Awakening Your Truth

"Truth is powerful and it prevails"- Sojouner Truth 

Sunday morning the phone rings. I pick up the phone, and on the other end is a dear friend who called to say that she was thinking of me. It was the day after the Women’s March. We talked about who attended and shared our excuses for not attending. We both agreed that the March was important to show a collective stand. However, we both had exchanged our deeper analysis of social conditions in America and why we each stayed away which may have left us with feeling some sort of guilt.  

After ending this conversation her words resonated with me, “Just stand in your own truth.” This statement repeated in my thoughts as began to process the many interpretations of its meaning that applied to my life. The most relevant and important interpretation was the truth in this moment. The reality of my truth became evident; which I have avoided by the many convenient distractions as afforded by modern technology. My excuses are common to most; coming home tired from working every day, watching drama and reality TV to help numb out my own reality, or becoming ill and simply doing nothing because I need to ‘recover’ are only excuses to avoid my truth.  

I had been feeling a bit annoyed and angry about a relationship that never failed to disappoint when my sister-friends’ words gave me light.  There are many difficult relations, close and distant with persons perhaps at the job, a neighbor, local or national politicians, family members, or persons with a few degrees of separation that are broken and in states of dysfunction that may never be repaired.   But we don’t have to remain a victim of those relations in absent of respectability; nor do we have to remain a victim of our own thinking.    Know that we can immediately free the mind when we shift our attention on our own truth; which cannot be one steeped in bitterness of the past nor of any present condition that is temporary. 

Don’t get caught off guard because bull-crap is all around and will cause distraction from any place at any time.  Here are a three way to help gain focus and channel positive energy towards living your truth.

1.  Begin first with stepping away from toxic people and environments that keep you engage with day-to-day distractions.  This only serves in keeping the mind reactive and sedated in anger.  It is ineffective, un-empowering and unhealthy.
2.  Meditate and not medicate.  Find your own truth through quiet soul searching. Identify what brings you joy perhaps through a talent or activity.  There are things you can focus on daily that make life gratifying and help to manifest peace. 
3. Be deliberate about a purpose.  Allow yourself to have a purpose in life and don’t generalize it.  Do not simply state ‘my purpose in life is to just be happy,’ rather, challenge yourself to be specific.

These three things helped to alleviate psychological burdens. You can choose to support a cause and be a part of collective change from a distant; or you can choose not to participate. If your soul and conscience are not at ease, then it is at dis-ease and you need to find your truth about the matter.

Your truth can quickly and easily fade in the background of other people’s b**s** and sometimes self-imposed. That is not to say that general movements are not legitimate causes.  There are times when we need to put aside our personal issues and stand for something greater. However, when the individual voice has been muted by superficial surroundings, anger and resentment cultivates. When we are ready to stop blaming others, or look for excuses and reason to be mad; we can take responsibility for our personal self-worth, happiness and achievements that require discipline and dedication.

The only importance is to live in your individual truth. Once you can stand in your own truth, only then you can stand for others. I am confident that outcome will be life gratifying and fulfilling. 

This is awakening your truth.

Sonja 'Song Bee' Brooks