Surviving the Shadows: Being true to yourself

If you want to be happy, you must be true to who you are.

I've always had this belief that for each one of us, a dream is planted in our hearts. It's the blueprint, the manual to what we were made to do in this life. Our hearts know it too well yet we refuse to listen because it feels like what it is-- just a dream.

There are brave ones who declare it to the world and act on it the moment it is revealed  to them.

And then there's us, the ones who pretend that it's not there.
Every time we close our eyes, we see it. Then we blink again and convince ourselves to believe otherwise.

We can only pretend for so long. No matter how hard we try, the dream never leaves us. It always tries to pop back up with every chance it gets. At least, that's what happened to me. I spiraled down my own pretentions. Life had a way of putting me in a corner where I could no longer lie to myself.

"You painted such a good picture."  was what the doctor said. And it hit me because she was right. I kept believing what other people told me I could do. Yet I did not even ask myself if I wanted to.

If you think about it, given the right resources, we can be 'successful' doing things we don't even like. And that's when it hurts. You look at what you've achieved and don't feel anything, so you give it away to the people you've tried so hard to please.
Good for them, but then, how about you?
Their happiness matters but so does yours, you know.

If there's one thing I want to say to my younger self it would be this: Do not shy away from embracing who you really are. Do not quiet the voice that wants to shout 'this is what I dream to be'. Have the courage to believe in yourself and your vision. In the end, it's your life after all.

Yes, many will tell you it's impossible. Many more will tell you you're too ambitious. But as what I read from a great man: "God did not give them your vision." Let them doubt, let them wonder but don't ever let them get in the way.

Do not measure your success by the standards of this earth. Rather, measure it by the standards of Him who made you.

The only failure you should fear is failing in the mission that was given to you. You know what He's calling you to do, so do it.

You got this, girl!

Love,

Lora