Live Your Truth

How silly to say this, because who else's truth would we live?? Unfortunately, it's easy to live someone else's truth, or by someone else's rules and expectations. Even our expectations of ourself might not actually be our truth.

How do we even access our truth? How do we know what is true for us? It would be lovely if we were handed a letter the day we were born, that came from the spiritual realm and told us exactly why we are here. Obviously, this doesn't happen.

According to yoga, the search for our truth is just as meaningful as finding it. On our search for what makes us truly happy, and truly ourselves, we probably find out a lot about what we DON'T want. I faint at blood - I could never be a doctor. I have little to no interest in gardening, but my friend loves it and is very talented. Our truth often finds us - and then it is our job to share it with the world. We don't even need to get bogged down by the outcome - we just need to do it.

The Gospel of Thomas offers an eerie statement about the importance of living our truth.

If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.”

I interpret this bold statement to mean two things. First, there is a unique gift that resides within each of us. Second, we should not be afraid of, or doubt this unique gift. In fact, we should lean into our gifts and do whatever it takes to bring them forth.

I had a revelatory moment during a yoga practice this weekend. The instructor asked us to move our body into whatever form we wanted - really? Not a pose? You're not even going to tell us what to do?

"Move from your truth." the instructor encouraged.

At first, I was stumped. I am very comfortable doing what people tell me, especially teachers, and following the rules. I will nail an "A+" posture - but tell me what you want.

After an initial lag in my senses, I began moving freely however it felt best for my body. I don't know what I did or what I looked like. I closed my eyes most of the time and tried not to look around at everyone else. At first it felt foreign and uncomfortable. After a few moments, I was smiling ear-to-ear. What freedom! What self-love! What contentment!

Then and there, I decided - doubt is no longer an option for me. If I can move from my breath and my intuition in yoga, then I can also move this way in life. I can trust myself. I don't have to worry about how others are moving or how I look. When my chemical response to this free movement was so pure and alive during yoga, I wondered what it would be like to feel this way all the time - to feel happy, joyous, fulfilled, and true to myself.

We can easily get caught up in our minds, and let our thoughts talk us out of bringing our truth forth. Yes, there are practicalities, like geography, finances, commitments. I am not saying we can go about the world with complete abandon and disregard. Although, things have a way of working themselves out when we lean into what we truly want. Money appears, people show up, synchronicities occur, and things fall into place.

What this quote means to me is that I CAN allow what is within me to come to the surface. I CAN honor that hobby, passion, career choice, or pastime. I do not have to spend so much time being dragged around by the whims or wants of others. I don't have to feel irresponsible or indulgent for living my truth - it is actually my responsibility to bring my truth forth.

We know what lights us up. We know what makes us feel most like ourselves. We know what makes us feel free. We know what makes us get out of bed in the morning. Our passions can be dancing, crocheting, parenting, or designing grand architecture - the only thing that matters, is they are ours.

There is a gift within you. Not allowing that gift to come out cheats you of an experience like my yoga class - the experience of feeling truly and unapologetically, YOU.

There is another conditioned response that tells us living our truth, and sharing our unique gifts, is selfish. But like the quote says, if you bring forth what is within you, it will save you. Guess what - it also saves the world. It’s a win-win.