Resolve to be thyself and know that he who finds himself loses his misery. —Matthew Arnold—
How confusing the issues in our lives can be when we try to accommodate all the views of the persons in our midst, persons who share few opinions in common. Agreeing with first one and then another is dizzying, and makes us suspect in the eyes of others. “Who is she really?” We quickly become ill at ease in the company of those whose opinions we share only when convenient to do so.
We can be at peace when we’ve thoughtfully determined a course of action, and a world view that’s compatible. Our attitudes, our opinions, and thus our responses to the currents of life will be consistent. When we developed integrity and strive to maintain it, rather than being in constant internal conflict because of our fluctuation, we discover a smoother passage over the bumps each of us can expect in life. Today will be much less stressful if my actions reflect my inner self.