A Personal Truth Learn to live authentically

Christopher has learnt many valuable lessons about the African people and their culture, and this has altered how he views the world. He sees the need for us all to respect and uphold these valuable differences. There are lessons that, he says, we could all benefit from understanding as there are aspects of their lives that he believes we have lost in our Western world. They have spiritual meaning in their lives, which directly contributes to their satisfaction and a sense of purpose. We must have meaning in our lives to achieve happiness. “The thing that struck me is the simple happiness they have, and the kinship they have with each other, and their simple, repetitive way of life”.

Even though there are vast differences between African and Western culture, there are unexpected similarities. Superficially, these people couldn’t appear more different to us, but they desire the same things – truth, meaning and inner life. Their purpose in life is their kinship and connection they have with each other and the spiritual world. The complexity of their rituals and spirituality exists in every facet of their lives. Every waking and every sleeping moment, they live following a spiritual practice.

“They cohabit with their ancestors and spirits”.

His message is that there are a lot of commonalities and aspects that we can identify with and can convert into a Western notion. Yes, these people are visually and culturally very different, but what is it that connects us all as human beings in terms of necessary human existence? Universal human values are what we all need to uphold, respect and value in every form we encounter it.

“Judgement is a cultural artifact”.

“Humans have more that connects them than disconnects them. The experience of existence is consistent throughout humanity. There is a commonality in human beings”.

Moving into the future, Christopher says he wonders about what will be lost as the modernity of the Western world slowly moves in and alters the simplicity of what they have in Africa. Christopher is an advocate for preserving cultures and encouraging mutual respect and tolerance. What makes one culture different from another is a remarkable thing that does not need to drive people apart and create conflict. On the contrary, if we were all able to show a deeper level of respect and willingness to understand and connect in love and compassion, we would learn more about each other and ourselves. It is through our similarities and differences that we can come together in an air of appreciation and draw strength from our universal human values, encouraging solidarity, friendship and oneness.

MAGES © Christopher Rimmer professional photography collection

To see more of Christophers work, visit... christopherrimmer.com

A Personal Truth

by Ryan Crawford

What does it mean to live in, hear and act on truth? How can we determine the truth amongst the many opinions and knowledge perceptions of our modern world?

Our world has never been more connected. The internet, advancements in technology and access to knowledge has advanced our level of perceptual knowing as a species to new heights. We’re provided instant access to nearly all of humanity’s collective knowledge learnt, perceived and recorded to date.

But has this advancement of knowledge and information provided us with more truth? Or just more information?

Truth is defined as “being in accord with fact or reality, or fidelity to an original or standard.”

However, what this modern day definition fails to address is that “truth”, as a basis for original standard or perceived reality, is merely the handing down of believed principles and perceptions of how things work, operate and appear in our day to day lives. Like an operational handbook provided to us upon entry into human life, we are taught, raised and fed common “truths”. These truths then further vary again based on society, location, belief and even upbringing. They are the beliefs handed down from each generation to help the next, continuing the cycle of belief and basis for perceived truth.

Now there are some common truths we mostly share as a collective. Like the outcome if we skydived off the Empire State Building without a parachute, or what would happen if you placed your hands in boiling water. However many of our believed, professed and even followed truths are less clearly defined. Like the claims of truth in presidential elections, or reporting by the wider global media.

Take a moment to sit with these questions as you feel into your thoughts and feelings about truth:

Do you consider truth to be a fixed principle, or subject to perception?

Can an individual’s truth differ from what is widely believed by the collective?

Can your truth also be my truth, or is it inherently yours, as the experiencer?

What does it take for us to fully realise truth?

How do you personally distinguish truth from non-truth?

If truth is a personal, perception-based experience, how can we develop the knowledge and clarity to understand and recognise it within ourselves. Before we experience something for ourselves, it remains a belief. We may claim to have logical understanding or even have faith in something, but we can’t truly know it until we experience it. This makes experiential learning the essential ingredient in discerning truth for ourselves. For instance, learning from a book or the experience of another, our perception of truth becomes known to us only when we have experienced and walked that experience. Felt it for ourselves and had the opportunity to assess how it feels to us, whether is uplifts or lowers our vibration.

So what does living in our truth look like?

Living in truth means embracing and accepting all parts of yourself, just as you were created. Each of us is a unique spark of the divine, with our varied, talents, qualities, quirks. Much of early life is spent trying to cover up the parts of our selves we don’t like, to fit in and be accepted. This self-perpetuating cycle is the cause of much grief and pain in our lives. We move further and further away from who we really are, and avoid the parts of ourselves that we feel are unworthy of love. Each step we take away from our true selves disempowers us from our core being, our power and is the cause of much human pain and suffering.

Why would anyone choose pain over truth?

This feeds from a core self-limiting belief that we are not worthy, lovable and perfect – just as we are!

We convince ourselves that who and what we are isn’t good enough to make it in the world and attract all that we want. So we set about trying to change, improve and evolve into the “best” versions of ourselves. The limitation and damage caused by this belief is that it takes our inner power and points our attention to attracting validation and love from outside of us. In effect, we chase perfection. We already have many wonderful qualities and gifts, yet feel the constant pull to improve, upgrade and change ourselves. How often have you thought “Oh if only I was more like this, things would be so much better.”

Why do we struggle to believe that we are worthy, lovable and complete – in all of our quirky, messy differences?

Because truly accepting all parts of our self takes work!

It requires us to look deep within, to shine the light on all parts of ourselves. Not just our “highlight reel,” like society shows us, but our losses, our mistakes, the parts we feel shameful and embarrassed about. The parts we hide within and would never want to share with the world. It means looking deeply into all parts of ourselves and owning up to who we are. The student, the teacher, the lover, the judger, the wounded, the strong, the victim, the attacker – all reside within us and form part of our One-self.

Living in our truth means not leaving any part of ourselves out in the cold. Welcoming all parts home with open arms. It means choosing to no longer show only your favourite parts and reject the parts you deem unworthy. It means honouring all of yourself and coming to terms with the fact that you are all these things and not judging yourself for the way you are or may have acted in the past.

Each step we take towards accepting all parts of us, is a step closer to happiness, peace and an empowered life. Truth is being yourself, just as you are, in the way that feels right to you.

Here 3 helpful steps to begin Living in your truth:

1Begin calling all parts of you home. List all of your attributes, qualities, weaknesses, things you love and things you wish you could change about yourself. Underline all those which you feel uncomfortable showing to the world and standing firmly in. Spend time feeling into each attribute and why you have chosen to not own and love these parts of yourself.

2Watch your self-talk. The most powerful creative tool in our world is the way that we say things to ourselves. Whenever you catch yourself speaking negatively towards yourself, reaffirm your perfection, magnificence and worthiness as a perfect child of the universe.

3Change your story. We weren’t born with our self-limiting beliefs. We learnt them from our parents, our surroundings and culture. They make up “The Story” that we tell ourselves about how the world works, what we can and can’t do and how we show up. It’s this story that keeps us locked in our cycles of limitation. Write down 5 things that you’re going to change about your belief story from today.

Meet Ryan

Ryan Crawford is a speaker, guide and teacher – He draws upon his business experience and intuitive energy, to inspire, align & empower others to reach their greatest potential. Through the integration of empowering beliefs and habits, Ryan helps business owners take their time back, increase financial abundance & achieve balance in their lives.