Being ourselves is often not encouraged in our present day world and the concept of expressing what “I feel” is extremely unwelcome in the part of the world that I live in. In fact it is so discouraged that, at times, those who try to be themselves feel the force of being ostracised and not accepted in the system.
I work in the media industry, and in our industry I feel this every day. You may question how this could be, as isn’t there the freedom of speech? Yes, of course everyone can speak and express, but most of these expressions actually come from the same energy – an energy that speaks of fitting into what is expected of us, to play safe and to not rock the boat by speaking truth.
Like many industries, the media industry is built upon the foundation of disregard of ourselves. The disregard exists predominantly because of the acceptance of long hours and a lot of abuse from many directions and levels, and in turn this abuse is hurled back towards those that would accept it. Supremacy rules every newspaper and magazine, and competition between companies is normal and expected.
It has always made sense to me that everyone’s opinions bear equal weight in a meeting, as every one of our opinions matter and we should be equally heard. Recently, however, I experienced a situation where, in a review meeting with my employer and fellow colleagues, my views on how the magazine feels to me were constantly being dismissed, as well as overridden, and it felt like a shock in the body to not be heard. In fact, it was so uncomfortable that I went into reaction afterwards when expressing myself. The truth was, when I was told I could not express how I felt – whether directly so or indirectly so, by dismissal or ignoring – I reacted to this and felt frustration right away.
And this is the truth of the industry that I work in, which often does not allow or encourage us to express how we feel. However, if we all stopped and expressed how we are truly feeling, the media industry would need to change its way of operating.
So what I started to realise was that my frustration came from being told that the purpose of our meetings was not to talk about what feels important to us personally, but to discuss what would benefit and improve the magazine. But the magazine is made up of the people sitting in the meeting room – the magazine is us. If we disregard and ignore ourselves and each other, and how working here feels like – if we ignore people in general – what is the magazine really expressing? That simply did not make sense to me.
As I felt into this situation more deeply, I understood that when we express truly how things feel, this expression comes from within our body. Connecting with our body like this also means that we feel all of our choices – the wise and the not so wise. Such awareness would arrest our ingrained pattern of relating to the body – that is, keeping it separate and disconnected from us. This new state would mean we could no longer push ourselves to make a magazine that is abusive to us and to our body, as the inner conflict we would feel from this choice would create additional tension for us to deal with.
This realisation has brought me to a deeper understanding, as well as a closeness, to this team I work with. Even though I sometimes feel resistance from the team, I could not resist being myself and just being joyful and sharing myself with them. Coincidentally, what I have found is that the more I share and discuss my own experiences in relation to how I take care of myself with sleep and exercise etc, that the more the team is open to feeling this truth in their own experiences as well.
What I realised from my experiences is there is no need to impose change in the world. We cannot impose change on the media industry or any other industry or system, and we do not need to try, or feel stressed or angry or frustrated at how it is operating. We only have to be ourselves. We do not need to always agree with others and we can have very different lifestyles and choices. We may not always even be appreciated. The resistance may be there, but the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are.
When we are ourselves, we simply feel not just ourselves, but everyone else; we simply care and we understand, and we allow our joy and care to be felt. And how powerful that is!
I am inspired each and every day by the deepening relationship with my Soul. Through the understanding of how I feel, this relationship opens up to feeling and thus understanding the world.
By Anonymous
The Truth about Serge Benhayon 
‘Freedom of speech’ are very lose words when we take any respect and decency out of the equation.
Ironic that the industry of ‘communication and expression’ does not allow people to truly express how they feel. ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ is wielded by the media through and through and very little integrity actually makes it to print. Great to shed light on this…
I like what you are pointing out here. We say ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ but we do not take it with the responsibility this presents us with. We cause far more havoc with the carelessness we use words and communicate and are with each other than we want to be aware of.
When we resist and fight who we naturally are, because we want to ‘fit in’ and be accepted by others, it’s draining and dismissive – we’re literally telling ourselves that we can’t be free to be ourselves and that we must conform to an idea of what we think others want us to be like, yet this picture is one that we’ve invented. Everyone knows how it feels to be around someone who is at ease with being themselves – it inspires and lifts and invites everyone else to be themselves, too. But for some reason, when it comes to ourselves being ourselves, we can make it a complicated and difficult thing to do – when actually, it’s pretty easy, when we’re prepared to let go.
Learning that there is a great love, beauty, joy and grace that is me is something very worthy of connecting to. How can this not be enough? Being myself is enough.
total freedom to just be ourselves – its all any of could ask for.
Our reflections are more powerful than anything we can say.
I find once one makes an investment in how to change anything or how to improve anything, the result will be the same as what’s already there just a different flavour so to speak will result.
How we as the people in organisations feel is routinely ignored in favour of discussing how we are going to improve ourselves and meet our targets. We are the people that run the organizations, so to ignore what we feel is important is not wise.
If we felt our own bodies and took responsibility for all our choices, expressing what has been felt might become a much thing and then what would we need media or broadcasting for?
It is important what you have shared about freedom of speech in the media and that you are only welcome to express the truth if it agrees with the majority or status quo. There is and always has been a force that comes down on any who speak the truth. Simply bringing the real, joyful you feels like an important shift to break open this closed attitude.
I think it’s great how you say we do not need to impose change on the world and agree entirely – we just need to be true to who we are and be open with that – be willing to express and share what we know or are feeling without needing another to agree with us. By holding everyone in equal love we provide a space that supports others to express more honestly or openly too.
Express what we know and feel and it is complete, try and force change and we are lost.
Clairsentience is our ability to feel the truth of all things and this truth is a derived at point that we all reach equally and thus unifies us all. When we do not use this innate faculty, we are at the whim of certain thoughts, that rather than being impulsed from the love that we feel, are instead fed to us from a source that opposes this love. This is how we have come to live a functional life based on security but void of love and thus how we end up so divided from one another. Connection is the key – both with ourselves and with each other – in order to arrest this wayward momentum we have become so enmeshed in.
Great point Adele – coming to terms with that perspective, that attacks are actually a confirmation, is life changing! No longer is it then used as a put down or reason to self-critique… it can be fuel to keep going, bringing more of who we are know that we will rock some boats and ruffle some feathers in the process.
Expressing how we feel, what we see and read is going on is an essential part of life. Otherwise, we internalise and take on stuff that is not ours. In other words, honouring what we feel deepens our relationship with ourselves and the body – from there we are equiped to deal with what we see and read.
In reading this article, our power is not in influencing another, or business to change through explaining what we see and feel is needed. It is in letting our Livingness be seen.
What you show here is that everything matters and not just the outcome, that actually everything contributes and effects the outcome/product. So in other words the importance of the quality in which every moment in our life is lived, as it is the quality we choose that is felt by all of us.
It really is extraordinary how disregard is endemic, and shocking how this is considered the norm … what a reflection of our age.
Being ourselves everywhere in life is all that is required… it is understanding and living what IS actually ‘ourselves’ that is the key. This part is not always so easy given everything around is usually demanding that we not bring what we would if we were to truly be ourselves. The backlash and repercussions can be dire at a temporal level, however, the ‘repercussions’ of not doing so, are far more devastating to our sense of self and self worth than we generally give much acknowledgment of.
Thank you Anonymous; indeed how powerful we are when we simple feel and be ourselves;
“When we are ourselves, we simply feel not just ourselves, but everyone else; we simply care and we understand, and we allow our joy and care to be felt. And how powerful that is!”
We are all different expressions, so being ourselves will look different for different people. Some may be very vocal about true media, and that is their way of expressing love. Some may shine a light on true media by reminding the media of the love that every person is. Some may imbue the media with power of truth without them even knowing it. All are needed to bring the media to account, and remind those people who work in the industry that love of self, and humanity is needed in every expression.
When we are simply ‘ourselves’ life naturally constellates towards us.
If I am me and theres tension in others the tension has a chance to shift. If we are both tense then nothing changes. And it’s so simple I’ve ever stopped to sit and feel it the way I do now and what I bring to work spaces. And how beautiful it can be when people in their own way step out of their tension when given the space to do so.
A beautiful reminder of the power of our reflection to inspire and ignite others to also chose love and truth.
The power of reflection of a truer way to live and work is a million times more potent than words and sermons.
There is more going on than meets the eye when we are truly being ourselves – we are vessels of energy and that is something we are communicating with all the time – the worth of which is not to be underestimated.
This is a huge peril of wisdom and when adhered to can save us an enormous amount of angst – “we cannot impose change on the media industry or any other industry or system, and we do not need to try, or feel stressed or angry or frustrated at how it is operating. We only have to be ourselves.”
It is true that the Media industry is built on a foundation of disregard for people who work in the industry and for its consumers. This utter disregard ripples out into the community causing chaos as it goes. Thank you Anonymous for exposing this disregard and supporting us to discern what is put before us.
I love interacting with people and sharing life experiences and what I find so much fun and joy in is the conversations of how I live at work. it is just a natural part of my day. Sometimes they may ask about my lunch and I will gladly share a recipe or two and sometimes they ask about my exercise regime or why I get up early in the morning. I am happy to share my life because the way I live allows me to connect to my body and feel how joyous and full of discovery it holds. Life is there to be lived and shared and what a joy it is to explore life in this way. Thank you Anonymous.
Being ourselves is not only enough but is everything we are truly here for. Yes, we have freedom of speech but how often do we exercise our right to freely speak what we feel and live who we are? In holding back our true expression we allow the consciousness of normalising lovelessness to continue without question, with our bodies suffering the consequences. Living a lie is not who we are, and as you have shared, the truest way to be is not to impose what we feel onto others but to freely move and express through our bodies the truth we know and are connected to within. As the more we live in connection to who we are, the more we naturally move unaffected by the world around us, as such reflecting our loving way of being.
