Providing others with a you that is happy and true would seem to me to be better than making yourself unhappy to fulfill others' expectations. If the others are worth the worry--they wouldn't want you to be false to yourself.
It is strange, how hard it can be, to be centered and true to yourself without feeling guilty about it. Women, especially, are taught to live for others, sacrifice, measure worth of self by love of others. All well and good, all laudable--until it erodes the *you* within and becomes resentment. And no true art, love, or creation flows from resentment.
Do what you need, to be true to you. Those who love you, will honor you for it; those who honor you, will be inspired. You will not let people down; you will set an example.
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Ah, Peg, I feel for you.
Date: 2004-04-06 05:03 pm (UTC)It is strange, how hard it can be, to be centered and true to yourself without feeling guilty about it. Women, especially, are taught to live for others, sacrifice, measure worth of self by love of others. All well and good, all laudable--until it erodes the *you* within and becomes resentment. And no true art, love, or creation flows from resentment.
Do what you need, to be true to you. Those who love you, will honor you for it; those who honor you, will be inspired. You will not let people down; you will set an example.
Sorry to hold forth. Maybe I made sense.
~Amanda, occasional commenter here