5 Tips to Stop Lying to Yourself + My Experience

Life is full of uncertainties, challenges, hardships and pain but at the same time it is exciting, worthy and full of opportunities. But this is only possible if we as individuals know ourselves in and out and are at peace with ourselves. Knowing oneself requires the rigorous task of self-introspection which brings out the truth in us and helps us to channelize our abilities in the right direction. The journey of the search for truth isn’t an easy one and one may find it very difficult to find their way out. So here are some simple steps which might help in the process.

1. Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Whenever someone asks us about our strengths and weaknesses we fail to respond and delve in deep thoughts and wonder about how much we know about our own selves. Well that is the challenge; one should know what he or she does best and what they don’t. This is the time when we realize and get to know our capabilities and interests. Self introspection is definitely a difficult task since our generation has a tendency not to accept the reality and is too afraid to take risks but if we rise above our fears and understand the circumstances, we can turn every opportunity into success.

2. Find Inner Peace

Finding inner peace simply means being satisfied with whatever is available. Someone once said that “Greed is the greatest enemy.” Well it’s true; the key to success is being contented and not be greedy. We should not pine for what others have or get lured to achieve it. We should simply aim to attain what we truly want and not what others say we should. Making such a decision requires a lot of courage since, people around us tend to bring us down and force their ideologies on us, be it our parents, friends, etc. but the solution to this is not to be influenced by others. If we make peace with whatever we believe in, there is no force in the entire world that can push us into doing otherwise.

3. Trust Your Instincts

Understanding of inner self is one of the most important aspects of our existence. Our instinct or what some may call it the “sixth sense” plays a major role in shaping our lives. A lot of times there are things which seem wrong on the surface but there’s a voice inside us that tells us otherwise. That is what our instinct is. I am sure this has happened to every one of us while in exams, when we are unsure about an answer. In the beginning we feel a little confident about a particular option but often choose another one and when it goes wrong we curse ourselves for not going forth with our first gut feeling. The same is the case with our life. It is ours for the taking. So at a certain point of time when we truly believe in something but the rest of the world is against it, don’t be afraid to stand by your choices and take responsibility for it.

4. Don’t Forget Your Passion

Be passionate to pursue your dreams. Whether big or small, your dream should be something that drives you. It is said that, “A dream is not something you see while you’re asleep. Instead it is something that does not let you sleep.” Your passion may not be understood or supported by your family or friends but that should not stop you in any case. Be strong and independent, face all the challenges and walk that extra mile to keep your dream alive. If you have passion, it will help you in becoming stronger and more mature. You must be ready to face a lot of challenges like proving yourself, making sacrifices, compromising in a lot of situations, all for a greater good.

5. Emotional, Spiritual, Mental and Physical Health

Staying healthy also contributes to a wholesome life. One needs emotional as well as physical strength to face the challenges that lay ahead. Even spiritual awareness is important for certain ideas and beliefs that require knowledge of ‘the beyond’. Emotional and mental strength can be achieved through leading a healthy social life. Talking to your family about your troubles and discussing solutions for the same is the best way to relieve the stress and pressures. A healthy conversation with family and friends is the best medicine to alleviate worries. Engaging in physical activities like exercise, meditation and maintaining a healthy diet also helps in proper functioning of the mind and body. As it is said that, ‘a healthy mind resides in a healthy body’ it is very important for everyone to take care of their physical well-being. It automatically solves a lot of problems.

My life has been a roller coaster ride too with a lot of ups and downs. For my career, I jumped into a profession that I did not like in the first place but we all know that our grades play a very important role, maybe even more than our interests. I soon realized that although I enjoyed what I was doing but I never loved it.

There are things like happiness, peace of mind, that play a very important role. Two years of my life were full of stress, tension, burden, sacrifices and failure which made me realize the futility of going after something my heart did not approve of.

So finally, I let it go. I don’t say that I couldn’t have succeeded. Sooner or later I would have but maybe I didn’t want to because my heart wasn’t into it. Thankfully, my family has supported me all through the days and I cannot be more grateful. Today, I am into something I truly love and enjoy doing. There have been people; friends and colleagues, who have been sceptical about my decision ever since but I don’t have any regrets and see no reason to justify my choices to them.

It is said that “The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it. Let it loose. It will defend itself.” So chase your dreams and do whatever your heart tells you to, dare to dream and it will be worth it because you’ll find true happiness and pride that will only be yours for the taking.

Featured image credits: The Fight Club