“Vision paints the picture we want to create. Systems thinking reveals how we have created what we currently have.” Peter Senge

Again, personal accountability for your happiness and knowing what exactly it is you want. Ah, yes. But what happens when the picture we create is based upon a big lie? Let’s face it. We have been lied to our whole lives, not just by others, but to ourselves! We lie about what we want, because it is easier than just saying what we really want. We lie because we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. We lie to get what we want. We lie by pretending to not notice the pink elephant in the room. We lie for love, money, security, safety. We lie out of fear.

That fear has many roots. Throughout childhood, we receive messages, consciously and unconsciously, from family, teachers, authority figures on how we should be, what we should/shouldn’t do, money, family, love, (in)security, status, and worthiness. We grow into adults and all those messages turned into beliefs are lenses. Few people ever peel back the layers, inspect them and decide if they are really necessary or not. We just keep the lies, add to the lies, and create scenarios for others to lie to us.

There is a space where it just get comfortable in the misery of the lies. “Well”, we rationalize, “at least I have…” Yet, there is something gnawing deep within, something telling you this just isn’t right, there has to be something more. So you start looking. Or you don’t. Soon, the gnawing turns to a dark space, followed by a seething anger. You put on the right face, keep up the perfect image, but deep down, it is eating you alive and you are slowly dying. You know, death by 1000 paper cuts. Charming.

What would happen if you just got honest? What if you said enough of the lies? What if, hold on here because this is the $64,000,000 question, you decided to take control of your life? Do you have the courage?