The more I value myself and what I bring the less I am disturbed by people’s reactions. It is a beautiful way to be in life, which is to observe it rather than absorb it and take it all on. We are not here to fix other people or have them like us; we are here to be ourselves in full.
‘When we are ourselves, we simply feel not just ourselves, but everyone else; we simply care and we understand, and we allow our joy and care to be felt. And how powerful that is!’ I feel the great responsibility and joy in simply being myself in the world.
I am learning, steadily, that I am not always embraced as I am, or when I express with openness. This used to hurt deeply. I would recoil and withdraw…vow never to do that again.
What I am learning to do now is take toddler steps in understanding. I am allowing people to react and as long as it is not abusive, I am holding firm.
That, it seems, is the key. Steadiness and gentle resolve. No fight, no banners being waved. It is steadiness that people crave in a world that is filled with turmoil, conflict and drama.
The steadier I become, the more I know myself in that quality…and the more others know me too.
Very beautiful, even when the results don’t seem to be in the short term.
Nothing will ever change unless we all learn to express what we feel in any situation whether it be at work, what ever that is or at home. We can’t force change on anyone but we can live to inspire.
I think that saying how we feel can be honoured in the workplace if we go about it without reaction or expectation. I know we cant control other peoples responses, but we can choose what we take on or allow to rock us. It takes time to really let this sink in, but its always a choice.
This reminds me of the slogan “Be the change you want to see”
‘…Yes, of course everyone can speak and express, but most of these expressions actually come from the same energy – an energy that speaks of fitting into what is expected of us, to play safe and to not rock the boat by speaking truth.’ – this is a pretty big point – I worked in advertising for a few years – and the same thing existed – it was as if by being in there we were already choosing an energy that did not allow us to express truth. The whole model of how things worked were to sell sell sell at any cost – so if the pro cut we are producing did not have truth and transparency a the forefront, then how can this exist in the everyday office culture. We certainly all played it safe with an intent to please.
Thank you … yes , being ourselves is the lodestone of living in harmony with ourselves, each other, and the planet.
Being ourselves means expressing our truth as it is felt in our bodies and connecting to the love within that is capable of dispelling lies and corruptions that run rampant in the world, it is important to understand that naturally there will be a lot of resistance coming our way but it is our responsibility to hold steady and never give up as it is truth and love that break through the illusion of the loveless world we live in.
‘Being Ourselves’ is not at all encouraged, but ‘being ourselves’ (as in a contracted version of ourselves) it is. Yet, the meaning of both expressions and how we move in each expression is totally different.
I love how you decided to drop the conditions that you’d put on being truly you – that regardless of whether you were being asked to ignore what you feel, had people disagreeing with you or not understanding or appreciating what you were offering that you’ve let go of the need for a certain response and committed to being truly who you are, without imposing and without conditions.
“We cannot impose change on the media industry or any other industry or system, and we do not need to try, or feel stressed or angry or frustrated at how it is operating. We only have to be ourselves.” I love this statement sometimes I can feel overwhelmed by the injustice in our media system but what you are saying is that is not for me to get frustrated it is for me to be more of me.
‘if we ignore people in general – what is the magazine really expressing?’ It’s pretty amazing how you’ve exposed and explained the dismissive behaviours in meetings/the workplace with one killer line – if we ignore people, how can we expect to create a magazine for PEOPLE about PEOPLE? This can be applied to so many things as well e.g. how we can ignore colleagues or be dismissive in a shop environment when PEOPLE are going to walk through our shop and buy the products, which will be sold in whatever quality we set as the foundation for the shop?
It’s an awesome attitude Anonymous. I won’t suggest it’s easy in the beginning to not react to the way the media handles themselves, but with practice at looking after ourselves and realising that we can’t in fact change the world on our own, it would get easier and the more we reflect the love we know ourselves to be, the greater the opportunity for others to get that reflection and then choose another way, or not.
‘The resistance may be there, but the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are’ – This is a great point. Although when we feel jealousy, comparison or judgement the tension makes us quite uncomfortable, by contracting and reducing ourselves we will actually INCREASE that tension and feel even more unsettled in our body.
I don’t think we can under estimate just how powerful it is to be ourselves in full.
The media has shown the world how corrupt it is and therefore to read about people like yourself who wish to remain real and loving within the industry is actually very heartening. This is exactly how industries like the media need to change, from the inside out.
When we live from the love, which is the love that we all are. A love that has no emotional attachments allowing life to flow so it is simple, and then all else seems to take a back seat. In saying that life still has a purpose so as a reflection this level of love is shared because it is lived and not preached.
What’s really important is to not try and force, demand and or change anything. What brings about true change is how we live.
What’s really important is to not try and force, demand and or change anything.
What I am learning in a different working path – that the greatest thing is me just being there, I don’t have to try and do or change anything, this could be said for many if not all areas of work. Where I am is where I am meant to be, the people I meet in that precise moment etc. The conversations I have without trying or forcing etc. It’s letting go of pictures, ideals, beliefs and trying that is the key, as way less exhausting on our body. It actually creates a freedom and lightness in our movements and our body.
The world is set up to think our way through, subscribing to the ideals and beliefs of what is right and wrong- and creating the illusion that life is complicated and that we must strive and be something in order to compensate for our lack of confidence. It is the appreciation and confirmation of our own preciousness that we know there is nothing for us to do but to align to a quality of being that reflects the power of the universe.
What this blog reveals is that such a thing as right or wrong do not work, that the defence of thats wrong will not change, but the energy of how you live life does. It is so powerful what you share and brings a huge responsibility and understanding to mankind that we need to feel instead of think and that with feeling, we connect to ourselves and another person and feel what is truly going on, from there we can address any issue.
It is tempting to continue a way of reckless living in order to not feel the devastation and havoc we have wreaked upon our bodies, but then we are robbing ourselves of the one way we can pull ourselves out of the abyss we are otherwise intent on creating for us to fall deeper into. Starting with the honesty of feeling our bodies and what they communicate – about how we live, how we are treating ourselves and the the world, and how we could live otherwise – this begins the path of developing a care and love for our physical body that allows us to hear its true communication – and the immense depths of intelligence and wisdom we have on offer to us every instant.
“Freedom of speech” cannot be an excuse to abuse someone. If we see that happening then we have a responsibility to do something about it, for example, speak up when we see injustice. In order to this we need to appreciate the amazing people that we are and yes that includes YOU, the reader.
Yes, the key is to stay open though that does not mean in any way enduring any harmful expression towards us.
If I am myself and in my power – these sound like words but they actually describe a way for me to be and express – then this gives others a choice. They can do the same or go deeper into a different kind of behaviour. This can lead to a need for adjustments but also allows us to work in far more effective ways with others, once we have dealt with the polarised behaviour.
When we acknowledge the value of simply being ourselves we open up the opportunity to build a respectful, understanding, tender, and caring relationship with ourselves that is the foundation for all our other relationships – I now appreciate that this is the only way to build true community.
yes Matilda, it starts with love and respect for ourselves and only then can we bring these qualities to others, and importantly to hold ourselves equal with all, none less or greater, as only in absolute equalness can there be true brotherhood and true community.
When we resist living who we are the tension we can feel in our body can be very intense, so it is not surprising that we tend to seek relief through various forms of numbing the tension in our body. Most Common forms are food, alcohol, drugs, entertainment, sports etc. These will act as a mask but the tension is always there until we choose to live who we naturally are, Love.
This feels such an ancient industry that is really steeped in deep old energy, with the force that that brings by keeping repeatedly telling people lies. All there is for anyone to do is to be love an express all of who we are from our livingness.
I love your observation that the magazine is a reflection of the people around the table. That the content of the magazine will be there because someone around the table has shared something is an ‘issue’ or a ‘thing’ – you are bringing something to their awareness they might not have considered to that point. I equally love that just by looking after yourself and expressing how you feel, you offer others the opportunity to consider that as a possibility in their lives.
The power of being ourselves no matter what industry we are in, is what eventually is going to change the world.
Yes Eva – so true. What greater power is there than the truth of who we are, being lived in honor of all that we equally are. And this power, of being ourselves, is accessible to every single one of us through our connection to and appreciation of who we are, our Soul, regardless of where we work, live or whatever we do in the world.
We are not encouraged nor supported to be our self from a very early age mainly because those around us have lost connection with their self and they do not want this reflected to them by a vital and connected kid.
I have found that when it comes to deadlines and having to deliver what is expected it can be if we allow it very crippling on the body. What I have just clocked recently is in this I have gone into believing that I am not enough and there for an underlying anxiousness has been present. Working on a steady connection and knowing that this is all that matters is one I keep deepening.
I can only imagine the stress and disregard that goes on in this industry and trying to force change certainly wouldn’t work, and so your livingness anonymous is so very healing and inspiring to all those around you.
Well said. Nothing forced will bring about change – my experience is that that only elicits resistance. The inspiration and opportunity to change comes from the inspiring lived reflection of another.
I am coming to see ever so clearly that if we want change in the media we must first begin with to make changes within ourselves. The media flourishes in its current form as there is a market for the scandals and the sensationalism that it produces; often full of lies and in total disrespect to those involved. But maybe if we stopped buying the papers and the magazines the media may wake up to the fact that we have had enough of the lies and that the only news we will accept is based, fully, on the truth.
The media is an industry that is so enticing that many of us want to be a part of it, yet it is also one where 99% of it has forgotten the great responsibility that comes with such influence and power. It is an industry where we could be reflecting a true way of being, yet it is also an industry that as you share doesn’t allow you to be yourself – and when you do it fights back with all its rigor.
So-called ‘freedom of speech’ usually comes as a reaction to something that we would want to be different and it comes from an energy outside ourselves. Yes, we may feel free to express this but there is no responsibility in it. True freedom is to take full responsibility for our actions and to express the truth whenever there is a true impulse to do so without holding back. The expression then benefits all of us and may inspire others to also speak up and not hold back for fear of reaction.
