"when it comes to guarding your sacred self from threats to your unique expression, less acceptance and understanding is shown. This response is a defense against individuals acknowledging their own dark forces and taking on the responsibility to free themselves of the shackles of a persona that was developed to please the outer world.

...

The road less travelled - to being real- is avoided not because people do not want to come home to themselves, but because it is dangerous to make the U (you) turn back to self. Not too many people are on the corner, cheering and supporting us when we begin the journey inwards, whereas there are many who put pressure on us to remain on the shadowed road most travelled.

Life is an adventure, but for so many people it becomes a test, a fearful task, a chore, something to got through. ... The fear of failure, the fear of success and the addiction to success are all products of the need to protect against ridicule and pressure around behavioural performance. Sadly, so many adults, parents and teachers put the emphasis on the result rather than the wonderful process of learning.

...

Somehow along the way of life some or all aspects of my unique light have had to be hidden. My wise self has guarded the precious light of my being in the darkness of shadow selves, false personas that hide my real presence and darken the presence of others. I now know that I would not have survived without hiding who I really am. I am ready to let go of the protection of dependence on others and of being a passive member of dark cultures i realise my amazing self and see the unique light of others hidden behind their shadow selves.

There will be many voices that will shout their 'bad' advice, cry to me 'to mend their lives', and do all in their shadow power to keep me in darkness. For my sake and their sakes I can no longer listen to their shadow voice. I need to find and listen to my own inner voice that will guide and keep me company as I stride deeper and deeper into the vast interiority of my real self. I will seek the company and support of those who are light-giving to help me stay on the road less travelled.

All the time on the journey, I know that the amazing power that has guarded my sacredness all these past years is now there to open my mind and heart to fully seeing and expressing who I really am.

Dependence, fear, judgment, avoidance, timidity, depression, passivity and competitiveness will no longer be my bedfellows. Spontaneity, freedom, independence, eagerness to learn, empathy, compassion, excitement, challenge, creativity, unconditional love of myself and others, intuition, authenticity, patience and exploration of my inner and outer worlds are my new and powerful ways of being in the world.

I know that there are difficult decisions to be made when I encounter individuals and cultures that darken my presence and the presence of others. I know that when I protectively sell myself out of a need to belong, I ultimately buy a life of misery. In such conformity I am neither a friend to myself nor to others. I know I have a sacred responsibility to belong to myself, to be real and authentic and not wait for others to transform themselves.

My hope is that as the light of my sacred self shines forth, it will touch the minds and hearts of those people and cultures that are in darkness. I know that I can only save my own life but that others have the immense power to do likewise. I do know that as I am liberated from my shadow self, my presence provides support for others to liberate themselves.

I was born to manifest the uniqueness, wonder, sacredness and glory of my being. I know that all these words do not create but reflect who I really am. This is the beginning of my re-birthing, of my realising my sacred self."
-- Whose Life are you Living?, Tony Humphreys