I really believe that we are all different and that there is no one-size-fits-all model for life. No one way to live, learn, love or eat. I know that just because something works for me, doesn’t mean that it is what the whole world needs. I am not interested in changing the world to be just like me and I don’t appreciate when other people have this attitude of superiority and claim to know the ultimate truth. I think that this truth can be different for everyone and that everyone has their own uniqueness to bring to the world. We are all different, although we can share many similarities in life and connect on many levels.

What saddens me is the fact that some people don’t want to connect with others who are not like them. They do not see them as equals. They see them as lost and needing to be saved by the brainwashing of their particular beliefs. Some people look down on (and even put down) others who do not believe the same or live the same as them, yet they do not see that it is only their own pride that they are living from. Their standard that they are measuring people against. Their own need to be right and have everyone else be just like them.

I believe that we all have a conscience inside of us that knows what is right for our lives. We can all tell by this conscience inside whether how we are living is right or wrong. For a long time, I couldn’t hear it. I didn’t even really know that it existed, but I knew inside that how I was living was wrong for my life because I was not happy and did not have inner peace. Even though I ‘fit in’ and my life was of the norm, I did not feel right about some of the things that I was doing.

I am not going to go into full detail here, but this is something that is often on my mind. I just really want to encourage people to let others find themselves and live their own inner truth without always preaching the answers and offering the ultimate truth to them, whether it is religion, schooling vs. homeschooling or the way someone eats, omnivore, vegetarian, vegan, raw, etc. We are all still equal and no one man is better than anyone else. Just because something works for you, doesn’t mean it is best for everyone. Instead of desiring everyone to be like us, perhaps we should instead encourage them to be themselves and do what makes them happy. Perhaps we should focus on finding our own selves first before even thinking that we know anything about anything and judging others.

There are a few things that I wanted to share today that have inspired me and reminded me to stay on my own path and find myself. I think that it is all too easy to get sucked into trying to fit a certain mold and lose ourselves and our own inner truth. It is hard to hear the voice of your own conscience when there are so many answers out there being handed down by anyone and everyone.

I think the best thing is to discover this inner voice, this conscience and follow it. Forget about image and how you look to others. Forget about not fitting in and stop comparing yourself, your beliefs or your life to others. Comparison truly is the thief of joy.

“There is a criterion by which you can judge whether the thoughts you are thinking and the things you are doing are right for you. The criterion is: Have they brought you inner peace? If they have not, there is something wrong with them/so keep seeking! If what you do has brought you inner peace, stay with what you believe is right.” ~Peace Pilgrim

We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It’s one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it’s another to think that yours is the only path.” – Paulo Coelho

“Until there is peace between religions, there can be no peace in the world.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

“You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him discover it in himself.” – Galileo

“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” – Galileo

“When the voice and the vision on the inside become more profound and more clear and loud than the opinions on the outside, you’ve mastered your life.” – John Demartini

“You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.” ~Friedrich Nietzsche

Believe nothing.
No matter where you read it,
Or who said it,
Even if I have said it,
Unless it agrees with your own reason
And your own common sense. ~ Buddha

 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Jesus (Matthew 7:3-5)

And good ol’ Pinocchio has this great timeless message, in case you forgot. 🙂

Much Love,