Anonymous, the title of your blog: Just Being Myself is Enough, says it all. If we lived with the knowing of this we would not need to go into anxiousness, comparison or jealousy, we would not push ourselves to achieve an outcome and we would have more productive time to commit to our purpose.
I think many of us have wanted to change the state of the world, and rightly so, I mean, look at where we are at? but the truth is, we can’t do that by imposing our opinions and ideas. Simply living our truth in our day to day lives gives everyone we are in contact with an opportunity to also reflect truth in their own livingness, in other words, in their own day to day lives.
Being aware that industries can be based on disregard is something to appreciate. By acknowledging that this is the situation we can honour ourselves, not feed into the pool, offering an opportunity for others to also choose differently.
I can relay a truth I’ve felt someone else live but this is nothing like as powerful as sharing a truth I’ve claimed from my own body.
It must have been very shocking to be told that you could not express yourself and that they did not want to listen to you. This goes against the grain of human nature. At least they were totally honest and did not pretend they were interested in employees opinions or feelings. This gave you the opportunity to deal with it and find your own way within it.
One key is being ourselves and doing what is needed. It sounds simple but is very powerful when we do it.
It has taken me some time to let go of a push to change things, it is true though, we can not, we can only make a choice to live in a way that is an inspiration. When we push,we join in with the issues that we attempt to change.
Yes it is a very simple recipe for every aspect of life… be yourself, and everything else takes care of itself!
Very true, and yet, we have made being ourselves a difficult one, as everything in the world asks us to be many and plenty but not ourselves.
Yes Esther we have… it’s quite a sifting process to begin, identifying and discarding all the things we’ve taken on and molded ourselves to be that are not actually true. Ultimately very liberating and transformative… as it affects every part of our lives.
When we make it about ourselves without any trying or imposing of how things ought to be – then, we change the world.
A beautiful read how to be with ourselves and how that is everything for everything as it will bring truth back to the world.
It’s easy to bad mouth and criticise industries for focusing on money only and creating systems that are quite unkind. But do we bring everyday with us to our job, the knowing of who we truly are? Or do we try to fit in? Your words here Anonymous have me thinking how knowing we are divine and powerful beings transforms and lights up every step that we take. After all, this alchemy and power is our real work in life.
There are vast differences between industries – some have a beautiful intent but may not keep up with that intent in their execution, other industries prey on the weaknesses we allow to be in our life. If you work in one of the latter industries it can be quite hard to behave with integrity and love.
I love the insight you offer Joseph. Any industry and any aspect of life is made up of the people that form it. As an inherent and undeniable part of the whole, it is a significant question “Do we bring everyday with us to our job, the knowing of who we truly are? Or do we try to fit in?” Do we light up the way or do we engrain what we may not subscribe to by fitting in?
It is deeply empowering to know that we can arrest ingrained and unwanted patterns of behavior through choosing to connect to our bodies, feel, and become aware of our choices so that we can look to address them. When free of the reactions these can cause, we can not only feel more of ourselves, but offer others the quality and space to come to whatever they need to in their own time without any imposition our reactions can cause.
With pressure in all industries at an incredible intensity, to get to the point of knowing we are enough as we are, holding ourselves within it is something to celebrate…I am not there yet. I can relate to what you share about the fact that, ‘The resistance may be there, but the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are.’ I guess it simply comes down to a choice and accepting the industries we are in, not bowing down to the pressure and being who we truly are.
As in every industry we tend to not let it go about people but about the product, the shareholders value, the profitability etc. as we think that we must set ourselves aside and to not involve our personal feelings. But as you say Anonymous, everything we produce in our businesses is for people and as we are all one and in that interconnected with one another we actually can all feel from our bodies what is really needed to make our businesses flourish and grow because it will produce the product that people really need and will serve them in their lives.
Exactly Doug, the businesses have lost connection with their clients, the people and instead have only the dollar signs in their focus which is in fact not being in service for the society we all live in. The results of this way of running businesses becomes more visible up to a time when the people say enough is enough and stop being the products from these businesses. That is the only way to wake them up, the power of the many will say stop and will demand for another way.
In a way that is true Doug, that we have given up and because of that have businesses that act irresponsible as they do because of our demand. But the problem with this is that we are not aware of the fact that the moment we allow this to exist, something in us is put aside, that instant knowing that something is not right. And with that we do not clock anymore what living in this way is actually constantly doing to the body because it’s constantly being fed the lie by the businesses we choose to be aligned with, thus making us numb and from that given up on life.
“Being ourselves is often not encouraged in our present day world and the concept of expressing what “I feel” is extremely unwelcome in the part of the world that I live in” – yes because in most places it’s associated with ‘being emotional or teary’ and ‘hard to handle especially in the workplace. Also, in HR practices many times we’re assigned into boxes whether we’re a visual person, auditory or kinaesthetic (feeling) ’employee’ – and thus how to be best managed at work. The fact is, is that irrespective of such psychometric testings, we all feel deeply – and feel with our whole body, our ears, eyes, limbs, touch, taste, smell…feeling is not just about expressing the actual words or communicating, but sensing the changes in our body in different situations and acknowledging them to ourselves as opposed to passing them off to cause a case of self-doubting, and an emotional reacting.
“A true image is formulated only when everything aligns at one single moment, and after that moment, something else is already formulating. No images can be held onto when they are true because we, nature and everything are constantly changing from moment to moment.” This is such a gorgeous revelation and shows how unnatural it is to demand that people and life deliver an image we have been holding onto in our mind.
When we make it about being ourselves we are in fact actually making it about love because we are love.
Simply to consider that everything in our job remit is secondary to and actually dependent upon us being true to who we are, is refreshing and inspiring.
The major industries we have in this world are testament to the way we have chosen to live collectively.
I too have felt throughout my life how our society and up bringing does not encourage us to be ourselves or to express truth. But it is at times when I had a deep connection myself that has supported me to see situations with truth, clarity and not get emotionally affected. The power of connecting to our essence is incredible and the more we live this the more we remind each other of our true power.
What I could feel while reading this was how complicated I have believed being myself in the world is and because of this perceived difficulty or expectation that being me must change the world, I’ve not bothered and given up. But as you shared Anon the tension in not being me is far greater inside my body than the tension around me when I am being me, because that outside tension doesn’t phase me when I do express how I feel.
“When we are ourselves, we simply feel not just ourselves, but everyone else; we simply care and we understand, and we allow our joy and care to be felt. And how powerful that is!”- So true, and what an awesome reminder of how simple it is to make a difference- by being our true selves and not hold back.
It’s interesting to how people are only encouraged to speak when their expression is not exposing the deep rot that is present. If you play the game you can say what you like, if you step back from the game and expose it for what it is, you will feel the attacks coming your way.
Well said, Michael, this is a useful exposure of the lies and deception embedded in society that we can choose to play along with or not.
I am learning that it takes only one person taking responsibility for their lives and not holding back their expression to create great change. I have also learnt that we are all equally capable of making these choices and so the possibility for change is immense.
Not even in the media industry – if life, learning that being me is more than enough – this can equate to relationships too.
Beautiful reminder that we only have to be ourselves. I can feel the weight on my shoulders of trying, driving and pushing, just drop away!!
In the disconnection from our soul, the essence of who we are – we can easily accept abuse and compromise everything we are here to reflect others that there is another way to live enjoying the richness of the universe just by being ourselves.
If we attach to others agreeing with us, seeing our point of view or changing their ways we can easily end up getting frustrated or despondent and retreating from life. But what if commitment to life is about committing to expressing from our truth and love all the time unconditionally.. I think it’s great anon how you said you couldn’t resist just being you and sharing that with the others in the team, offering them a different refection without trying to make them agree with you.
‘…And this is the truth of the industry that I work in, which often does not allow or encourage us to express how we feel.’ and this is so often the case when we do not fit an expected mold free expression is inhibited.
Indeed we have remained focused on the idea and right of freedom of speech which is important, but missed the point that what is the quality of the expression? Are we just adding to the pile of ill expression or expressing the truth of who we really are and confirming that in others?
What you’ve written here is super powerful, it turns activism on its head. I grew up feeling angry in reaction to the lovelessness I saw around me but I lived so few moments of living and reflecting the love that I so craved. It was easy for me to react against not being heard by shouting about it or internalising how I felt if I was too scared to rock the boat and reflect a different way. I chose reaction and ignored my body so felt even more angry that I was being a hypocrite. Now I can appreciate how powerful living the love we are inside is; it brings a harmony and knowing that cannot be denied or ignored.
Reaction is the same energy as what I am reacting to – so as soon as I clock it I can go deeper and bring a loving understanding to the situation and respond from love not reaction and know how powerful that is.
Anon- I love how you say that it’s not about getting angry or frustrated wanting to make changes to a situation you see is resistant to seeing truth, because you will be adding to it. However, by observing, and reading the energy or what is playing out, more clarity is seen and then you are able to come to acceptance more.
Being yourself and allowing things to unfold around you, is such an important point.
Anon you make a good point about not getting angry or frustrated or trying to change a situation, as this only feeds the same energy, but instead to just be yourself and let things unfold – this can be applied to many moments in our day to day where we so desperately want things to change.
The honouring from feeling our bodies and all it tells us is enormous and beautiful and very simple if we can see all the things we do and eat to not feel this over ride our own bodies . Otherwise we conform to all that is out there to do creating tension and exhaustion and unrest and a lack of quality and beingness. The quality and understanding you offer is beautiful to feel in such an industry as the media and so many others
“if we all stopped and expressed how we are truly feeling, the media industry would need to change its way of operating.” This could definitely apply to all industries everywhere, but instead we tend to lock in our true feelings, put on a brave face and try to appear to the world that we are coping….and nothing changes. I am feeling the potential power of what it would mean if everyone spoke up.
