One of the definitions of foundation, according to Merriam-Webster, is “a basis (such as a tenet, principle, or axiom) upon which something stands or is supported.” This is the one about which I am writing today.
We don’t have to be builders to know that in order for a house to be structurally sound, it has to have a solid foundation, correct? To take that to a more personal level, in order for us to live our best lives, we must know what our foundation consists of, our beliefs, values, and morals that make up the principles upon which we stand. Those principles form the basis upon which we live our lives, upon which should guide our decisions, choices, and actions.
I’ve posted before that we have the tools necessary to make the best decisions, and, no, those tools don’t mean that every decision or choice we make will be easy. Some decisions will, in fact, be downright painful, especially when our emotions are involved. This is when it’s most important to know, and remember, what principles form your life’s foundation. What are your beliefs? What are your values? What do you know to be the basis for right decisions in your life?
My beliefs begin with the spiritual basis my parents taught and that I accepted as mine once I was grown enough to define my own values and morals. I accept and embrace what I was taught because everything begins and ends with love. Love of a divine Creator who redeemed us back to Himself after humankind screwed up, as we do, over and over again. Forgiveness without bitterness. Knowing that loving others as ourselves means treating others as we want to be treated. Understanding that as long as we have this life, we will continue to grow and evolve based on our life experiences. Realizing that sometimes those experiences come with pain and disappointments yet holding onto love in a general sense even though others may treat me and my feelings with disdain and disrespect.
Have I always given attention to the guiding principles of my foundation? No. Why not? Because I allowed my emotions to toss me to and fro like a swimmer caught in a riptide, fighting against the current, yet being pulled further and further away from the shore. And what happens when we’re pulled away from shore? We have no balance, no footing.
All this happened because I ignored what was there for me to see plainly. Instead I focused on what I wanted to see. I ignored the small, quiet voice telling me to stop, take a moment and step back away from the situation, to see what is with my spirit and my mind, rather than relying only on what I felt I needed to satisfy what I was feeling.
My foundation was, and is, solid, but I stepped off and dived into the deep ocean of emotion that was shaky, constantly changing, and never solid. And I wondered why things never worked out as I wanted. Crazy, right?
Yes, I can own that now. What’s the alternative? Pretend I didn’t do it? If I did that, I would never learn and be doomed to repeat my mistakes, my failures, over and over again.
No. I know I need to live my life in balance based on the foundation that’s always been available to me. My spiritual self, mental (reasoning) self, and emotional self are meant to work in harmony, and that’s what my foundation does for me. It is solid and I have chosen to step out of the ocean of emotion to stand on the rock of guiding principles upon which my foundation consists. There’s a peace that comes with that decision, one I can’t even begin to describe, but it’s there all the same. What about you? Have you checked to see what your foundation consists of?