Stand Up for Others, Stand Up for Yourself

June: On Conflict and CourageJune 3Throughout your life you’ll find yourself pushed and pulled in all kinds of directions by all kinds of people and circumstances—a lot of them will not have your best interests in mind. But you’ll go along with it because you’re afraid of hurting or inconveniencing others. Or because you trust their words and advice over your own, when in reality, what they’re asking you to do is in direct conflict with your authentic self. And listening to them pulls you from your path.You have the ability to stand up for yourself. To help yourself, which will in turn allow you to help others. You just need to take the first step—small as it is. Little by little, you'll move on, their voices becoming echoes until they fade and you can no longer hear them, and your own voice replaces theirs. It’s possible. You just have to begin the journey.Reflection title: Stand Up for Others, Stand Up for YourselfCreative inspiration: Mary Oliver, "The Journey"Reflection Question: Do I have the courage to stand up for myself? To do right by me, so I can do right by others?