How many self-help books have you purchased over the years? How many audiobooks, meditation CDs and products have you tried to make your life happier, more successful or wise? How much money have you spent looking for magic dust – that one key to unlock the door to your potential? If you are like me, you have a whole shelf on your bookcase dedicated to self-help, have spent hours listening to audiobooks in the car or at the gym and still been left empty. Why?
Your Wisest Guru Is Your Inner You. I found this quote in Karen Salmonsohn’s Instant Happy book. I read this quote and pondered it for a few days as I considered whether I truly am wise, a guru or a luminary. I resisted the thought that I was a guru. Doesn’t being a guru or expert, etc take special training? Who am I to think that I have that? I was told for years that creative pursuits were a waste of time and “not a real job” that added anything of value to the world. Introspection is scary; sometimes scarier that the monster under the bed. What is it about looking at ourselves with love and listening to the wizened soul that scares us so much? So I made a list.
- Do others look up to me? Yes
- Do others find my story inspiring? Yes
- Do others tell me that my strength gives them strength? Yes
- Did I believe those things about myself? The answer at first was no. I believed that following my inner me meant that I was being arrogant. It took some time, a deep bout of depression and near mental breakdown for me to decide that I needed to listen to the calling of my inner voice.
I already was a guru. It was inside all along. I knew what I needed, what represented the authentic me – I simply needed to do it. I began art journaling, a daily journaling practice, started sharing my work online and made photo walking my daily exercise routine. I shared my vulnerabilities, doubts and concerns on social media and eventually on my blog. That little voice keeps me honest. By being vulnerable, I learned that I wasn’t alone. What? You don’t believe it could be that simple? There is a voice that speaks to each of us. That voice doesn’t shout – there is no neon sign, no infomercial or money to be made from our doubts and fears.
Want to write, paint, go back to school, start a business or care for you? Take the first step. . . Your Wisest Guru Is Your Inner You. ~ Karen Salmonsohn
What is your guru telling you?
This post was inspired by Karen Salmansohn’s INSTANT HAPPY book. You can find more information about the book here: www.notsalmon.com/instant-happy-book
Paulissa Kipp's Brain Creative 