To be authentic rather than holy

The other day, I realized I don't need to be overly polite and proper.

While I have no intention of being rude or disrespectful towards others, I aim to genuinely communicate my viewpoints and personal experiences, even if they are not commonly accepted. I acknowledge that I have been codependent by refraining from expressing my disagreements with others due to my worry of inconveniencing or causing discomfort to them.

Previously, I believed I was decent simply because I was always nice to everyone. However, I was merely evading uncomfortable discussions and refraining from voicing my opinions. While I don't seek to engage in debates on every topic, I do wish to engage in conversations and share my thoughts without apprehension of facing criticism towards my perspectives or integrity.

“The world needs you to be pleasant. But the spiritual process is about transcendence, not good behavior.” – Sadhguru

I have always harboured a profound fear of others' opinions, fearing not being accepted. The thought of someone not liking me or seeing me as unintelligent or inadequate made me very uncomfortable. However, the only way to avoid annoying others is to stay quiet, inactive, and insignificant.

It's unrealistic to expect a harmonious relationship with every person you encounter. Some may inevitably hold differing opinions or react with annoyance or anger when I am expressing my views. This should not deter me from asserting my beliefs and showcasing my contributions. By withholding my true self and emotions, those in my vicinity cannot grasp my authentic identity.

“Stop striving to vibrate highly and start striving to vibrate authentically.” – Dolores Cannon

At one point, I believed I was exceptionally level-headed, viewing it as a sign of progress on my spiritual journey. I thought my purpose was always to stay composed and confront challenges tranquilly. However, being spiritual doesn't involve feigning acceptance of unfavourable situations or suppressing genuine feelings of disagreement.

Spirituality does not require perfection, where one never faces challenging emotions or never errs. It is natural to have days when you feel low, exhausted, or frustrated with circumstances, even angry at the state of the world.

“Many people think that being spiritual means being positive, but being spiritual means being conscious and aware.” – Teal Swan

Being spiritual doesn't mean just projecting "love and light." It means authentically embracing yourself. It involves being truthful about your identity, passions, dislikes, preferences, and aspirations in life. It entails the ability to make firm decisions and establish boundaries when needed. There is no absolute right or wrong as long as one's beliefs and behaviours do not cause harm to others. To be genuine, one must have a deep understanding of oneself.