Most of our lives we are taught and learn very well to live according to the expectations that others set for us in our lives. When I say “others” I am referring to all the people in our lives who we love, respect and who we believe have our best interest in mind. As children this is an invaluable and important part of the process of growth and development. However, the truth of the matter is that whether we like it or not, the evolutionary process of human development dictates that we don’t remain children and young adults all of our lives.
Because of this true fact of life, we all do a bit of changing over time. Some much more than others. As we are often reminded “the only thing constant in life is change.” Life is fluid and change is inevitable. So it should come as no surprise to us that over time, as we are tempered by our own varied life experiences, that what we expect and desire for our lives often changes over time as well.
As we grow and mature in our lives, let us have the courage to embrace and honor those changed expectations. Even when we realize they are now different from those we received and adopted for ourselves from others. In other words, yes, there may come a time in our lives when we will have to choose to embrace and honor our own different and changed expectations for our life even when we realize they are now different from what others expected for us.
And herein lies the encouragement and motivation for you to “have courage”. Have the courage required to be true to who and how you are in the world no matter what. Have the courage to live your life according to your current expectations that your life experiences have created for you. And always remember, those in your life who truly love and respect you will continue to do so although in some instances the relationship may change a bit. (Sidenote: this is excluding the possibility that your new expectations and desires include bringing harm to yourself and or others, in that case all bets are off and you can expect that your relationships with others are going to change swiftly and drastically and by all means should might I add! I’m just saying). Otherwise dear reader, have the courage “To Thine Ownself Be True.”
Because of this true fact of life, we all do a bit of changing over time. Some much more than others. As we are often reminded “the only thing constant in life is change.” Life is fluid and change is inevitable. So it should come as no surprise to us that over time, as we are tempered by our own varied life experiences, that what we expect and desire for our lives often changes over time as well.
As we grow and mature in our lives, let us have the courage to embrace and honor those changed expectations. Even when we realize they are now different from those we received and adopted for ourselves from others. In other words, yes, there may come a time in our lives when we will have to choose to embrace and honor our own different and changed expectations for our life even when we realize they are now different from what others expected for us.
And herein lies the encouragement and motivation for you to “have courage”. Have the courage required to be true to who and how you are in the world no matter what. Have the courage to live your life according to your current expectations that your life experiences have created for you. And always remember, those in your life who truly love and respect you will continue to do so although in some instances the relationship may change a bit. (Sidenote: this is excluding the possibility that your new expectations and desires include bringing harm to yourself and or others, in that case all bets are off and you can expect that your relationships with others are going to change swiftly and drastically and by all means should might I add! I’m just saying). Otherwise dear reader, have the courage “To Thine Ownself Be True.”