road to truth

"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting." --Buddha

Do you ever look back and regret the things you wish you would have done when you were younger? How often have you said, "if only I had known then what I know now?" How many times have you gotten started on a project that you knew upon its completion would change your life, only to stop part of the way through?

I believe we all grapple with these challenges. We are afraid to take risks. We are afraid to step outside of our boxes--for fear that what is around the corner may be less pleasant than what is in front of us.We are afraid of being judged for taking an unknown path, when a known one has already been forged ahead of us. We are inundated with data, information, and opinion; though often not told which we are receiving. Only to be left to believe that those with the willingness to wag their tongues must also be the ones who are wise enough to know better than ourselves.

I wonder why each of us grapples with so much self-doubt.
-- Doubting our abilities in our careers.
-- Doubting our ability as a romantic interest.
-- Doubting our own unique viewpoint into the world.
And so willing to accept that others are better informed. As a Calculated Risk Taker, I'm a master of weighing the pros and cons of a decision. This year's New Year's Resolution to live in the present has afforded me with the gift of insight that I can only make a decision with the information I have at hand. And while someone else may come to different conclusions in the same moment, based on their perspective, that person is no more "right" than I am. What an incredibly freeing a perspective!

With that, I've taken on the challenge of stepping out of the door each day with the wonderment of a child. Willing to step out into the street and seek out my own truths. Willing to poke and prod and ask questions of those around me, so I can make better informed decisions. Take a chance to break any half-formed assumptions by laying them out on the table. And watching as others dissect my thoughts, tear them apart, and challenge me to dig deeper and go farther. In turn, I try to pay these gifts forward by challenging friends and family, even when they don't want to hear any of it.

Sure, I still cry a lot from being hurt. I still wishing that things were easier. I still would rather just have things go my way, and not have to do much heavy lifting. But, by taking life by the horns, my life in 2010 is comprised of more positive memories, more laughs, and more fulfillment than any three years of my past combined. And I still have another quarter of the year to go! May my journey to truth intersect with yours -- and create a better life for us all!!