“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” James Arthur Baldwin

“I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.”  Pietro Aretino

“Being vulnerable doesn't have to be threatening. Just have the courage to be sincere, open and honest. This opens the door to deeper communication all around. It creates self-empowerment and the kind of connections with others we all want in life.”  Sara Paddison

If you were asked what is the greatest gift you could receive, or give another, your answer would probably be “LOVE”. But, what, truly, is love? Is it being blind to flaws? Is it being accepting of them? Is it keeping quiet so that the other is not hurt? Is it constant validation and approval? My dearest friend, our human love certainly has the elements of all these, but very rarely does it contain the element of complete truth.

As I have traversed on the waves of life, and sometimes been caught in its storms, I have experienced that THERE CAN BE NO LOVE IN THE ABSENCE OF TRUTH.  Then your I love you’s are meaningless words, and your actions subconsciously driven by inner urges, insecurities and fears.

There are so many reasons why we hide the truth from those we claim to love, and very, very often from ourselves as well. One of the most common excuses that I have heard is ‘the truth will hurt the other’. My dearest, dearest friend, can you not see the lie in this excuse??? If you truly and completely loved the other, no words or actions of yours would be hurtful, for truth, even in its harshest form, is empowering and strengthening. It is your own impotency that you wish to hide from, and that is why you choose an excuse that takes away the focus from you, and presents you in a ‘better’ light. But, in choosing to hide your impotency behind this mask, have you loved and respected the other?? At all???

Then there are some who seek refuge by believing that the other’s angry reaction can be easily avoided if truth is not voiced. Ah, beloved one, I can see you nod in agreement, but wait for a few seconds. Have you ever considered that NO ONE REACTS TO TRUTH; THEY REACT TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MANIPULATION THEY CAN INSTANTLY PERCEIVE BEHIND YOUR ‘HONEST WORDS’. What we cannot see of ourselves, another perceives immediately, first at a subconscious level and then gradually at a very conscious level, and it is this subtle, emotional pulling of strings that brings forth the rage from another. Truth is not the mere voicing of honest words. It goes so far beyond that. Truth cannot walk without unshakeable conviction in one’s beliefs, and full acceptance of another’s. Truth cannot breathe in the absence of inner strength and power. Truth cannot be conveyed through masks, disguises, emotional slyness, and cheapening exploitation. Truth knows no fear, hides behind no excuses, and plays no games. Truth does not need ineffective tools like aggression, rebellion, indifference, callousness, self-absorption.

When you are unable to be truthful, you are unable to respect self and thus others…and without respect there can never be love. You may make up any number of excuses which seem to you as completely valid reasons but the only reason, THE ONLY REASON, why you cannot be truthful is because you do not have the inner courage, strength and power. At a subconscious or conscious level, you have already judged yourself and your actions, found them falling short of inner personal standards, and thus wish to hide from this ‘monstrous knowledge’. 

You fear anger from another because deep in the recesses of your psyche is an insistent voice that is judging you as ‘bad’, ‘weak’, ‘inadequate’. By keeping the truth hidden from the other, you have projected this voice onto the other person, and have concocted for yourself an excuse that you will find no difficulty in believing.

You fear causing hurt to another because your heart is already constricted with shame, guilt, self-condemnation. By keeping silent, or by using false pretences, you are trying hard to save yourself from these inner feelings becoming public knowledge.

Honest words do not constitute complete truth. It is the energy and intent behind the words that are the definitive factor. Even a coward can speak honest words, if he knows that they will serve an ulterior purpose. Truth knows pride and not vanity, truth is all-encompassing and not self-serving. Truth thrives because of its free spirit and radiating energy and looks not for validation or approbation.    

Each time you refuse to voice your truth, or prefer to be internally blind and deaf, or hide from personal truth which you consider ‘will show you up for what you really are’, you strengthen the coward in you, you empower your impotency, you deepen the feeling of self-loathing and lack of self-respect.

Glorious Friend of the Light, let 2007 be the year of Inner Authority. Gently allow into your awareness the fact that Truth is always beautiful… it is inner perception that colours it black. Truth is the secret of Spiritual Alchemy that millions have searched for over so many centuries. If truth appears a risk to you, take this risk, and feel the joy of inner victory. No external accolades and praise can ever compare with the eternal ecstasy of Self- Respect.

This year love another the way you wish to be loved… COMPLETELY…TRUTH-FULLY. You are the richest being in the world…give yourself the most wondrous gift this New Year…The Gift of Truth.