What is your Truth?

“We both have truths… Are mine the same as Yours?”

Pilot sings this to Jesus in the song, ‘Trial before Pilot‘ in the smash Broadway show from the early 70’s, Jesus Christ Superstar (I’ve linked the Original London cast from 1970. I consider this to be the best version. Especially because Ian Gillian from Deep Purple is Jesus). I remember hearing those words many years ago and it has always been a statement that I’ve gravitated towards. I’ve heard it in many forms since, but all in all it means the same thing… we all have beliefs and whatever those beliefs are, and if they work for us, then we stick with them. I posted this on my facebook page the other day, “Here’s a rule of thumb that will help you: If you believe that something is good, and you do it, it benefits you. If you believe that something is bad, and you do it, it is a very detrimental experience.” That was written by Abraham, and I don’t think it went over too well, that is if you measure a post upon ‘like’s. I personally don’t but I know many that do. Again… my truth is not the same as yours, nor should it be… unless it is. (Now that’s Deep!)

Why is this concept so difficult to accept? Because we think that there is a general right or wrong and once somebody states that ‘this is right’ or ‘this is wrong’ it should follow suit for everybody. But what if I believe what the Buddhist’s believe? Would I be wrong? Or take some of my gay friends… are they wrong? The problem with ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ is that they are too grey an area to define. That’s why Pilot said to Jesus when he said that his truth was different. What he believed was different. Right now in our country I see a divide, a deep divide. People fighting over ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. So do we eliminate ‘right’ and ‘wrong’? It’s kind of a Pollyanna concept in this stage of our human development. I mean, it’s a great ‘concept’ and like all great concepts we strive to move towards it. Maybe someday we will let people live their lives the way they want to. But for now we need it to keep from creating societal chaos. That being said, on an individual level we can move forward with this concept of ‘right and ‘wrong’ and understand that by eliminating it, or at least trying to eliminate it from within ourselves we can be more tolerant of others. You see, everybody is living their own dream here. We are born, we live, then we die. Each and every one of us. So what is it that we want to leave behind when we go? Do we want to live the way we want to live or the way everybody thinks we should live?

And this brings me to what I’m actually writing this blog about today.

I’ve been approached by several people this past month who want to change their lives; be it, their career, their weight, their lifestyle, or their geographical location. I’ve told each of these people the same thing…

Go for it!

I’ve told each of them to go for it because their energy is already focused in that direction… so why stop the flow? What do I mean by ‘our energy is already focused in that direction’? If you are thinking about changing your life, you are already focused on it. Your mind has already decided that it is time for a change and once you are focused on that it is very difficult to stop the focus of what you want. But unfortunately, most do. They squash their dreams. They do this because the are afraid of the change. You’ve heard me mention several times that fear is; False Evidence Appearing Real. It’s all made up. Our fear is made up in our heads because of past failures or failures of someone that we know. Society frowns upon change, but change is the only constant.

I’ll use myself as an example. When I decided that I would label myself as a ‘singer’ and not a ‘graphic designer’, it was difficult. It was difficult because I was afraid of what everyone would think. That they would laugh at me, that they would ridicule me and tell me to stick with my day job. When I shrouded myself with the label of ‘graphic designer’ it was comforting because that is what society expected of me. I was being ‘responsible’. But was I? No… I was lying to the true nature of who I am, trying to convince myself that labeling myself as a ‘singer’ was just a silly dream. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to support myself and I would end up on the street. I was afraid of what my family would think. Blah, Blah, Blah.

We’ve all been conditioned to conform to the old paradigm; Grow up, get a good job, save your pennies for a rainy day, retire and live out the rest of your days in bliss. But we know deep down inside that this is bullshit. You want proof that it’s bullshit? Talk to an 80 year old. Ask them what is important. Nine times out of ten they will tell you if they had a chance to start all over they would have become that dancer, or that guitarist, painter, etc. They would have lived their lives to the fullest. They would tell you that family is the most important thing. Their grandchildren, and that they hope their grandchildren are happy doing what they love. I want a life of no regrets and I want to go out with a bang. I want my last breath to say, “Wow! What a ride!”

So… what is your dream? What makes you happy? Why aren’t you doing it? What is stopping you?

What is your truth?

Here are a list of a few books that have helped me along my path, and by no means is this it… the list could go on for days, but these are a good starting point to help you along in your dream. Yes, I said ‘in your dream’ and not ‘towards your dream’ because you are already living it. You just haven’t accepted that yet.

“You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” – Morpheus in The Matrix

The Law of Attraction – Jerry and Esther Hicks

The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz

Conversations with God – Neale Donald Walsch

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

The Power of NOW by Eckhart Tolle

The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck, M.D.

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson

Crooked Cucumber – The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki

Man’s Search for Meaning – Victor Frankl