Delusional

Photographed by me

In an attempt to live an honest life you may need to internally pause everything and take the time out to listen to yourself. Not the self that everyone else wants or thinks you to/should be, but simply, as cliché as it may sound, the real you.

Who truly are you?

This question is not one that should be attempted with an emotional mindset because you will most likely give yourself the wrong answers. It is also fairly easy to give yourself the wrong answers because others may have influenced the way you identify with yourself. For example: being constantly called rude, when you are actually honest (vice versa). You will only be able to recognise a true reflection of yourself if you are aware of who you actually are. The statement ‘be yourself’ sweetly rolls out of our tongues, but how can you truly ‘be yourself’ if you haven’t taken the time out to get to know ‘you’?  It is unrealistic to be someone you are not aware of. Instead, you are only the words/phrases others have associated you with; because if something is said to/about you over and over, it is not so difficult for your mind to trick you into believing these things. And the inaccuracy could be heavy and confusing- which is why it is imperative to pause and reflect on the facts for yourself on yourself without being emotional about it.

If need be, write the facts down but these cannot be biased. It is both as important that you do not tell lies on yourself, and that you do not lie to yourself. This is your attempt to live a genuine life not a delusional one. Therefore, it is ineffective to sugar coat/disregard and heighten the facts. In acknowledging the facts, you must equally ensure that you separate who you are from what life has thrown at you, and the box others have placed you in. When you have established these, it is only to your benefit that you adapt a positive mindset in dealing with them.

• Deal with the negatives with a repentant and ‘ready to grow for the better’ attitude because what actual good does it do you to put yourself down? It only causes you to be worse-off and to display these negative facts continuously; because you have condemned yourself. Consequently, this will close the path where you can begin taking the necessary steps towards a positive change and growth.

• With the positives, ensure you learn/continue to use them wisely, efficiently and effectively. There is always room for growth and with the correct frame of mind, we have the strength to be genuine with ourselves.

It is a choice some decide to make.