~ Nisargadatta Maharaj
"You can't handle the truth!" Jack Nicholson's famous line from A Few Good Men is not far from where many of us choose to live.
Psychologist, Carl Rogers, believed in the fully functioning person concept. His research says in order to achieve a self-actualized state, individuals must learn to operate with genuine openness, self-disclosure, and acceptance of self in each moment. This leads to what he termed positive self regard.
To be whole, fulfilled, and at peace, we must wade through the toxic sea of self-deception keeping us comfortable at one level yet ill at ease on another. Since being honest with ourselves calls us into greater discipline and accountability for our own lives, we often decide to walk in the realities we are best able to cope; blaming others for the circumstances created by our own poor choices. Unfortunately, as a result, we discover we may not be ready to commit to our loftiest goals and aspirations.
"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it." ~ Flannery O'Connor
A self-actualized existence is for many a burden to avoid since accomplishing such a state means examining the true nature of one's motivations at the deepest levels. Though more palatable to view our image in a mirror with cracks and distortions that warp our vision, we have to be willing to see clearly the truths attempting to be spoken into our lives.
All truth reveals something within us and much of the time we fear its repercussions. Choosing self-deception only masks deeper revelations that may lead to a much needed healing by way of increased clarity and greater self-awareness.
"The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you." ~ David Foster Wallace
Unveiling those dark places of our shadow selves we are unprepared to confront reveals things about our lives for which we have decided not to take responsibility. The late comedian Flip Wilson's alter ego, Geraldine, used to declare "the devil made me do it." When in fact it was her disguised as the devil that wanted to do it and so she did. People often lie first to themselves and then others to avoid consequences.
The truth can hurt, but it can also heal by getting us unstuck. Freeing us from habitual patterns of stinking thinking and unhealthy behavior. Truth liberates. Much of the time we fear this freedom, because what we know about we must decide to do something about and so a retreat into the imaginary realm of self sacrifice that false martyrdom provides becomes a more attractive option.
"The truth is the light," my grandmother used to say. Though some truths are harsher than others when we are courageous enough to embrace them the possibilities for self transformation are endless.
Accept the challenge to be free.
Do you desire to live in the freedom of your true actualized self?
When the truth of self discovery is revealed do you accept it or turn away from it?
What self-created circumstances in your life have you been unable to accept responsibility for?
"Facts don't cease to exist because they're ignored."
~ Aldous Huxley
