Reflections on Personal Growth and Authenticity

Many of us have held onto certain beliefs that have guided our lives, only to realize later that these beliefs were not entirely true. In this article, we explore the journey of discovering that progress made through small, incremental steps may not always lead to the ultimate success or fulfillment we envisioned.

Progress and its Irrelevance

For many years, I believed that progress achieved in each small stage would inevitably lead to the ultimate success. However, I have come to understand that this is not necessarily true. The progress achieved at each stage can be irrelevant to the ultimate goal, which may have a different aim contrary to the incremental progress we pursue.

Progress vs. Ultimate Goals

Example Scenario

Let's consider an example involving person 'A':

A aimed to become kinderss Ethical and empathetic, A met B, an empathetic individual, and the two became friends. B, meanwhile, became more compatible with C and moved closer to C than A. A felt isolated and expressed this through their actions. B understood the root of the incompatibility and tried to convince A that their bond was still there. A, being empathetic, understood B's situation and decided to exit the bond as B was happier with C. B, although uneasy, moved on, while A felt relieved but unintentionally harmed B. The bond between B and C strengthened. A faced a new problem of loneliness and realized that being kind was not an ideal state for the newly raised issue. Over time, A realized that compatibility was preferred over kindness. Further reflection revealed that kindness could actually harm others.

A continued to evolve, either by staying with the original 'ultimate goal', modifying it, or starting anew.

This journey of realizing that progress at each stage can be irrelevant to the ultimate goal highlights the complexity of personal growth and the importance of continuously evaluating our core beliefs and goals.

Parental Influence and Limiting Beliefs

Reflecting on my own experiences, it became clear that parental guidance and the conditioning from outdated belief systems can shape our perspective and limit our potential. After my spiritual awakening, I realized that my father's advice and dictation of right and wrong were based solely on his own experiences and character, which did not align with my path.

Evolution of Perception

For instance, my mother was critical, and her constant negativity led me to believe that I was a hopeless case. It wasn't until I was an adult that I recognized the truth: I was not hopeless; I was just nervous in exams due to her disapproval. Eventually, I left school with very average results, but the real turning point came at around 25 when I decided to pursue an external degree in Law.

Despite the challenges, such as raising two children and dealing with a divorce, I persevered and completed the degree in four years. My mother was not pleased, and her response was not what I expected. However, it meant a lot to me: another milestone in refuting her opinion of me as a hopeless individual.

Conclusion

Our beliefs can be formative and have a lasting impact on our lives. It is crucial to question and reevaluate these beliefs as we grow and gain new insights. By recognizing that progress at each stage can be irrelevant to our ultimate goals and that authenticity and compatibility are more important, we can navigate life with greater clarity and purpose.