Every once in a while I run across words penned by another and feel them directly in my soul. It is not only the sentiment expressed but the use of the words and the eloquence of the phrasing. Yesterday, while taking a break from editing, I found this gem that I have shared with so many. Written by Thomas Paine, the thought expressed is one that I have felt often of late but have been unable to find the pros.
It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving, it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.
Thomas Paine
How true this is.
There are times, for whatever reason, we want so badly to believe something that we know isn’t true. There are times when we choose to believe something that we are afraid to look at and note to be false or fantasy.
It is easy to believe; it is difficult to truly look inside and do a gut check to see if we are believing in something that is real and honest and is something we believe whole heartedly over something we want to believe in or we profess to believe.
For months I have struggled with the conflict of wanting to believe something that I did not believe; wanting something to be true that I know, deep inside, is not true. My mind and heart and gut and instincts and intuition have not always been in sync. For me, that is an unusual feeling. For me, that inner conflict has proven a challenge to overcome.
Yet, overcome it is what I have done, for the most part. My heart and mind are returning to harmony. I am trusting my instincts again.
My smile most often reflects the happiness that I feel shining from within.
The happiness of knowing what it is that I believe with my heart and soul; the happiness that comes in believing in myself and trusting my instincts.
What a wonderful feeling!
4 comments:
Having the heart and mind in sync is a wonderful feeling indeed!
Hi there,
I am an irregular visitor to your site and an even more irregular commenter.
The quote from Thomas Paine really caught my eye. The sentiment precisely fits where my head is right now - out of synch.
You've provided a great opportunity for introspection & meditation - and quite possibly a post of my own. If you don't mind, I'd like to credit you with (unwittingly) providing the germ that started it.
Same guy as above - but this provides a more direct link without giving away the store . . .
Hi Brian - Feel free to link away, but I would love to read what you write.
Post a Comment