Why are we so stubborn? We don’t listen to a thing. We don’t listen to others, ourselves, or signs sent from above. We state we need proof, but upon receiving it, we ignore it. It just doesn’t fit whatever it is we are seeking. We need the words to be comforting, full of falsehoods, and compliments. Well, that is not how the truth is usually delivered. The refusal to listen to the truth in any form costs us a lot of unnecessary stress and an embarrassing, regrettable amount of time. Yet, we hide from the truth. We look the other way so we can’t see it and cover our ears so we can’t hear it. We need to embrace listening to it. After a while, it will hit and knock us down. We’ll have no choice but to look it dead in the eyes and listen. It’s our choice.

Where do we get the idea that the truth needs to be on a silver platter? We expect the truth to wake us up to soft playing flutes and strings. It is usually a rude awakening. It’s like a bucket of cold water to the face and a loud moving alarm clock you need to chase to turn off. What’s the problem? We don’t like that. We will dry our faces let the clock roll in one direction as we go in the other. We then lay back down. We’ll tell ourselves “That couldn’t have been our alarm.” Yes, that statement does sound ridiculous. It is just as ridiculous as we look in our life, disregarding multiple opportunities to wake up from the lie we are living. The stubbornness enables us to continue lying to ourselves. We’ve created this ideal scenario of how we’ll be informed we are incorrect in our ways. The scenario is extremely unrealistic. It usually involves seeing the truth for what it is through someone else’s life struggles, no one knowing of our errors, while we’re in a good enough mood to tell ourselves we need to change without putting up a wall. What are the chances all of this lines up?

What are the benefits of listening? Two huge perks are less disappointment and expedited learning. Disappointment in ourselves usually stems from unwanted repercussions from us knowing better and doing something anyway. Yes, we love rolling the dice, but many of us are not ready for the prize. The prize is a huge setback. The misfortune can be financial, relationship-based, or status affecting professional and personal life. Living a lie when we’ve convinced ourselves it is not, has the dangers of rubbing people the wrong, appearing less intelligent than we are, or showing others that we are stubborn beyond repair, and shouldn’t receive help in any capacity. These are three things listening will prevent. We don’t want to push people away, seem foolish or shun away assistance. People can be what get us to where we want to go in life. To attract the right ones, you must be open to new thoughts and views. They may not be accurate, but what if it is us who are wrong? We must have the capacity to receive the information. The information being shared with us can sound incorrect but turn out to be the truth. We must have the ability to take in things that contrast or even combat our beliefs. It may be the best thing that happens to us. The truth hurts.

The truth may hurt but only once. We take in the facts, and that is what it is. It’s like 1+1=2. It is not changing. Let’s move forward knowing the equation. Living a lie will hurt multiple times. We’ll remind ourselves by stating, “I was wrong, how much time did I waste? How foolish was I? 1+1=1? I mean, how could I believe that? How dare I share that information in public! How many people heard or saw me state that? It is so embarrassing. 1+1 is 2, duh. Come on.” Yeah…that is pretty much what it is like after you “wake up.” Just take it in stride. It’s not the end of the world. It’s the end of living in the fake one.