“Trust your own instincts, go inside, follow your heart. Right from the start. go ahead and stand up for what you believe in. As I’ve learned, that’s the path to happiness.”-Lesley Ann Warren

As I continue to walk my path I reflect on one of the things that has helped me on this journey-honoring myself. I’ve received all sorts of advice on what to do or what not to do by well meaning people, some of whom I look up to and take advice from. But what I’ve learned is that I always need to come back home to my inner being and ask myself if what so and so says is in my best interest, if it is in alignment with who I am as a person. I’ve had to learn how to filter out what serves me best as an individual.

If I were to follow everything my teachers would tell me then I would be a mere puppet-one without a heart-but I have a heart, and I try to makes sure that I honor this part of me before anything else. I remember one incident where my teacher and a friend suggested that I get a flu shot-mind you I’m the type of person that doesn’t even take a pill for a headache-I like to do things the natural way. I don’t get the flu shot because it doesn’t fit my logic and I don’t like putting unnecessary things in my body, I’ve only had the flu once in my entire adulthood and even then I didn’t take any meds. Looking back I’m glad that I didn’t follow their advice and just did me, it’s what I’ve been doing prior to meeting them and it’s what will continue to guide me even after their absence.

Giving my energy/power to others is not something I like to do, I’ve always preferred to rely on myself or create what I need in order to move forward-though I’ve learned the hard way that sometimes accepting help is necessary. Find the power within you and allow it to guide you, one step at a time and it will eventually become second nature.