Getting To Know Me

It’s true that confession is good for the soul. It can be therapeutic to face our fears, failings and short-comings.

But confession alone is not enough. To be most effective it must be followed by a conscious effort to change.

The process involves telling someone else about that which is troubling us. Often, though, the very first step is either overlooked or ignored.

The burden of shame or guilt can only be lifted by starting with self-forgiveness. It starts within. What follows is incidental and supplemental.

There is no escape from the person we are. Until we understand and make a friend of ourselves we can gain little lasting satisfaction by seeking the forgiveness or approval of those around us.

It’s important to know and accept the person we are and, if we find aspects of that person fail to reach the standards we hold dear, we should strive for change.

When it comes to writing our own life story we hold the pen in our hand. Every day offers us a chance to start a new chapter. Every new day can be a new beginning.

Confession is all about conversation and it’s in verbalising our troubles that we give voice to our concerns. We give ourselves the opportunity to hear what it is that we are thinking.

First, though, we must make the time for the inner monologue…the honest conversation with ourselves. As confronting and challenging as that can be it is nonetheless vital when it comes to mental wellbeing.

We are in the driver’s seat and our life is our vehicle.