Blog by Associate Colette Parker[/caption]
The NBA finals are in full swing, but something that LeBron James said at the end of Game 7 in the semi-finals has stuck with me.
He said that at the end of the day, he has to be true to himself.
It’s not the first time I’ve heard him say that. But this time it got me thinking about the importance of allowing my truth to flow through me and into the world.
It seems to me that being true to yourself is a good thing – something that makes us positive, healthy, strong, peaceful and happy.
To be true to ourselves, we must first know who we are and accept that reality (the good and bad of it). That takes commitment and recommitment as we grow and evolve along life’s journey. Being true to ourselves means being faithful to and honest about the truth of who we are.
Being true to ourselves requires some reflection. We have to examine our lives and determine whether the things we are involved in are healthy for us. We have to ask ourselves “Am I being true to myself?” – if not, we have to find the courage and strength to change it. Being true to ourselves also means recognizing our shortcomings and fixing them.
Don’t be afraid to tell people “This is who I am.” But do it responsibly by holding yourself accountable for your thoughts and actions because being true to yourself also means being truthful to others
As we live, we are always discovering who we are. As we find our way, we sometimes falter and fall. But as LeBron also said: “It’s how you pick yourself up. It’s how you get back in the game.”
It’s up to each of us to be courageous enough to develop a greater awareness of who we are, to pay attention to the things that we value deeply, to know our truth fully, and to express it authentically.
There is something liberating about knowing it is okay to be me and to live my truth. 