Truth About I Am

What is your truth?

That’s a difficult question. A better question might be: When you say the words “I am…”, what follows for you?

Is it “I am strong.” Or is it “I am a screw-up.” Or is it “I am worthless.” Or is it “I am a really good person.”

When you say “I am” it defines you. It draws the line around you. It creates the sandbox you get to play in.

These believes can be liberating. Think of all the amazing things in the world you get to do simply because of who you are.

These beliefs can also be restrictive. They can prevent you from doing things that you could do, simply because you define yourself that way.

The words “I am” also define what you are not.

For example: I am Christian. I am white. I am a man. Therefore, I am not a Muslim. I am not a person of color. I am not a woman.

As politically incorrect it is to say any of those things, it is true, and I’m OK with that because they are my truth. I am all of those things and more.

Those factual statements are just as true when I say “I am worthy.” “I am making a difference.” “I am valuable.”

How you define you is important, and how you define others is just as important. This is where mistakes happen.

Don’t make the mistake of projecting your own truth onto others.

The way you project a truth is by saying “You are.”

By saying “you are” you define a box for whomever you are referring too, and by placing them in that box, you give yourself permission to treat those people you have defined differently.

If you’re not careful, it gives you permission to behave badly. And when things get passionate, and possessive, people start killing each other.

There is no possible way you can know their whole truth. You don’t know what got them to where they are today, any more than they know your journey. Even if they are part of a group, and stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason, let them out of the box that you’ve put them in.

Understand that they are more than just those one or two things you are using to define them. Don’t be so lazy.

Once you have a truth, especially a narrowly defined truth and belief about others, some people are willing to die to keep that truth alive.

This group is evil because they have a different religion from me. This group is evil because their skin color is different from mine. This group is evil because they have different rituals, traditions, and culture. Which, when you think about it, is ridiculous.

So be careful with your truths.

Be careful with your “I am” and be even more careful with your “You are” because those people you define, could be more like you than you’d ever imagine.