I remember reading a lot of newspapers and magazines and the rare, personal article that did not impose but was beautifully observant stood out.
The quality of supply is always determined by the demand.
Yes, Kylie! Why is all the crazy media stuff out there? Because we buy it.
It is time to take personal responsibility for our world, (how we live our lives).
We get what we ask for.
This is such an wise realization to me: “We cannot impose change …, and we do not need to try, or feel stressed or angry or frustrated …. We only have to be ourselves.” It is something I am working on in my life currently. The simple ‘being me’ whatever. Sounds easy – but is very challenging to me. And there is such a great learning integrated. Also a very simple one: to take responsibility about I feel and express. Not to concentrate or blame others. And what I found great here is, that it is not about to go in a distance to others, but the opposite: I have to open up more. With this comes more understanding, as you have written here.
Being ourselves – so simple, but so profound. It changes the world.
Being ourselves, our true selves and being connected to our body (which is part of being ourselves) precludes imposition and coercion, force and one-upmanship. As you explain so well, it leads to a depth of understanding that knows and lives the fact that everyone gets to where they are destined to get to in their own time, no matter how long that might take.
I love how “isn’t there the freedom of speech? Yes, of course everyone can speak and express, but most of these expressions actually come from the same energy – an energy that speaks of fitting into what is expected of us, to play safe and to not rock the boat by speaking truth.” I have not seen freedom of speech in this way before, that we are not free if it comes from the same source of energy. Thank you.
In the media industry, there is a constant drive for new ideas and the next best thing, all whilst staying within the confines of what is acceptable. In this it can feel as if there is no room for who we are and yet as you share, who we are can be brought into all we do.
Yes, and the interesting thing is how much of the confinement is true and how much is not true and we would gladly abolish and how much is not true but we prefer to pretend it is true?
What came to my mind when reading this was the common thought of, ‘if only everyone was more (fill in the blank), then everything would be better’. It is something that comes up when I become frustrated with the world or how people in it are behaving in a way that seems to me to be harmful or unloving. One of the most powerful teachings I remember learning from Serge Benhayon was that I am responsible for myself alone. It is simply impossible to make anyone else be something else or force them to choose something differently in order to meet my desires. The only person that I have any kind of power over is myself, and I have the ultimate power over me and my choices, because I am the one making them.
I love what you have shown through this blog. The media and press at this time are under a huge amount of scrutiny and pressure. It is being exposed in its decades long habit of being ‘selectively truthful’, and there is a lot of anger that can come from people about their role in society. I know, I feel it too. But as you have said in this fantastic article, we do not have any control over the people who sit in meetings and make the decisions that will lead to the articles being printed in newspapers and magazines. We only have a choice about ourselves and how we choose to live our lives. The groundswell of change that we so desire, comes from looking at my own life and making the choices that matter most to me in order to bring the change I want to see in my life. The awesome thing is that when I do that, it brings the ripple effect that shows that there is another possibility to us all.
“The groundswell of change that we so desire, comes from looking at my own life and making the choices that matter most to me in order to bring the change I want to see in my life.”
This is a powerful statement Naren and should be in the introduction of every political and economical discussion around the globe, that when we discuss change we should always ask ourselves if we are living this proposed change ourselves or not as this will determine how much change we can truly offer through that discussion.
I am learning that there is a clear difference in pushing for an outcome, whether that outcome is for the success of something or change the situation, whether it is to be liked or to make it comfortable, to in contrast choosing to stay steady within myself, read the situation and sense the response required that honours and holds everyone including myself in love,
All of us can react and be horrible at times when a loving expression exposes the love-lessness we don’t want to see. That makes it more challenging to stay steady within myself, which is where our personal responsibility comes in: building our life so that we ‘can’ stay steady, loving and understand the all-encompassing response required in the moment. What a gift when any of us are truly our full self.
In an industry where you are constantly being asked to be something you are not it has created a world of insecure and obsessive people. So caught up in what is trending and cool looking on the outside to make this their truth. Never stopping and connecting truly within which is where we all have our own expression to be shared. Thankfully I stopped the looking out and my confidence is growing more and more and I love wearing what I feel to on the day and this not being imposed by any fashion or media image.
“So what I started to realise was that my frustration came from being told that the purpose of our meetings was not to talk about what feels important to us personally, but to discuss what would benefit and improve the magazine”.
Therein lies a key issue facing many workplaces today. It is the output that is the main focus and not on the people – nor their quality – making the input to go into the output. Business rarely stop to consider the energetic quality of the work they are creating or the impact of the the work that it has on their staff.
The images, attitudes and pictures brought together in a magazine can really be projections of what are desirable and wanted. And when it comes from and is generated by this energy, this gets transferred onto the reader who can process this to feel that they are ‘not enough’ , that they ‘don’t have ‘ or they ‘want’ something other than what they have. Keeps you on a treadmill looking out there for something.
There are many golden moments in this blog, one being the statement that we cannot impose change, nor should we try, because the truth lives in each of us equally and that is all that really matters.
So many industries are built upon the disregard of ourselves and of our body. In fact so much in our world is based on this too…True change is when we say NO to this and begin to truly care for the body and give ourselves the deep respect that we all deserve and crave. A great reminder for me today!
It is totally different experience to speak from our bodies and the wisdom of our inner hearts. It is so tempting to rely on the solutions and the strategies that the mind comes up with and yet these are often a reaction or protection rather than a response that felt for each situation.
‘Just being myself is enough’ – yes, and being ourselves and with ourselves in our days is a keystone for everything else being in place. It is also the really central thing that we can take responsibility for and that ensures the quality of all our activity thereafter.
It is in letting ourselves be full and deeply connected to our essence that harnesses change. It is our connection that supports us and our colleagues, and it is all our own choice.
Our lack of true expression as a collective has created a whole world in which we find it difficult to then express our truth. The only way out is through our expression.
‘But the magazine is made up of the people sitting in the meeting room – the magazine is us’ – This applies to everything we sell or put out, because what people read or look at isn’t just the content of the magazine, blog, photograph, website, book etc. but also the imprint and style of the people who created it!
It feels so important that we realise that it is people that are at the heart of all our businesses and institutions and that it is our relationships with ourselves and one another that founds everything we produce, market, do, present…
I understand what you are sharing but I can also feel the purpose being called for in the meeting about what is needed for the magazine.
Our Livingness is such a powerful reflection that can ignite and inspire others more than any words that we can speak.
Growing the team energy, the team atma, happens though the connection and communication we have with each other No expression of connection is too small, and from a valued, integrated team great ideas flow.
I agree Jenny, sometimes in meetings it might appear that people are talking about events unrelated to the situation at hand but if these conversations bring more connection then the energy of the whole meeting changes and there is more harmony and from there more real decisions can be made.
It’s interesting how organisations are so focused on the success of the organisation that they forget that the organisation is made up of people. It is people who are responsible for how an organisation operates, therefore it’s obvious that if you look after the people then the success of the organisation will look after itself. It’s a no brainer!
How often in our lives do we “play safe and to not rock the boat by speaking truth”, putting the welfare of others before ourselves. I have found that by holding back that which is waiting to be spoken not only are we harming ourselves, we are harming others as we deprive them of the opportunity to hear this truth, but of course what they then choose to do with it is totally up to them.
“Just being myself is enough” a saying I have heard many times and sometimes wondered if I really know what it meant but now see it is as simple as 1, 2, 3. If the world around us is indeed not something which feels absolutely loving and supportive than it can be easy to go and try and change things which comes from a reaction.
There is always a deeper layer we can go to in taking care of ourselves. Its like when this has never been your way you get to introduce an element that you are worth taking the time nurture and look after yourself and at times it can feel foreign. But when you start to make that your normal you then realise that there is many more layers that this can go to.
It is only through truly embracing ourselves through knowing and allowing ourselves to just be, that we can understand and allow others to be. This allows a space in which many changes can take place naturally without any imposition or trying.
The greatest resistance and hurt I can feel is when I am not living absolute truth and love.
To think of all of the times I have tried to work things out, tried to comprehend the sometimes complete disarray of human interactions and then consider how much takeoff all of this affects me, it would be unwise to continue to take it on and not value myself, because if I value what I bring and what I am than that is a great start.
It is a very valid point that we can only inspire others by the way we conduct ourselves and live our lives, thus there is never any point on imposing ourselves and views on to others.
My biggest learning and one that still unfolds is taking true care of self, is akin to taking true care of everyone else. Simple.
‘Being myself”- the ultimate step in self acceptance. When we accept ourselves we are more likely to accept others as they are.
I am ongoingly inspired by the fact that the more I take care of and develop my relationship with myself the more open, caring, understanding and respectful I am of others. I now accept this as the science of relationships.
We have so much learned to not be ourselves but instead have developed ways to be with people so we will not be hurt. Either we have developed ways that make us feel superior or way to feel inferior but non of these allows us to be ourselves. What a difference it would be if we would allow ourselves to be with ourselves wherever we go and whoever we meet.
“In fact it is so discouraged that, at times, those who try to be themselves feel the force of being ostracised and not accepted in the system.” how incredible is it that the one thing humanity needs is people who are living and being themselves, the true inspiration for change, yet they are the people that get cut down. It shows us that we need to change what we truly value from being about things to being about a quality of truth that one lives.
Today I listened to 2 stories on the radio. In the morning of how a hospital porter who had worked in the hospital for 15 years was fired because he did not pay for an egg sandwich in the canteen. The fact was he forgot his wallet and asked the chef if he could pay tomorrow and received a nod from the chef. The man was devastated and crying in an interview with the radio. On the way home from work it was a debate about should gay couples be allowed to get married in church! Why am I sharing this with you? Because for me what it comes down to with all of this including reading your blog is how we treat each other every day, all day on a day to day basis. Yes we have freedom of speech but do we treat each other with decency, respect, care and love knowing that we are all equal. Lets change the foundation of disregard that is in all the industries not just the media, including education to one of true love and care. What you say here is so true ‘If we disregard and ignore ourselves and each other, and how working here feels like – if we ignore people in general – what are we really expressing?’ Along with we cannot impose change but in staying true to ourselves and our hearts this has a gentle ripple affect with everything and everyone else.
