Nov
22
2004
This is by far one of the best things I have read in a long time. It makes so much sense, even if it is a little cryptic in places and maybe a touch too deep. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable read, and I suggest you take a look.
There is too much to quote here, but one part I found especially poignant was this:
You don't exist.You just think you do.
We're nothing but the stories we tell ourselves. We know in our hearts what kind of people we are, what we're capable of, because we've told ourselves what kind of people we are. You're a carefully-rehearsed list of weaknesses and strengths you've told yourself you have.
(Self-confidence, for example, is a particularly nebulous quality you can easily talk yourself out of having.)
You owe no allegiance to that self-image if it harms you. If you don't like the story your life has become - tell yourself a better one.
And this as well:
Your environment includes people. Figure out who in your life isn't good for you, whose presence tears you down more than it builds you up, whose nearness is poison to you - and get rid of them. Get them out of your life. I don't care if it's your best friend, your boss, your mother, your lover - if they are harming you, if they are doing nothing but reinforce everything bad you tell yourself about yourself, then your relationship with them needs to radically alter or it needs to end.
I've been trying to explain that to people for a while now. Nice that someone else feels the same.