I am sure this title itself has got you thinking – “But I am not selfish” or “I should not be selfish by just thinking about me” – that is not nice. Well this is not about being mean but actually about the whole angst created by us worrying about things outside our control, what others think and the disempowerment many of us practice just because we believe we are “suppose to think about others”.
One simple way to look at life and its purpose is – “Living is to define who you are”. What that means to me is:
- the universe gives us all experiences to help us learn and grow – bad luck and victim mentality is just a story we tell ourselves
- life then is simply how much joy, empowerment, and value we create – there is no glory in not expressing our natural gifts because of fears and victim mentality
- In all this we set patterns of behavior, are controlled by limiting beliefs, and create either good will or ill will in the world that eventually truly define who we are as a person.
In any situation then, even when we decide to be considerate, compromise, we are
essentially just defining who we are – nothing more. We should not do anything out of sense of duty to other; or as a favor. When we do that – there is an inherent creation of expectation of returning of favor or certain outcome.
Do something – because that’s who you are and there is no future expectation – the doing is its own reward. Think everything you do – is for you and you will keep others free and your relationships flowing naturally.
I leave you with couple of quotes by Neale Donald Walsch
“There is only one sacred promise—and that is to tell and live your truth. All other promises are forfeitures of freedom, and that can never be sacred”
“When you come from your memory, you create one kind of experience. When you come from your intention, you create another kind of experience altogether. Always, with your choices, you are answering a single question: Who am I? Every act is an act of self-definition.”
Interesting! Though practically I find it hard not to have expectations…But I agree each choice we make defines who we are.