Being myself is essential! When we drop trying to be something ‘more’, which is in fact what we are not, life becomes the amazing journey it can be.
There is a difference between expressing ourselves in reaction and doing so lovingly. When we express ourselves with openness, willingness to understand and in a way that truly supports another or process, it changes the quality and tone of what is said, consequently people are more likely to hear. I now speak up when I observe un-loving practices in a social care setting I visit by writing to the person ultimately responsible and having conversations with staff on duty. I found that the way I am directly effects the quality of responses I get back. There is a balance of showing appreciation of work well done but also gently pointing out errors, making suggestions, or asking questions. This is more supportive than directly criticising or judging someone. It is important to say what has to be said and at the same time hold another in equal and true regard.
“Connecting with our body like this also means that we feel all of our choices – the wise and the not so wise. Such awareness would arrest our ingrained pattern of relating to the body – that is, keeping it separate and disconnected from us.” This comment stood out to me and brought up for me the lack of responsibility I often take in my every move.
It is lovely reading that although you clearly see the issues with what is displayed around you, you have a settlement and acceptance within yourself so that you can remain harmonious within yourself and loving in all your interactions. I have been immensely touched by witnessing the steadiness with which Serge Benhayon holds everyone in the greatest love and been moved by the tenderness and honouring with which he responds to every single person regardless of what the person may be displaying at the time. I know how you are choosing to be at work will be having a profound impact on everyone whether they are conscious of it or not.
The fact is that, all we need to be is ourselves – no matter how much our industries or societies have been set up not to accept it.
Yup, and the more we accept and live this the more our industries will change to reflect that people first is the way forward.
The company I work for is founded on principles of well-being. This is so refreshing, and it is a message that gets delivered again and again to our consumers. If a member of staff is not taking care of themselves for whatever reason it stands out a mile. Very different to most work places where disregard is the norm an often championed.
“expressing what “I feel” is extremely unwelcome in the part of the world that I live in. In fact it is so discouraged that, at times, those who try to be themselves feel the force of being ostracised and not accepted in the system.” – You can say this is true of the world full stop. It makes me think of kids at school or growing up, where we are told to be quiet and not say how we feel, because it brings up stuff for adults to look at – which many don’t want to – as they would have to look at a whole lot more about their lives and how they are living which they know is not loving or true.
It is very interesting and perspective changing, when you write about how there is an expression within the media industry that is all about fitting in, because I can see this as the predominant factor in most mediums that the media holds – even when it is trying to be ‘different’ or ‘alternative’ there is still an air of fitting in with something. Perhaps this is a huge reflection of how much we as people all over the world actually, desperately, want to be a part of something greater, and as much as the media industry has the potential to offer true global connection between people – it still falls short of the mark.
“We do not need to always agree with others and we can have very different lifestyles and choices. We may not always even be appreciated. The resistance may be there, but the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are.” This is so true Anonymous. Even though the changes may be very subtle, they are accumulative and the impact on our bodies is enormous when we do not live who we are.
The moment I learned to express my true feelings, I came alive. It validated my equal worth as a human being and impacted every relationship and area of my life.
If we do not express truth, how are people to know something is harming and needs to change. How will we evolve, if we accept things as they are..
‘When we are ourselves, we simply feel not just ourselves, but everyone else; we simply care and we understand, and we allow our joy and care to be felt. And how powerful that is!’ Yes it is. I’m experiencing this more and more.
Abusive industries exist because there is still a demand for what they deliver. Perhaps there would be a greater willingness to discern the quality of the product produced if there was not such a high ‘success rate’ of sales (aka – dependancy) by consumers on materials to fill a void rather than offer evolution.
Isn’t it interesting that the media are responding to what is being demanded as in what people are buying yet when these magazines are brought we know what rubbish they are. But we still continue to buy them. For me I started to really see them for what they are and being told continually that I am not enough became tiring. I stopped buying magazines because I started to realise that this was just feeding a lie that I wanted to be free from. If everyone stopped buying the magazines then the media industry would have to start to really look and investigate what it is that we really do want. There is one magazine Women in Livingness and this the only magazine that speaks of truth and confirms you for who you are. This magazine is a template that media industry would learn a lot from.
“The resistance may be there, but the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are.” – Yes I agree, what hurts me most is recognising when I’ve chosen to hold back, contract, to not be all the love that I am with another/ others much more than experiencing resistance when truly expressing what I feel.
Expressing the truth in everything I do has become a part of my Livingness to the best of my ability.
Expressing what we feel is not always verbal. When met with resistance it is unlikely words will have any effect. I used to (and still often do) struggle with how to express myself in situations like this. I’ve been playing my movements and making sure that they do not alter when faced with resistance from others. My expression is in my body and how it moves. I have the choice to contract and harden or to stay me and be open.
Beautiful Adele! To know that joy is priceless beyond measure and available to us all when we feel and understand that the source of it is within us – always has been and we are made of it!
It is quite telling to even consider that who we are as unique expressions of the one loving source is not ‘good enough’ The thought/energy that was first planted and held this ill truth has well infected humanity. We must claim back the acceptance that ‘just being myself’ is ALL that is needed!
‘However, if we all stopped and expressed how we are truly feeling, the media industry would need to change its way of operating.’ Imagine that! What if we truly refused to buy into the status quo. Then there would be nothing to feed it.
This is such a big awareness for everyday life- all work sectors, relationships, for me it feels like it covers everything. We hold back because of the status quo and tension, but the tension gets stagnated in the body, I know it does in mine. Loving the being of joy and light as I am in all I do and things become clear and supper simple, choosing to make this normal is a choice I can make.
This is such an important reminder at any time – we never need to do anything more than allow ourselves to be.
Great blog exposing rejections, control and resistances within ourselves concerning the way systems are operating in our world. There is no need to go into reaction but be ourselves. Wonderful statement.
Great blog exposing rejection, control and resistances. Thank you anonymous.
Right from the get go we are bombarded that we are not enough, that we have to compete to be seen, or get ahead. Until I met Serge Benhayon I never considered that I was enough just as I am…This has come as a revelation and now the trick is to accept it and live it!
By being there in the livingness you are changing energy just by your presence, it’s very confirming to know you are not alone in this situation, there is an opportunity for choice unfolding.
So very true. Our presence is doing more than we know and the beauty is that it is always expanding.
‘And this is the truth of the industry that I work in, which often does not allow or encourage us to express how we feel.’ This is ironic in an industry based on communication and expression.
Sadly, I don’t think it will universally be on the agenda for a long time to come.
‘We only have to be ourselves’ It really is that simple.
Very true Doug. Why would we even look for truth when we are numb to the world? Disregard of self turns into disregard of the world. In the media industry this has a disastrous effect.
“Supremacy rules every newspaper and magazine, and competition between companies is normal and expected.” Now if this is the current state of affairs with and media is getting worse and worse, from what I can clock not many of us are prepared to stand up and have these conversations.
We are not bought up in any way to feel we are enough for being ourselves everything from the first step is geared around what we can do that pleases the world. It is deeply engrained and do important to see and free ourselves from.
“… Being ourselves is often not encouraged in our present day…” I guess the media industry you work in is about promoting pictures, images and suggestions about an idea and marketing and promoting this idea, which I can see could be in contrast with how you feel about being and presenting yourself just as you are. Just shows how Self care and self love are the tools to develop a solid foundation upon which one doesn’t rely on images and pictures to define who they are and feel comfortable in amongst any challenging situation.
I can feel how when I feel frustrated and trapped in a situation it is usually because I have not read the situation fully, become aware of my true feelings and brought the fullness of me into expression. We can never be trapped if we know and feel the power of being fully present with ourselves, and unattached to any outcome, this is freedom, not breaking out and escaping from the situation or trying to change it. This is enough, and we are enough, and others feel it and something has to shift.
I can feel a great acceptance and allowing when I confirm my own feelings in a situation however it does not always mean that I get others to agree to my perspective. My greatest reactions always occur when I am invested in another ‘getting it’, that is getting my truth.
We are so used to reacting but it keeps us from connecting with each other and seeing the bigger picture. A beautiful answer to all the reactions we have in this world, to just be ourselves. And the more we are ourselves the less we will react.
Such a great point you make Anonymous – Of what value is a business or product, when there is no love, connection, purpose or relationship in the person or team that is producing it? It will only bring the quality of the emptiness that everything has been produced in.
This is a great testimony and inspiration to simply get to know, honour, appreciate and express ourselves – thank you – and the impact of this will be felt in all our workplaces, schools, homes and relationships.
We cannot but be ourselves. We cannot be anyone else. The question is who is the us that we portrait to be? What is it all about? Not everybody has the same level of awareness regarding that. Hence, what they portrait themselves to be can be a mere fraction or a whole lot. But even if it is a mere fraction for the person it might feel as the everything. So, the real question is how much each one of us is willing to explore and how to go about it. In that journey, it is only the body who can reveal to us a whole lot about us. It is also the only one that can embody it.
Wow. What a humdinger of a quote, Adele. ‘Divine constellations are actualised with our choices to be love’. I would love this as a fridge magnet, bumper sticker, key ring…
A brilliant article that brings real work life challenges into perspective. Rather than fighting the systems in which we work what you have written inspires me to build my own sense of self-value and let that be my foundation and confidence, so that I do not have to prove myself to others but just develop my potential in everything I do, which will of course serve others.
Absolutely Matilda, this is where people get truly inspired when they observe a steadiness in someone that is consistently lived and expressed.
Its an admirable example you have set, being able to be yourself irrespective of the environment you are in.
