here’s your Truth Power Playlist:
Listen to your body.
Know what you value.
Be the star that you are.
© Sandra Y. Lewis