We should never chase happiness, nor force it. Happiness is nothing but a moment suspended in time, a jiffy that will eventually be forgotten. The word we are looking for to describe the condition we are inspiring towards is contentment. And how do we reach a high level of contentment that satisfies our needs and aspirations?
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One thing is clear: you will never lead an authentic life if you don’t know yourself first.
This is of paramount importance for discovering your true self. Once you have a clear understanding of what it is that you want, wish, need, like or dislike, that’s when you’ll be ready to begin the journey towards fulfilling your own version of success.
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The path of least resistance towards success is pleasing others but that’s prone to losing track of your inner self. There must be a balance between taking your own course (and having your set of values and beliefs) and respecting the others’ way of living and thinking.
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Knowing yourself implies to dive deep within and be honest about what you find laying there. There will be negative aspects about you that you’ll choose to hide or deny. Until you make amends to those set of traits you don’t like about yourself, you will never make a step forward towards an authentic life. You must accept your flaws in order to become a better person.
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Humans have a great skill at burying things about themselves.
When they don’t feast on that, they mold the facts of the matter, as to be bearable to them. Like George Orwell put it, “if you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.” People consider things non-existent as long as they keep them to themselves. It’s a simple way of dealing with things, but it is also the most destructive. For it transforms you, sooner or later, into a fake person. Far away from being a genuine person.
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Not being conscious of how we function means there will be glitches in our psyche, something that will encumber the process of knowing ourselves.
We are responsible for our own life, we are in control of it so it’s essential to really know who we are, even if we don’t like what we will encounter. Come what may, always respect other people’s opinions, treat them kindly, be willing to learn your entire life. Practice gratitude, help, listen and follow the golden rule: treat others the way you would want to be treated.
You should strive to be genuine, to improve your true self, not what you think you must be or what others perceive you to be. Pass this on!