Taking care of ourselves and discussing our experiences works in all work environments. Could at some point when everyone is open and just being themselves, could the media industry become a public service advisory service?
“We cannot impose change on the media industry or any other industry or system, and we do not need to try, or feel stressed or angry or frustrated at how it is operating. We only have to be ourselves.” This is a great point as nothing changes if we try and push our beliefs on to others and try to get them to see our point of view, it only adds to the same energy. By being ourselves and living in truth, all around us receive the reflection to live the same.
I love this blog. What a lesson in simply being yourself.
Yes great you mention this, I often get that sense that to say ‘I feel…’ is sort of a weak thing to say. Yet it is one of the most powerful things to say as it is imperative to take into account how we feel about things. Otherwise nothing will ever change in the way life is at the moment.
Very true Adele, of course many people love to hear the truth, it is those that spout on about freedom of speech and then use that freedom to abuse that are most likely to be offended by the truth!
I used to go into a force, “that things need to be this way…because it is the right way…we need to be responsible..” Great point that there is no need to impose change on the world…reflection is all thats required, live from your truth and it will be felt.
Bringing how we feel into play in all areas of our lives is important for us to realise the basis of what we do, this includes in our workplaces which on the whole have not had this as a focus at any point.
Just being myself is the most glorious, joyful and important thing I can do.
This is a great expose in to the media industry – not due to criticism or judgement, but for how you state the fact that it is people who are the makers of this industry, people and their relationships with each other that determine the quality of the work they produce. This is beautiful and very non-reactive as you have brought everything back to basics, back to the simple facts of how we interact with each other.
Yes, Anonymous, I have discovered this to be true –The simplicity and joy of true power if felt through knowing and living who we are from within. Only then, can we be in truly open and caring with others too.
“When we are ourselves, we simply feel not just ourselves, but everyone else; we simply care and we understand, and we allow our joy and care to be felt. And how powerful that is!”
Yes, no action is required, just a presence and whatever is needed can then come from that presence and quite often there may be nothing to ‘do’.
Just being ourselves can make us stand out – in a good way. Managing to stay ourselves under an onslaught takes some time to learn and then makes us a powerful role model, showing that it possible and can be inspirational.
It’s beautiful to feel how being yourself at work supported others in the team to open up bringing a lightness with it.
Only when we are with ourselves we can give all of us and what is coming through us to all who we are and all what we do.
It is a lot of fun being able to perceive what is going on in a particular situation. When we are able to do that it is also often very clear what we need to do or not to do in that situation as described in this blog.
It is so tempting to leave who we are to try and be something that we are not to fit into what we think we will be accepted as. Always looking to the outside for the recognition and acceptance, the validation that we are ok. Serge Benhayon has beautifully and consistently shared that what matters the most is that we feel on the inside. To connect to this exquisite quality first and then express who we are in what feels natural to us. Then you are not concerned what others think because there is a natural confidence within that counts and it is strong.
Indeed Natalie, we never have to feel being concerned as when we are connected with our inner most, we are held in the sphere of love where concerns do not have any hold on.
That we are to write an article – which is VERY MUCH needed – about ‘just being ourselves’, in a (the) (media) industry says already a lot! It is telling us how we’ve accepted that giving our power away at work has become very natural. It is much more accepted that actually being ourselves. To the point that when somebody expresses truth, they are made silent or at least people try to make them so. Truth seems to be scary, rather than an opportunity to evolve / grow. What if we all would be simply ourselves, how much could we learn from each other.
Thank you for this blog; it’s just what I need to take to my own life, bringing more of myself to whatever I do, even if it may not always be welcome. The tension of not being myself is getting stronger and can not be sustained on the long run; trying to ‘fit in’ is at our own detriment.
‘We only have to be ourselves.’ I know when I am not being myself it’s because I’m ignoring how awesome and powerful I am simply being me This connection and appreciation is something I am becoming more aware of, being myself has no imposition on the world but simply shines the grandness of who we are. sounds like people can’t resist themselves when seeing this huge invitation you give them as you go about your business.
‘However, if we all stopped and expressed how we are truly feeling, the media industry would need to change its way of operating’ Whatever industry we are in, people often complain about workloads, deadlines, this person or that person, but that is often tainted with emotions and that never leads to change. What we are not expressing is our true feelings about what is really going on in the company, in the industry and in the world, or taking responsibility for our part in allowing all that to happen.
Not knowing we are enough for just being ourselves has led us into all sorts of strife – comparison, competitiveness, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and everything of a separative nature in between all the way to war.
I agree. When we try to do better we can get into all sorts of strife.
For this type of media to exist, there has to be a demand for it – if we chose not to buy into this way of media then it would naturally desist.
What I learnt from this article is that how we live, how we feel about ourselves and how we engage with others permeates through everything we express, our private life comes through our work whether we like it or not.
It is so true that you just have to stay connected to who you are and live that everyday in all that do – whether home, family, friends or work. This expression is true expression and is never about imposition or trying to change. Everything is reflection and what you are bringing to this industry by your reflection Anon is powerful in both observation and in print.
Our own lived experience becomes so powerful when shared with others – it inspires others and also allows them to share their experiences… and so we all learn and grow with each other equally so.
Our judgements can be very insidious, so much so that we can avoid seeing them for years and years!
Yes I agree being ourselves is not only enough it is everything.
‘Supremacy rules every newspaper and magazine, and competition between companies is normal and expected.’ – How incredibly important it is to have this exposed, most of us are walking around completely ignorant to the fact that the energy behind these products, in this case newspapers and magazines, is one of supremacy and total carelessness towards the people they are addressing. The only thing that matters for the majority of industries today is the numbers and how much money they can squeeze out of their consumers. We need to start making it about true care for people first, no matter what industry we are in.
Everything boils down to love and harmony or not. The answer to an unloving situation is never in throwing more unloving behavior at it, so getting angry, frustrated and trying to impose our views and preferences. Wonderful reading what happened at your work, despite of the periodic resistance: “the more I share and discuss my own experiences in relation to how I take care of myself with sleep and exercise etc, that the more the team is open to feeling this truth in their own experiences as well.” This is a great example of how powerful it is if we are simply ourselves in the fullness of the love that we inherently are.
Judgment is one of the blocks that stops us seeing and feeling what is really going on in front of us. The judgment that we think we feel for another is really the fact that we have not fully accepted ourselves. I know the more I observe how much I judge others and reflect that back to myself, it is exposing how hard I am with myself at every turn. Thank you for sharing that true change comes from a quality of being, not a push of doing.
It feels so awful that a whole industry is so invested in the way it wants to operate that it openly states that individuals are not allowed to express how they feel. But at least they are open about it and it gives the individuals a clear choice to be involved in the industry or not. I love the way that you have found that you can express yourself within the industry by accepting how it is and simply making a choice to be yourself. This is a model for other areas of life where it may be impossible to change things. We can still be responsible for how we express and not hold back who we are. There is no rule to say we have to do otherwise.
Making things ‘better’ and finding solutions is a consciousness that is accepted as normal, worldwide.
How well this blog exposes that this way does not bring the opportunity for true expression or evolving to support the all. To simply be ourselves is the greatest key to the inner wisdom that is available to everyone.
“We cannot impose change on the media industry or any other industry or system, and we do not need to try, or feel stressed or angry or frustrated at how it is operating. We only have to be ourselves”.
What you share here about being in the Media is a very caring way of being. I love these words of yours also Anonymous ” When we are ourselves, we simply feel not just ourselves but everyone else; we simply care and understand, and we allow our joy and care to be felt and how powerful that is.”
“Yes, of course everyone can speak and express, but most of these expressions actually come from the same energy – an energy that speaks of fitting into what is expected of us, to play safe and to not rock the boat by speaking truth.” Spot on, it is changing the energy of how we act, move and speak that leads to true expression and connection, if there is always something that isn’t left resolved within the body, then this can only be quelled by any and every outer substance that we can pull in – emotions, recognition, food, stimulation, entertainment etc.
Christine, this is so true. The quality can be felt in any product be it magazine and media or a pair of socks and how a product feels is almost more important than anything else. If an item of clothing doesn’t feel right we leave it in the cupboard unworn, so why do we so often override these feelings? What you are bringing to the media industry Anon is inspiring, a connection to the truth you feel and expressing it whether it is heard or not.
‘We cannot impose change on the media industry or any other industry or system, and we do not need to try, or feel stressed or angry or frustrated at how it is operating. We only have to be ourselves.’ This is a superb reminder as I know I react to industry, wanting to change what I see which is imposing on others. Allowing myself to be me and bringing understanding leaves far less room for reaction.
“Just Being Myself is Enough…” can be a tricky one to truly feel and embody. Everything in life sets us up to not feel this, but in the knowing that when we simply allow ourselves to be ourselves this supports others to be themselves also and changes the game.
Being ourselves is enough no matter where we work or live. In fact it is more than enough, it is everything. It is our responsibility to bring all that we are to all that we do as this is committing to what we are applying ourselves to. We cannot possibly do this if we do not connected to who we truly are first.
This is such a profoundly powerful realisation that also prevent us from having investments in outcomes or goals which can lead to us taking on more than is ours to deal with. I experienced this last week and the weight I could feel which was lifted was incredible – we are only responsible for bringing ourselves in full to the best of our ability to what we do, the rest from there is taken care of.
Yes, any time we want or try to change someone or something, we have made a judgement, and it is a sign that we are not in that moment trusting the power of reflection just by being present and true to ourselves.
Agree. Any condition, imposition, expectation on another or situation does the same. We are then needing something to be a particular way because we are not with ourselves or feeling complete while not allowing another to just be.
It’s strange that we have so many sayings like “just be yourself” yet as you’ve shared this is not actually what we are asked to be doing in nearly every aspect of life. I have no doubt and have personally asked people to “be themselves” but what I really wanted and was asking was for them to be what I wanted them to be or my picture of what they should be like.
