Learn to Stand on Your Own Two Feet

With the privilege of being an individual, we have the responsibility to shape and form our life through our choices. Be the person you are meant to become. Be a rugged individualist, a nonconformist. The secondhand thoughts and beliefs you inherited from tradition may very well not be the truth as you’ve come to know it.At certian times in your life you have to take a stand within yourself. Being tough minded, thinking things through for you, is the only way to be able to stand in the center of your essence and think challenging thoughts that bring out truth and clarity as you pursue your extraordinary natural talents.It is rare to find a man who believes his own thought or who speaks that which he was created to say. As nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing, so nothing is rarer in any man than an act of his own. Feel yourself, and be not daunted by things. The light by which we see in this world comes out from the soul of the observer.Who are some of your heroes throughout history? Who do you look to for inspiration and guidance? Who are some of the brilliant artists who have pointed the way toward transcendent beauty and divine thoughts of unity and love? What poets do you read and study? Who are the spiritual teachers who point the way for you? Who are your favorite presidents?Take a few moments to write down a few of your favorite people, your light bearers, those who have helped you to become a more critical thinker. As a fun exercise, write a few words, a sentence or two, next to the name of someone you greatly admire. For Aristotle, I write, “The good life is the life of excellence, based on the principle of the Golden Triangle of what is true, good, and beautiful, the Golden Mean between the two extremes of too much and too little. Happiness is the aim, the goal, and the purpose of life.”Some of the people I most admire are original thinkers who have struggled to find the truth and wisdom from within their own essential nature, who have been guided by their intuition to be true to their higher self. You need to learn to confide in yourself, and become something of worth and value, this the best and safest course.”What do you really think and feel?What do you accept as truth and what do you reject?Who is the real you? You must learn to train your mind to accept personal responsibilityTrain your mind through study and contemplationDon’t blame others or outer circumstances for your unrealized dreamsBe accountable for the choices you freely makeAccept personal responsibility for your life and your unrealistic expectations.Many of us have been brainwashed while growing up. I often say that our task is to unlearn so much of what we’ve been taught.We must keep our sense of gravity, as we stretch ourselves into the originality of new ideasIn this way life-changing experiences will continue to grow in our consciousness each day.The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Challenge yourself to mentally step outside of your family and community, get away from the superficial chitchat in your head and go into the depths of your being to discover who you are, why you are here, what choices you should make to be able to put your innate talents to the best use.What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.” On and on and on, we must try with each step we take to listen to our own voice, really believe what we believe, live our own philosophy, and be true to who we are meant to become.We are pure potential. Striving is our birthright. We’re here to grow, to discover, to explore and develop our full powers. When we move onward and upward we’re more in control, we push our limits. The higher we climb, the more alive we feel, the happier we are, the more confident we become that our life has meaning. When we choose to stand on our own two feet, we maintain our balance; if we fall, we stand up again. The tougher the challenge, the greater the sense of victory.There is no use our mounting on stilts, for on stilts we must still walk on our own legs.” There are great inner resources in each of us. Stand tall where you are. All the people who accept their responsibility to use their minds and gifts responsibly are adding their originality and inborn talents to the universe.It is our turn now to carry on this enterprise, making our unique contribution to the world. Any form of imitation is dishonest. We have all the giants from the past to learn from, and then we have to let go and rely on ourselves.Fall seven times, stand up eight.” There is greatness inside us. Keep on keeping on, as you choose to use this gift of potential for your own satisfaction and for the benefit of the world. Keep challenging your physical, intellectual, and spiritual choices. Stand up for yourself, stand on your own two feet, and stand tall, firm in your convictions to live up to your higher self.We must learn to relely upon ourselves.