How many times do we find ourselves explaining and justifying ourselves to others?
Perhaps it is simply a social norm, and it is important for us to take responsibility for actions, but before whom and when should we justify ourselves?
If we find ourselves explaining our decisions and justifying our actions to others, there’s a good chance that we are the ones who believe something is wrong.
Have you given your best effort so far?
If this is the case, then congratulations! That means you have done all in your power so far, to do what you want to do. If not, then don’t beat yourself up, because the good news is that today is a new day, and ripe to begin to do so.
The truth is that we are all going to make mistakes from time to time. So far no one has been born who is “perfect” in every sense; though if we really think about it, maybe we are all perfect, just as we are. Taking this into account, we can analyze our actions, enjoying both our successes and our defeats; since one brings satisfaction and the other learning.
Instead of explaining and continually justifying our actions to others, we can learn from all that happens on our journey, loving and accepting ourselves, as we are, with all our defects, which can be corrected if we wish; not to please others, but rather for our own good.
Time proves that the best relationships develop where the love for one another is so great, each accepts the other as they are. This link keeps it strong when inevitable tests challenge its integrity.
What about accepting others with their defects, particularities, and bad habits?
Wouldn’t it be marvelous if the others accepted us this way?
We have become a society where to be accepted we believe we must behave in a certain way, by a established code. The norms are drilled into us since we are small. We are told to: “Stand up straight, say hello to others, and behave.”
The reality is that not everyone stands up straight, there are times when we don’t want to say hello to others, and being bad can strangely enough sometimes feel good. Let’s be faithful to ourselves, according to our principles and what we believe to be true, open to the idea that we don’t have all the answers and that sometimes we are likely to be wrong, and that’s okay.
It won’t always be possible to please others, but being in harmony with ourselves is the best way to be right with the world. When we believe we are doing the right thing, we avoid the wear and tear of feeling the need to justify ourselves before others. This ultimately transforms into inner peace, creating harmony with others, which allows to simply flow as life goes.
∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL IV 45