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200 words, authentic, conform, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, Happiness, journey, judging, life, love, struggles, talents, true to yourself
Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about unbecoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.
If you’ve ever tried to please everyone at the same time, you probably know firsthand how utterly impossible it is to do so.
If you’ve ever tried to toe the company line when you didn’t necessarily agree with it, you are probably familiar with that unsettling feeling you get in your stomach when you are not being true to yourself.
Yet we spend a lot of our lives trying to squeeze ourselves into acceptable societal and familial moulds because it makes life easier, things just go more smoothly if we conform to the way things are.
We wonder what is wrong with us; that we don’t see things in the same way as the majority and we struggle to become who we think we are meant to be.
Are we actually struggling against ourselves?
Fortunately for me, the older I get, the less insecure I am about living my life authentically.
Maybe our journey is more about finally unbecoming everything we are not.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
Daedalus Lex said:
Good for you, Diana!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you very much DL! ❤
Diana xo
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elizabeth2560 said:
This is one of my demons – trying to please everyone. It is impossible I know, and I end up feeling miserable when I can’t.
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dianasschwenk said:
Yeah it’s a unwinnable battle my friend. We all have demons, they keep us humble. 🙂 ❤
Diana xo
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Bill said:
Great quote. It resonates with me. Living inauthentically and playing unnatural roles has caused me to become (or at least appear to become) inauthentic–someone I’m not and wasn’t meant to be. Having realized that, it’s been necessary to redirect the journey and begin the process of deconstruction. I like the way the quote puts it, “unbecoming everything that really isn’t me.” Bingo.
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dianasschwenk said:
Glad you liked the quote Bill and just for the record, you come across authentic to me! ❤
Diana xo
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theburningheart said:
Nice way to put it, the thing it’s not to add, but to subtract, or to be less ego, less, angry, less material oriented, less concern with this, or that, most people have it backwards believing they lack something, so they have to add this, or that, and the more they want to become, they get caught deeper in to the trap, when unbecoming would set them free. :-).
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dianasschwenk said:
Another great way to look at it. Thank you burningheart! ❤
Diana xo
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Cecilia said:
Unbecoming! Wow, you found a great way to put the finger on what’s important. Great post, once again. Greetings and thank you!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks so much Cecilia, glad you enjoyed it! ❤
Diana xo
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Mark David Goodson said:
Wow. This blew me away. Unbecoming who we are not. I get it! I totally get that. It’s like stopping the tape we’ve been playing in our head all these years and truly listening!
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes Mark! I only came across that quote last week and it blew me away when I read it. ❤
Diana xo
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Jean said:
Takes time and to find the right life supporters for authentic self.
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes it sure does Jean. ❤
Diana xo
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Jennifer Kelland Perry said:
As the old saying goes: “I gotta be ME!” Great post, Diana. 😘
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dianasschwenk said:
Wasn’t there a song like that too Jennifer? And lookie here, I found it! ❤
Diana xo
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Jennifer Kelland Perry said:
Of course it’s a song! I forgot!! 😀
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cyclingrandma said:
With age comes wisdom; it’s said. And also a bit of who cares!
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dianasschwenk said:
Just a bit? Sometimes I have a whole whack of who cares Lisa! 🙂 ❤
Diana xo
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Louise Gallagher said:
Love this!!!!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Louise! ❤
Diana xo
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Jim McKeever said:
A great perspective, Diana, thank you for that!
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dianasschwenk said:
My pleasure Jim! ❤
Diana xo
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utesmile said:
“Fortunately for me, the older I get, the less insecure I am about living my life authentically.” Diana that is exactly how I feel.
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dianasschwenk said:
It’s awesome, isn’t it Ute? ❤
Diana xo
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utesmile said:
Absolutely!
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Val Boyko said:
Bingo! Let the revealing continue 💕
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dianasschwenk said:
haha thanks Val! ❤
Diana xo
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Healing Grief said:
To be free to be who we are, is the biggest gift we can give ourselves and the world! Great post Diana. 🙏🏻
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dianasschwenk said:
It’s definitely up there Karen – thank you! ❤
Diana xo
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joannerambling said:
Unbecoming is a word my daughters do not get, I not that long ago used the word telling one of them that their behaviour was unbecoming and you know they didn’t get what the word meant and it was frustrating explaining it to her and her sisters
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dianasschwenk said:
I can well imagine Jo-Anne! ❤
Diana xo
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Minuscule Moments said:
Oh yay for that, as we age I think this is key! We finally relax and love the person deep inside. Let her out, and never look over our shoulder wondering if we fit in anymore. JUST BE YOU, oh what a gorgeous post Diana.
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dianasschwenk said:
(grinning) Thank you so much Kath! ❤
Diana xo
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russtowne said:
I like that concept! Thank you for anther thought-provoking post, Diana.
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dianasschwenk said:
My pleasure Russ, so glad you liked it. ❤
Diana xo
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Alan A. Malizia: Contagious Optimism! Co-Author said:
Great post Diana,
We are like those little games we find in a cereal box, that we dig deep for because we are too impatient to finish the cereal first.
It is a plastic covered design that, within, has a number of small metal balls that we roll around until they nestle in the indentations. We are like those balls. We roll around in life trying to find our place. When we settle into those spots that were meant for us, then we are at peace. And all outside influences, criticisms or distraction have lost their sting. We are at home with ourselves. The self that God had chosen for our earthly journey.
-Alan
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dianasschwenk said:
A wonderful metaphor Alan! ♡
Diana xo
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Caroline Peart said:
I could not agree more 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
(smiling) Glad you dropped by to see what’s going on over here Caroline. ❤
Diana xo
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Caroline Peart said:
I am looking forward to reading more of your work 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you Caroline. I just went over to Lemon Tree to see what’s going on there and I, too, look forward to reading more. 🙂
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Caroline Peart said:
Great! I am glad to hear 🙂
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April said:
I love these thoughts! The quote is perfect.
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dianasschwenk said:
So glad they resonated with you April. ❤
Diana xo
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