In an attempt to live more fulfilled lives we sometimes start searching, either internally or externally, for whatever could fulfil us. The hardest part about starting the search is that it is an individual, personal journey and that means that we sometimes lose people along the way. Sometimes though, the answer is in losing them.

Listening to a talk at work, the speaker said something that stuck with me, “It is far easier to get into something than it is to get out of it.” If you look back at decisions made over the years do you not think this saying to be true? And ever since I heard it I keep wondering why it is true. Is it because once you’ve made a decision to get involved in something you become dedicated to it, so much so that even when you know to continue would do more harm than good, you still continue. For example, we sometimes stay in jobs or companies or careers simply because it makes sense or it’s the right thing to do. Not because it is what we want to do. We feel a sense of loyalty to the company or people that have helped us along the way. Sometimes it is simply because facing the truth would cause a lot more pain to those closer to us. What we do not realise or are afraid to accept is that all we end up doing is betraying ourselves. Or we end up acting in ways outside our normal behaviour trying to fill that missing gap.

Something else that stood out for me during this talk is that as we get older and build relationships we focus more on living according to our tribe. We stop hearing ourselves and start following what our family, friends or colleagues judge us upon and that voice inside us dies a slow death. We make decisions because it’s the right thing to do; because others in our position would have made that choice and not because it is the right decision for us, personally.

So how do we follow our truth knowing that it may go against the truths of those close to us? How do we take the step, knowing that the short-term consequences may be disastrous but the long-term consequences would be fulfilling. And how do we know that it would be fulfilling?

Because by you living your truth, it gives others the courage to do the same. Because you no longer have to worry about searching for anything. You are you. And nothing can be more fulfilling than that.