Pondering

Over the last year the Universe most certainly has given me enough time to reflect on life. To discover more of who I am, to know better where I stand, and to see more clearly where the path that is opening up in front of me is leading.

And finally — yes it really has taken me a year — I am starting to appreciate this great gift!

It has only been over the past couple of weeks that I find myself in a position of discernment as to what things that are happening in the world, and what situations that I am encountering in my life agree with my true values, and which are not.

And so, I have found myself on an inner journey. A journey that is bringing me closer and closer to an experience of authenticity I had not been aware of until now.

This journey has prompted me to get more acquainted with my roots — my ancestral roots, my cultural roots, and even, to a certain extend, humanities roots. It has brought up the age-old question where we are coming from and where we are going. Yet less philosophical and perhaps more to the point from a day-to-day perspective, this journey is inviting me to revisit my personal value system.

In other words, what are the things that are truly important to me, and what are things that I may have been taught, yet that turn out to be of less value to me than it would have been to my parents, and even grandparents.

For example, I was brought up that you always will finish what you have started. It was one of those “rules” my parents lived by. But is it as important to me at this point of my path?

And I am finding that this particular “value” is not. The thing is that I also find it is more difficult to let go of it than I would have thought…

On the other hand, both my parents really worked at carving a life out for themselves in which they went for their wishes and desires — even when they encountered lots of opposition from their parents in doing so… And this persistence in reaching their goals that they had, I do relate to at this point in my life.

And then there is the situation in the world of today…

It brings up questions like do I agree with what is happening? Or not so much? And either way, am I going to voice my opinion openly and loudly, or chose to approach it from a more personal, even an inner perspective? 

If I would do the latter, the questions that come up is what does this mean to me in my personal life? And what does it show me about my authentic self?

After all, the fact that we are part of humanity at this point in time means that there is something to be gained for us, just as much as that we have something to bring to the table that will help those that are around us, as well as humanity on a larger scale…

So, do I go along with something that I do not exactly agree with, “for the good of all”? Or will I walk my path according to my value system and trust that this will turn out to be helpful to those around me?

The answers to that one question will be extremely personal, and depending on the situation, on what is at stake, and many, many other aspects that are at play at that very moment.

And because the answers are so individual, there can be no right or wrong answer. 

The one constant, however, is that we need to respect the choices the other person is making, as we neither know the full extend of their situation, nor how that is interacting with their value system…

And as I am pondering all of this, yes, I do appreciate the time I have been given for this process as a great gift!