Summer in Lake Placid
Often I read other peoples’ words which ultimately stimulate my own ideas and thoughts. Robert Taylor, author of A New Way to be Human has been quoted by me before; his quote about breath and voice has been prominent in my e-mail signiture and website. Kindess was the focus of a weekly piece that I recently received from him. His short essay set me to thinking about breath and authentic voice in the context of self-criticism, judgement, and a lifestyle of mindfulness.
I had a conversation recently about qualities for which one is known; being kind was mentioned. My aside was, “I don’t want to be known for being nice and kind.” Another time when I had made that assertion the resulting question was “Why, is that bad?” I pause. I breathe. Before answering the question, I pause again and ask myself, why not? Why am I bristling at the suggestion that I am known as being kind? My answer to the question is something like, “I’d like to be thought of as having other attributes and talents before the quality of being kind.”
I chuckle at the absurdity of my declaration when I hear it aloud. I picture faces looking back at me questioning my declaration. I again pause, breathe, and hasten to explain myself. I explain that what I meant was this, “I don’t want to ONLY be known for being kind.” An important realization becomes clear. As I embrace a more conscious, mindful existance, it is time to embrace and own that being kind and expressing it’s importance is a huge piece of my authentic voice. The bigger epiphany is that I must, in fairness, also acknowledge in my own mind, that kindess is just one of the qualities expressed by my authentic voice. Too often I realize I am self-critical and judgemental; I must also admit it is time to own that fact and say goodbye to the rubbish and brain clutter as I pause and embrace mindfulness.
I challenge you to pause and breathe. Become more mindful of the truth that resounds in your own voice. You just may discover it is more beautiful and inspirational than you ever imagined.