‘I understood that when we express truly how things feel, this expression comes from within our body. Connecting with our body like this also means that we feel all of our choices – the wise and the not so wise.’ I have noticed that when people express from their body all this lived wisdom is shared and listening to the speaker becomes so much more engaging; there is a power that emanates and the more someone lives from their body the more this power is brought through.
“When we are ourselves, we simply feel not just ourselves, but everyone else; we simply care and we understand, and we allow our joy and care to be felt. And how powerful that is!” It is indeed powerful Anon, and something that we have to keep reminding ourselves of, no matter how difficult the situations are that we find ourselves in.
I loved the fact that even though you experienced a lot of resistance from those you work with that you “could not resist being” yourself. This feels huge to me. We can hope and plan to change what is happening in our families, in our workplace and in the community, but if we want to achieve true change this hoping and planning is absolutely futile as change has to come from us first and foremost; and being ourselves is the first life changing step.
Becoming reactive and frustrated at what is so glaringly wrong with the world doesn’t change anything, only adds to the ills. It’s taken me some time to understand that all we need to do is live true to ourselves, holding that truth while allowing others to live as they choose. No investment, no attachment.
There are many points in this-
1. That we all experience life so when we come to a work meeting we all need to be able to share as we can offer different perspectives and grow together.
2. That when we impose it is often that we want others to get it or be a certain way before we make the changes necessary.
3. Society currently isn’t asking for magazines of more substance- there is a demand for this and therefore a call for magazines to produce content in this way.
Wikipedia has 15 subcategories for Media Industry! All have the end result of making money. There are numerous opportunities to bring ourselves to the table. It is amazing the changes that others make for themselves just by us living and being who we are.
Yes, the media industry answered a call, if the call wasn’t there they would have to change so each an every person that chooses to engage with life and live with love for themselves and humanity without the need to numb and distract will engender change and therefore a different call will go out.
Well said Jane, we have great responsibility for our thoughts, words and actions. Be the change we want to see in the world and bring on the ripple effect! It may take eons but never doubt, trust.
Why is it that we have to look outside ourselves to the media to fill us up with lies and semi-truths and things that in truth really don’t matter anyway?
Yes, allowing us to be where we are at, just as we allow others to be where they are at. Our agenda is no less imposing than another persons agenda. Expression is crucial though and we should not hold back the expression of love – there is no picture of what that expression of love needs to look like, it simply is.
There can be a feeling of overwhelm when we start to see and feel all that is ‘not working’, when we see the disruption that has become normal. This can be personal, within a family, within a community, a culture, a country or the world. How can we change it? We are only one! Yet we are one, and one who is part of a bigger one, so simply by being aware of how we live, how we love, by being the change we want to see and bringing understanding to what we all feel and see will cause a ripple effect. Even in media 🙂
“But the magazine is made up of the people sitting in the meeting room – the magazine is us.”
Anon this reminds me of looking around Secondary Schools for my son recently where I felt quite clearly how some children were there to show you round their school, that this was the focus of their tour, to show you how amazing the school is, its facilities, its surroundings, its teachers, subjects and lessons. Counter to this were the schools where the children who showed you around knew that it was them that made their school,rather than it being a benevolence towards its buildings, facilities and teachers, it was a celebration of the pupils themselves, their naturally diverse and imperfect expressions produced a sense of confidence that comes from being part of a environment that puts people first.
“However, if we all stopped and expressed how we are truly feeling, the media industry would need to change its way of operating.” And therein lies the reason why they needed to suppress your expression, because when we express the Truth, it often means making huge changes as a consequence, something humanity is not that willing to do without a fight.
‘being told that the purpose of our meetings was not to talk about what feels important to us personally, but to discuss what would benefit and improve the magazine’ how often are we geared in life to be about outcomes, end results and really about the supremacy of being better or the all mighty dollar. From very young we learn to be seen we must lessen ourselves to go into the doing of life and settle for being recognised. But this is a very poor second to the love we are from. So of course it makes sense that when someone starts to live this love and express from life being about people – the system and those abiding by it then react, reject, deny and belittle. The truth is we all have a responsibility to be ourselves and express.
‘competition between companies is normal and expected.’ This fact is an end result that from young our system of education feeds us to be competitive and recognised.
I agree. Telling the truth in order to be confirmed or to show that one is right can lead to a lot of conflict.
I wonder how much putting a magazine together is about maximising shareholder return and how much room there is within that aim for the people working on that magazine to enjoy putting the magazine together?
The moment we have an agenda people react. I often do myself if I am not understanding of why this person feels they should be making a certain outcome happen. Attachments to outcomes i feel as a tension in my body which is toxic. I’m finding my way with not trying to impose outcomes on others. Simply explaining the consequences of a set of choices to people without being attached to what they then choose allows everyone the grace of making their choices without imposition.
“Being ourselves is often not encouraged in our present day world and the concept of expressing what “I feel” is extremely unwelcome in the part of the world that I live in” – agree Anon, and the only way over the years that i’ve got to truly feel was by slowing down from the fast pace i was working and living in, where ‘quickness’ was welcomed as ‘nimbleness’ and also ‘success’ too. Needless to say my own expression and communication was this quickness, spreading myself thinly, and as a result never feeling confident within myself, or with others despite my outgoing nature. Slowing down to feel brought trust and in this a steadiness to be myself.
Yes Zofia, it is without the drive and with the building of conscious presence that I got to feel myself, and in that enjoy the quality and value that I bring, to the task at hand.
Your blog so reminds me of the film devil wears parada – the pressure to perform and come up with the next best greatest thing that has never been done, and yet remains within the box we are apparently meant to think outside of.
Understanding what is true for us is such a foundational trust to develop with-in ourselves. Otherwise when we are presented with what others think, say or do we can go along with the group without question. However this is not the end of the matter. Whether we realise it or not our bodies hold our own unique truth and wisdom and it is essential for our every-day well being and evolution of humanity that we connect to ourselves before an opinion is formed or agreed upon – otherwise we are just puppets to the loudest person.
“We may not always even be appreciated. The resistance may be there, but the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are.” Resolve resistance in oneself then one no longer takes resistance from others personally. Instead one is then able to relate with them with an open heart and without judgment.
“…the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are.” To really get to this point of understanding must makes it easier to speak up when needed…yes there may be criticism, but far worse is the feeling of keeping quiet and the impact this has on our bodies.
It’s been steep learning curve for me to accept that other people choose whatever they choose and it actually has nothing to do with me. My responsibility is with myself and in not holding myself back.
As with everything, it is not what we do, but the quality with which we do it that is the key to inspiring others to change, in any industry, family or social situation. And some will choose to be inspired and others will not.
I love what you have shared here Anon: “What I realised from my experiences is there is no need to impose change in the world. We cannot impose change on the media industry or any other industry or system, and we do not need to try, or feel stressed or angry or frustrated at how it is operating. We only have to be ourselves. We do not need to always agree with others and we can have very different lifestyles and choices. We may not always even be appreciated. The resistance may be there, but the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are.” – this is key…it is never about changing another or the world, for that is futile, but we can learn to be ourselves and bring more of that to the world, then as a result of the reflection, the world will eventually change…however, we cannot be expecting of the change nor waiting for it to happen, it is simply about allowing it in its own time with no imposition, only with a deeper understanding of how cycles work.
Anon, much of what you have shared can also be applied to many other industries, which is why your blog is pertinent for us all to read. And even outside of work,with friends and family or out and about, there is expression that is accepted and expression that is not accepted. This can at times be very subtle, but is still there as a presence hovering over us to ensure we do not express how we feel, that we do not express what might rock the boat…
Its true Henrietta, we are constantly being pulled to deepen & evolve our relationships, so to work in an environment where this is sidelined in pursuit of reputation & originality will inevitably create a tension, a reaction in peoples bodies because their unified purpose is neither encouraged nor celebrated.
Exactly, and I have so much appreciation for those around me who have not been less, and have been a role model for me, and who have inspired this in me.
“However, if we all stopped and expressed how we are truly feeling, the media industry would need to change its way of operating.” There is a saying that change comes from within… and this is what you present here Anonymous. Rather than trying to force change on the outside world if we change our relationship with ourselves – by connecting to our own innate truth, and reading what is truly going on in situations from there, we bring an understanding to the situation which changes our perspective… others feel that change and are then also inspired to make changes.
True change comes about not from words but by example.
For a long time I related ‘me’ and ‘being me’ and my actions to be one and the same. That if I did nothing then who was I? On quiet working days this would play as a restlessness and boredom. Knowing who I am by how I feel is completely different and can remain constant in my life. My actions may change in life but the quality can be with me anytime I choose to feel the presence within my body.
We all say that we want our media to deliver truth, integrity and unbiased journalism and yet we continue to buy the newspapers and magazines that they produce. So in fact it is us, the consumers, that is lying. Do we really want the truth? Or is it possible that we enjoy the lies – because it allows us to hide in our own?
Well said Otto, and thus it reveals that we each play a part, that we are all ultimately responsible for this unnatural way of living that we have allowed for. And so it begins, the unravelling, the gradual return back to truth should we choose it, should we choose to no longer side with the lies that keep us hidden.
Exactly – yes we are responsible for the mess – but the flip side is that we therefore, by definition, have the power to make the changes. Our choice. Our responsibility.
Permission to remain ignorant to what we inherently know is our group responsibility.
I remember when I took my driving test and I had to learn the Highway Code. On the first page of the booklet, it said “ignorance of the law is not an excuse” – I’ll never forget those wise words.
“The resistance may be there, but the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are.” Boy-oh-boy do I feel this one. There is no greater nourishment, exercise, support or health-care for the body than living who we truly are.
Life is so much simpler when we are being ourselves, no role to play, no image to keep up wth and a natural joy that is in all of us can bubble to the surface.
