Ever since I first heard it, this has been my favorite saying and one of the few I try to live by. But why do I think this is relevant to write about? Let's dive into it.
What does where you go, there you are mean?
The way I see it, this saying tells us that whatever baggage you have with you, however comfortable you are with yourself or how much at peace you are with yourself will always be present no matter what.
In other words, it doesn't matter where you are, who you are with, how much money you make, your job title, where you work, who are your friends, or where you live, if you don't feel at home within yourself.
In previous posts, like this and this, I go into the importance of finding true purpose, honoring your passions, and feeling fulfilled in day-to-day life.
But why is this so important?
Because relying on external factors to gauge our own value will forever make us dependent on other people's opinions of us or circumstances that we cannot control.
By doing that and not actually taking into consideration all the personal development we've gone through, the daily efforts we make to reach our goals, the way we treat others, our aspirations in life, and even how we deal with our conflicts, we completely give up the awareness we have about ourselves and give less value to our own opinion on anything, really.
Of course listening to friends and family, if you asked for and value their opinion, is important, but at the end of the day, you are the one sleeping, waking up, and living with yourself every single day.
Your mind is your home, so make it a good place to live!
How do I make it work for me
In my mind, the main thing was always believing I needed to get to the next stage of my life to start being happy.
When I graduate I'll be happier, when I get that job I'll be happier, when I meet someone worthy I'll be happier, when I move out I'll be happier, when I get a raise I'll be happier.
Can you see how those situations were not under my control? Sure, there were specific things I could do to make them happen, but with many other aspects, there was nothing.
I would be extremely proud of myself for working a job that could create the possibility for me to move out, as I was when it happened, but why not start enjoying it before? Why not enjoy the house hunting, the budgeting, and the last few months I had to live with my mother?
To get a raise, there is only so much I can do, right? I mean, performing well, managing and delivering my daily tasks, being as friendly as I can with my team, etc... But you also rely on the company's policy for giving out a raise, your boss's willingness to pitch your case, the company's budget, etc... So why not be proud of my efforts, get rest when I need to, and appreciate my team in the meanwhile?
If the extra money is important to you, maybe start looking out for new opportunities, getting new offers in, and actively advocating for your needs. But not waiting for someone else to nod their head at you when their time is right, you know?
As for me and my journey, only I know how much I had to change internally to get to the place I am right now. Only I know how many hours I spent resenting every single interaction I had in my last two companies and thinking about where could I possibly have done better. Only I know how much it took me to let these things go and understand my struggles were tougher than I actually thought they were. Only I know how hard it was to regain my passions, to spend months unemployed, go through job hunting again, be rejected over and over, and still find my worth. The internal work I did is no joke.
Never before did that sentence make so much sense to me. To find inner worth, be able to trust me, enjoy my company, understand and accept the lessons I learned. We cannot escape ourselves because where you go, there you are. So embrace it and dive deep into yourself, you'll be amazed at how incredible you actually are.
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