Do we really have to fight this battle?

It’s like the spotlight is shining directly at you; followed with sharp stares over the dinner table – you’re almost getting nervous, of what words you should say; what kind of words that would be acceptable. Then anyway meet a fiercely resistance and silent giggles and you’re just sitting there, paralyzed, when the only thing you wanted, was to follow your heart, but at the same time, wishes to please everyone and to live up to their expectations and nods of approval.

Yes, it almost feels like, you are committed to defend your choices and is fighting a hopeless battle, to convince all the critics, the pessimists, that your choices and priorities is okay. So when in the end, you’ll hopefully get unconditional appreciation and a pat on the shoulders, that clearly seems unreachable.

If that wasn’t enough, you’re standing there, almost glued to the floor, while you are dragged towards the left, when you in reality, wants to move to the right. While you are discussing with your thoughts, whether you should give up your power and end on the left and open the door, where everything seems comforting. Or if you should walk to the right, towards your own uncertain path, to see what hides behind that door?

Where one day, you bring up your rebellious side and open the door to the right. Silently smells the unknown and exiting life, but soon are getting trumped with a firm ”Are you sure that is clever? Maybe you should be a bit more responsible and walk the path, that guarantee you all the material goods” where you might feel, that way maybe isn’t that bad after all. Then you close the door to the unknown and move yourself towards the comforting and responsible path.

And this is how you continue – going back and forth; admiring the life behind both doors – never really commit yourself to one path.

But sooner or later you feel, that your powers is getting weaker. A massive power are pulling you towards the left and you feel, you have to give up the battle, and give yourself into the pull. And yes, if you don’t let go of the rope – not making a choice – you will end on your left, because that is the strongest.

You are happy – after you have put away your desire for the life on the right – but you got your approval and everybody is proud of you. That was what you wanted, right?

You realize, even though you’ve followed the path everyone wished for you, the path that guaranteed happiness, you feel empty. And the approval? The approval you wanted? - yes, it slowly disappeared while you were busy checking off all the squares on the checklist, of what you ought to do.

You realize, that all the squares on the list is soon checked off – and what is going to happen after that? What should your next step be to keep up the approval from your surroundings?

You soon discover, that your self worth is zero. You compare your life to everyone else. You discover, that others approval have gotten an addiction, because it’s only through others approval, you feel loved.

You soon realize, that you should’ve followed your heart. You finally realize that your happiness depends on yourself – not everyone else. Because in the end, it’s you who lives your life – even though everyone seems to want to decide, how your life should be lived. You discover that their values isn’t necessarily yours.

Soon you realize, that those who helped you to loose hope and belief – those who rejected and humiliated your dreams, are those who never really had the courage to follow theirs. You discover, that those are the ones who keeps themselves up, by focusing on the failures of others. You discover, that it’s people like those, who will envy your life, if you actually lived out your dreams and you realize, that those people never should have had the power of which choices you should make anyway. You realize, that you have lived your life on the terms of others instead of your own.

Do you really want, to let that happen?