Carve Your Trail, Live Your Joy!

Ever find yourself surrounded by the relentless drumbeat of advice to be authentic and not worry about the judgment of others? It’s a message echoing everywhere, from headlines to glossy magazine pages. Yet, forging your unique path amid the tidal wave of societal expectations can feel like an uphill battle. We are, by nature, social creatures, drawn to the comfort of the crowd. Striking a balance between staying true to ourselves and navigating social pressures is an arduous task. As the saying goes, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the masses, it’s time to pause and reflect,” a sentiment shared by Mark Twain that resonates with the eternal quest for authenticity.

How is one supposed to blaze their own trail, so to speak, when raging against the tide of social pressure? It is a hugely demanding task, one that seems daunting, with the resistance you may receive. We are social creatures and by nature want to be included in the group.

Sourcing our beliefs from the world around us, we constantly perform a reality check. We search for the reactions and behaviors of others to make sure we’re not out of line. Usually, we abandon independence and a sense of self to get lost in the crowd where it is safe. But playing it safe is not trusting ourselves and living our true desires, is it? So most of us end up pretty miserable or at least numb, going through the motions, what I call – sleepwalking through life.

Is believing what the masses believe wrong? No, most of the time it’s right on the money. But on the other side, ignoring everything that everyone else believes and living in your own reality is a pretty good definition of insanity.

As Mark Twain said, whenever you find yourself on the side of the masses, “it’s time to pause and reflect.”

Just like everything else in the world, finding balance is key.

You can follow your own heart, blaze your trails, and wake up out of your trance; this is the best way to live a life of joy! The simple solution is to be aware of the limits of the world at large and choose which beliefs you would like to follow. While at the same time following your own heart and being an architect of your reality.

Living this way is a good definition of genius.

Your beliefs, particularly about yourself, create your reality. Ask yourself what is most useful and valuable to believe right now. Reality is persistent, and social pressure will often try and force you to adopt a particular belief set.

What areas in your life do you want to break free from conformity and start carving your ground? Some people know immediately, but others are not sure what it is they want to create. Whichever is you, always pay attention to your thoughts and feelings and take action to create a life that you design. Beginning to understand the feeling of something when it limits you as well as what brings you joy is a great first step. It is listening to this internal knowing that will bring you closer to your dream.

I love helping people to be present and be a leader in their own life. If you are ready to “wake up” to a new way of being, schedule a free consultation. Some people think of “sleep” with hypnosis. I am the hypnotist who wants to wake you up to your life.