Being True to Yourself

“This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.” – Shakespeare

“Betrayal of yourself in order not to betray another is betrayal nonetheless. Indeed, it is the highest betrayal.” – Conversations with God

What does it mean to be true to yourself? It seems like such a simple concept, and at its heart, it is. Being true to yourself means honoring your own heart and living in your truth, even if it’s different from those around you. God created you, and you are just as you are meant to be. By living out your truth in this lifetime, you let your light shine as you were meant to do, and you free others to do the same.

This seemingly simple concept can be hard when faced with the expectations and wishes of those around us. Honoring your truth in community and in relationship brings up all sorts interesting dilemmas. How will other people feel? How will this affect my relationships? I’ve found that the answer to these questions is simple: your relationship to yourself and to God is number one. When you choose to honor what is true for you, people’s expectations may be upended, but eventually, your choice made for your highest good will benefit all of those around you.

It’s a daily practice in my life. I feel the weight of other people’s wishes very strongly, and it has taken years for me to take baby steps towards honoring my own. It helps me to get clear about my truth and to pray for a gentle path as I express it. I try not to imagine the worst outcomes, as I am prone to do. Instead I imagine these issues from a heavenly perspective, where we are all here to express and fulfill our soul paths.

Wishing you peace today as you live out your truth. You are meant to shine exactly as you are.