As I reflect on another year gone by, I can’t help but think about the state of my existence over the years. I’ve come to realize that while I may not have been actively lying to others, I certainly wasn’t being entirely honest with myself. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s something I need to take responsibility for and work on moving forward.
I often have music, a movie or YouTube running in the background while I am working on other tasks and today YouTube randomly progressed to a motivational clip featuring Jordan Peterson speaking of truth and consequence that rang true for me, “I think it’s a matter of being afraid of the right thing. That’s the issue.” I’ve been afraid to confront certain truths about myself, and in doing so, I’ve held myself back from reaching my full potential. But I’m determined to change that.
I’ve decided to strive to be more careful with my words. I want to ensure that everything I say is truthful, even if it’s uncomfortable or difficult. And why? Because as Peterson says, “I thought that the opposite was hellishly dangerous.” The alternative, living a life of lies and deceit, is not a life worth living.
I know that being truthful with myself and others won’t always be easy. There may be times when my words get me in trouble, but I’m willing to take that risk. As Jordan says in the video below, “If I say things and I think they’re true and they get me in trouble, then I think that’s not as much trouble as I would have got into if I had said something that wasn’t true.”
So, here’s to a new year, a new me, and a commitment to truth and honesty. It may be a difficult journey, but I believe it’s one worth taking.