Lesson Nine: Self Betrayal and finding the right path

As mentioned in my previous two posts, "How to stop over thinking everything" and "Lesson Eight: Change your mind...", there has been a lot on my mind lately.  Trying to figure out if I'm on the right path in life has been one of those things that's been on my mind.

In my searching for inspiration, I came across a few videos that really stuck with me.  This is one of the ones that brought tears to my eyes.  Why, you may ask?  Because I'm guilty of this very thing.  Betraying myself and everything I believe in.

Like Oprah said, (and I'm paraphrasing here) "I used to think that betrayal from a close friend or family member, a loved one, was the worst possible form of betrayal, but it's not.  Betraying oneself is the worst kind of betrayal there is." 

WOW! Just typing that brought tears to my eyes again and brought with it another 'Aha!' moment for me, which has just lead me to the answer of one of the questions I posed in "Lesson Eight"  

How do you change your mind?  You stop betraying yourself.  

Think of all the things in your life (without over thinking, mind you) that you have done that have been a betrayal to yourself.  All of the poor decisions you've ever made for the sake of something or someone else.  Think of all the ways you've held yourself back.  CLAIM responsibility for the fact that YOU! HAVE! BETRAYED! YOURSELF!  --  Read that last line again... Let that sink in for a moment.  Are you crying like I am right now while typing this?  If so, then you, too, are guilty of betraying yourself.

And now I know what I have to do... what I MUST do.  STOP betraying myself and what I believe in.  But how?  How do you stop living the way you've always lived? How do you stop thinking the way you've always thought.  Depending on your situation, the only answer I can offer is that everything I need, everything you need, the answers we seek, is/are within us.  We just need to connect with our higher self.  Again we ask, 'Yes, but how? How do we do that?' Well, a good place to start is with meditation.  

YouTube is chock full of inspirational meditation music if you don't have any readily available.  Find the time to meditate everyday.  If you have a busy schedule, you need to find a way to fit time in for yourself.  Even if that means getting up a little bit early, 10 to 15 minutes at the very least, when the house is quiet, the phone is quiet.  Put the dog out (if you have a dog) put on a pot of coffee (or a soothing herbal tea) then get out the laptop, iPod, iPad, iPhone, Notebook, Tablet, or desktop if you don't have any of the others.  Pick out the one you want to listen to the night before (if you're doing this first thing in the morning) get yourself into a comfortable position, hit play and close your eyes, clear your mind, I know, that's a hard one but try your best not to think, and to just simply be.  Tell yourself that you are seeking answers from your higher self.  Invite your higher self to come and speak with you and bring you the insight you need to get through the day.  If you don't have the time first thing in the morning, then do it in the evening, once the kids have gone to bed, the chores have been done, and just before you're ready for bed.  You can do this.  You can.  And so can I.

Please remember to be kind to everyone, most especially yourself.  Namaste' my friend.

~Jenna