"Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though heaven is on earth. –Unknown"
This is one of my favorite quotes. It reminds me of a very important goal that I personally strive to achieve. The goal of life affirming living is also one that I guide my clients in achieving as well. Living in a life-affirming way is living whereby you are making choices that allow you to live fully and authentically, not based on fear. Think about the decisions that you make: are they truly positive and life-affirming, or are they created out of fear—fear of being hurt, fear of death, fear of pain, fear of the unknown, etc. When you start to think about the choices you make, you will find that you make many decisions out of fear, which keeps you from living fully and freely. Living in a life-affirming way is the difference between thriving and merely surviving. How can we possibly be happy and content, if we are making decisions based on fear? Fear prevents us from taking chances, living and loving fully and pursuing our passions.
Think about your daily experiences: you work, your lifestyle, your activities and hobbies. Are these things fulfilling? For example, if you know that you hate your job, identify the fears that are preventing you from making a change. Challenge them. Where did these fears come from? The key to living authentically is filtering out those other voices, the voices of fear, and finding your authentic voice. Even in our relationships, we are afraid of rejection, getting hurt, and abandonment, and this prevents us from taking emotional risks. These wounds motivate us to make choices based on self-protection or survival. It is important to remember that you own your feelings and no one can make you feel a certain way. Your wounds cloud your reality, and you make choices that do not allow you to thrive. It is beautiful to love as if you have never been hurt, because loving fully is living fully in the now, not in the past or future. So, what changes can you make today to live in a more life-affirming way?
About Me
- Christina Samycia, PsyD
- Dr. Christina Samycia holds a doctorate in Psychology and is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor, author and speaker. She is the author of Discovering Inner Peace. She also holds a master's degree in Kinesiology. Christina seeks to inspire and challenge individuals to discover their authentic selves and lead a more meaningful life. Christina works with individuals who are interested in personal growth, looking to enhance their lives and are ready to make life-altering changes. She has over fifteen years of experience within the health care industry, helping others enhance their lives through one-on-one counseling and educational programs. Visit her website at www.inspirationalliving.org. More information regarding her book is on the site as well.
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