Guess it is true that some ideas just pop up when you are in the shower...
Being apartment hunting with two close friends of mine, today came the day to decide, if I would like to move into an apartment together. I can't express it, but somehow I am hesitant to join them and tried a 'fake decision' = trying to put yourself into a reality where you decided for/against it (this time against moving into the selected apartment) and see how you feel. I felt comfortable with it. Sure, too bad that I am not moving in with them, this would have been a blast. On the other side, the fake decision showed me that it is the right decision - even know I don't exactly know why.
Then Star Wars popped up in my mind, totally out of the blue: search your feelings.
Especially in the last year, I became a lot better of actually figuring out my feelings and also 1) acknowledging them, 2) act accordingly, and 3) express them to others..
However, as mentioned, this time I wasn't sure why and pondered: 'Why don't you want to take this apartment? Or don't you want to move in with them? Is there something in your own life holding you back which has nothing to do without the apartment? Search your feelings.'
Even though this article is already a year old (which seems to be almost labeled as outdated in our society) it makes some profound points. For this post I want to highlight:
- I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself
- I wish I'd the courage to express my feelings
Yes, the apartment choice might not seem like a hard choice, there is still a lot of fight potential and emotional energy involved. By being honest and respectful to each other's opinion, my friends and me are handling the situation with the most respect for each other and have no interpersonal problem. Everyone should decide what's best for oneself, even though that means that the original plan won't happen.
Coming out of a recent fling, I have a strange emotional state at the moment and postpone some dates with (new) female acquaintances. None of them are clearly in friendship zone nor in potential dating zone which is mentally exhausting for me, as I don't want to get into anything new for now. Therefore, I made excuses and just non commitments to avoid actually meeting without giving a reason, but by just being a strange person on the other line. This weekend, after some personal time and taking a walk, I wrote a clear text basically saying:
'Hi, I wasn't straight with you. This is the situation. I enjoyed talking to you as it distracted me of something different. You seem great. Now, I would like to stop texting, as I need to take some personal time to process.' (Short version)
Neither in this situation, nor in any other situation ever before did being honest and straight not turn out to be better than before. There is a line, in terms of that you don't want to hurt another person's feelings. Other than that there is no downside in being honest and expressing your feelings. Why are people hesitant to be more that way?
I think it is because you show off, the walls are down, people know how you tick. Despite mainstream thinking, this is not a weakness, it's a strength. People will appreciate it. Even further, it is like giving them a compliment, as you trust them with your secret and your deepest feelings. What a connector! Sure, making a further connection is not always the goal - as with the women. Still, everyone of them wrote me back how much she appreciated me being honest and that this is a rare trait. I hope it is not rare and it rather inspires them to be more honest themselves (at least that is what is happening in my mind).
Having a different angle: if it truly turns out that the other person doesn't (want to) understand, respect or even takes advantage of your state? Then you also have your answer and shouldn't spend more time with that person.
Search your feelings. Acknowledge them. Act accordingly. Express them.