When you put it like that Elizabeth you we can see how the whole scenario is a recycling of already-present-images, that are being up-cycled according to another, a group, and/or an ultimate agenda.
Whether it is within a workplace, industry at large or the family within our own homes, it makes sense that everyone’s opinion deserves to be heard,each juncture provides the basis for the next contribution.
Agreed, Michael. We often think of the media industry as being creative and dynamic. Perhaps there is much more control at play than we perceive.
I agree with you here, Amita. I’ve seen and felt changes in the places I’ve worked based on me bringing all of me to work…and in more recent years, through looking after myself in a self-loving way.
It’s a good point about imposing change, as change really begins from the inspiration people feel from others. From that inspiration the new choices people make for themselves naturally changes industries and systems.
Great blog. And while you are speaking about your experience in the media industry, it’s important for us to be ourselves at all times, regardless of our job.
I would have thought of all industries, that the media industry would be open and transparent in their communications and dealings with people, after all, they pride themselves with exposing deceit and wrong behaviours of others. It can actually be felt how the industry has changed over a few decades, where there is so much reporting that the facts can get skewered and changed, and hence the public generally do not appear to trust the media anymore. One day, it may change so this industry comes from the highest integrity able and prints true facts to the best of their ability without the sensationalism of selling stories as appears to be the media industry today.
I agree Gill, the facts can get skewered and changed, it seems now that the newspapers are creating the news instead of only reporting it.
I witnessed yesterday a group of individuals who are part of the media and music industry on a train on the way back from a global company get together. Everyone was very drunk, standing in the isles drinking and saying lots of things that made little sense, yet this is all accepted as getting to know each other. Very few people were being themselves, its not unusual yet it does show how we often have to be something in most industries instead of simply being ourself and expressing from who we naturally are. It could be easy to be critical but its I’m starting to see how no matter the way we choose not to be our true self, the end result is always the same and we and society miss out.
“The resistance may be there, but the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are” – This is something so important to appreciate and understand. When there is tension between us and something/someone who is behaving in a way that we feel is corrupted, untrue or false then that can be a good thing (believe it or not!). It shows us that we are in fact living differently to that person, or not in the same quality as how the corporation, project, system etc. is run.
Surely it makes sense that any company or organisation is only as good as the people that work for it and in it. So it would be wise to maximise that key resource of people within any organisation by listening to them and hearing their opinions?
It seems to me that we live in a society based on the assumption that there is something wrong that needs to be fixed – and so, we go about our days, working on this fix. We work towards solutions, improvements, betterments etc. But do we ever question the assumption itself? Was there anything really wrong in the first place? It is like someone who is innately Divine trying to become Divine – all their efforts actually take them away from their innateness rather than towards it. It is as Anonymous shares here, a case of just being ourselves rather than trying to be someone. Hence, life is much more about letting go of what is not our true self, than trying to create a true self. The latter is self-defeating.
A great reminder Vicky, bringing a deeper awareness of how easy is it to fall into the trap of ‘playing ourselves down’ from the truth of all that we are.
A powerful confirmation that self-care and self-nurturing are the necessary building blocks for true expression to be re-built – what a great reflection and marker you bring Anonymous to people at work (and elsewhere!) offering them the opportunity to feel their own separation and express differently.
“Coincidentally, what I have found is that the more I share and discuss my own experiences in relation to how I take care of myself with sleep and exercise etc, that the more the team is open to feeling this truth in their own experiences as well”.
Anonymous, when I read this article and particularly what you have written here I feel an ease in my body and acceptance of mine and others choices; ‘We can have very different lifestyles and choices. We may not always even be appreciated. The resistance may be there, but the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are.’ I have tried to fit in and join in with the way other people live and this does not feel good in my body. I now live in a way that feels true to me and have noticed over time how others have accepted and even been inspired by this, it feels very lovely and solid in my body to honour myself in this way.
Simple, claimed and true.
“Like many industries, the media industry is built upon the foundation of disregard of ourselves.” Imagine turning this around, so that all our industries were built upon a foundation of care, respect, honesty and integrity. What would the quality of our products and customer services be like, if these were the foundation of all our industries, born from the personal expression of these inherent attributes?
When I look at business, its all about competition and not collaboration. There is an undisguised desire to improve our own position no matter the consequences and its fed by the fact that we are focussed on our separate lives. This lack of cohesion is damaging, its hard work, and ultimately self sabotaging as its a very short term view. Also it misses out on the wonderful opportunity to see the bigger picture, to be so much more than just I, and inspire that in others.
In not acknowledging that it is we who make up the companies and businesses for which we work we can be distracted by our work toward separate outcomes and goals without responsibility for the way in which we seek to gain such ends and rewards. This is not the foundation for true success.
Just being yourself will always be enough, no matter who you are or where you are, the skills you have or the talents you can bring. You are already a great light just by walking in to the room – should you choose that light to shine with.
The best CV ever. I am who I am and that is enough and everything.
Maybe the time is right just to stop buying into the media of today anyway unless it shapes up with a bit more responsibility for what it is peddling. It has certainly changed over the past few years with the internet and social medial bursting onto the scene but so much more needs to be done. I can’t speak for everyone else but I know I want truth in newspapers and magazines, I don’t need to lose myself in propaganda about the way I should be, act or dress or who I should vote for, or for what reasons. A true paper or magazine with those involved in its making, truly expressing would be a wonderful thing. Oh wait there is one.
This week someone expressed to me that they had been in a meeting where it was being said that there was great teamwork within the team. This person said they didn’t feel they could speak up and say actually, it isn’t great teamwork at all. It’s just that everyone gets on, goes out for drinks together and nobody rocks the boat. I asked why they didn’t speak up and their response was that they would never get work again with these people. And so from this, truth doesn’t get expressed. This person was feeling and speaking the truth to me, but didn’t feel they could to those that needed to hear it.
With every small ill choice, move and thought we make that we have felt doesn’t really matter, if one looks at the state the world, what have we been doing?
When we are ourselves, we will always bring and be the light in the darkness where ever we go!
We cannot expect anyone else to change, we can only reflect to another what is possible and they may or may not align to what we are offering, We cannot be invested either way.
Anonymous that is so true we only need to be ourself. Your powerful sharing made it very clear that imposing things on others is keep on playing the same game the world is so perfectly playing in every second of our lives.
‘The resistance may be there, but the resistance within our own bodies is even greater if we do not live who we are.’ It’s one thing to fold under the pressure of what we feel, another to not live our natural selves.
Yes Victoria Lister. The resistance is felt in every waking moment and the tension lies deeper than we choose to know. Living anything less than yourself takes its toll and when we are not expressing others don’t get to see and feel that the opportunity lies within all of us.
‘…if we all stopped and expressed how we are truly feeling, the media industry would need to change its way of operating.’ It’s interesting how our workplaces prevent us expressing truth at all costs. We’re allowed to tow the party line, but question organisational practices and you’re considered arch-enemy number one, ready to be marched out the door. It will require lots of people, staff and consumers, speaking up to make change happen at the systemic level. Meanwhile, we have a roadmap presented here for a way forward at the individual level.
I am learning more and more, bit by bit to accept people where they are at, but to not change who I am or how I express to please them, or to not rock the boat. In the past I would morph myself for different situations, whereas these days I bring the same me to all of them, without trying to be a chameleon and change the color of my skin.
I’ve realised that too anonymous, that letting my body feel, brings a deeper understanding than if I were to deliberately think about the same situation or thing.
‘And this is the truth of the industry that I work in, which often does not allow or encourage us to express how we feel. However, if we all stopped and expressed how we are truly feeling, the media industry would need to change its way of operating.’ – I would say this is pretty much playing out in every industry, it is all about fitting into the box, it is numbers and quantity at the expense of true expression, quality and indeed equality. It is true, this would have to change if we would all claim what we feel and start expressing it.
Great point about the magazine being all of you – as in all the people who work on it. The magazine doesn’t have a life of its own, it is the collaboration of many people. This shows how if people chose a different way to be, they would produce a magazine with a totally different quality.
Dear Anonymous this was an inspiring read. That tension you talk about is not comfortable to feel, however we can’t change things by becoming frustrated or using force. I have tried those methods without any success. Accepting the way things are, whilst sharing who we naturally are reduces that inner tension and build relationships where more open discussions can occur. Who knows what will then follow?
Very beautiful and confirming to hear you share what you share Anon. I can feel there is no judgement, no criticism, no bearing on anyone else’s choices when we are ourselves. Sure we inspire change and can equally see in another’s ways the potential for them to change too. But we do not impose such truths. We simply show them through the way we are and live in every moment and this is what true freedom of speech really is.
I love what you have shared here Anonymous- that everyone is equal and has an equal opinion everywhere in life.
It’s great you opened up sharing of how you take care of yourself which gave your team the opportunity to reflect on their own Livingness.
The main point I got whilst reading was if we come from an authority/knowing within our body without any hesitation we cannot be ignored, whether what we express is liked or disliked it is still expressed and heard. Also as you mention here, yes we do have freedom to express but where are we expressing from? And do we still not express what we truly feel just to fit in with the crowd and not stand out? ‘Yes, of course everyone can speak and express, but most of these expressions actually come from the same energy – an energy that speaks of fitting into what is expected of us, to play safe and to not rock the boat by speaking truth.’ It is great by just being you and open with your team without imposition you are feeling the team become more open too.
This is such a great point- there you are trying to make something better – in this case a magazine – but the fact is people are the magazine so you can’t discount this as then nothing will change.
To be ourselves, to me means to be friends with ourselves as well. So when we are ourselves, and if we are set aside for being that, we always have ourselves.
What is powerful about this blog is that it highlights the importance of being ourselves within any industry, and any workplace, and in fact not only within any workplace, but also anyplace and anywhere outside of the workplace.