Much of our society’s focus and energy seems to be centered on attaining the status quo.  From a very young age, we are taught that attaining the status quo will make us happy and fulfilled.  However, many times when people finally reach that impossible place if they even can, they find that they are still just as unhappy and unfulfilled or worse.  The outer attainment of status and success, while promoted by our culture as the way to happiness and joy, often feels empty and meaningless.

Many of my clients come in overwhelmed and burned out from pushing and driving themselves towards this false destination at the cost of their health and well-being.  They have symptoms of anxiety and depression because their bodies are trying to get them to listen and pay attention.  Many are forcing themselves on this climb up “fake mountain” in direct opposition to what their bodies are trying to communicate to them.  They have no idea what their authentic values, desires and talents are – and even if they do, they have pushed these gifts aside for a path that they feel will lead to certain financial security and that perceived American Dream.

What exactly is this status quo we are all mesmerized with?  The media constantly floods us with images of beautiful houses, perfect bodies and perfect lives if only we can reach the top of that mountain.  Yet at what cost?  Most people will never attain the status quo – and really, if you think about it – it is a rather boring journey anyways.  What excitement is there in following the same path as everyone else?   We seem to want our paths to be straight lines full of guaranteed steps  – making life safe and predictable.  Yet our true paths are full of twists and turns that create interest.  Perfection is boring – it is our failures and the obstacles that we overcome that endear us to others.  Who would want to be around a perfect person – never having failed – always having the right answer?  It is our quirks and our struggles that make us lovable – not our drive for perfection.

Each person has an individual and unique path.  The adventure is in uncovering that path step by step – much like a treasure map.  There is no manual for life or one path that fits everyone.   We each have our own distinct treasure map inside of us.  The excitement is in accessing that map, which is informed by our own inner guidance system.   Learning to access that map and its messages through your guidance system sets you on an exciting quest towards discovering your own authentic gifts and talents  – your inner gold.

Bypassing your own uniqueness is a surefire path to mental health issues.  We cannot ignore our own individual path, for if we do, our bodies will rebel against us – and for good reason.  They are trying to get us to listen.  We are here to express our own authentic version of being human.  Not to follow along like robots.    

Think of an orchestra.  If there were only violins playing the same part over and over in unison, it would be rather uninteresting.  However, multiple instruments with multiple harmonies all playing at the same time create beautiful music and perfection.  It is the same with being human -we each have a harmonious part to play.  It is our duty to find our own individual contribution.  In doing so, we create a more beautiful, diverse and perfect world.

I recently read this quote and loved its message – “when you don’t follow your own individual nature, there is a hole in the universe where you were supposed to be”.