I had an interesting realization this morning. My Mussar group facilitator asked us to meditate for a few minutes to get in touch with our inner Truth. I let my mind quiet, looked within, and discovered that I am afraid. I’m afraid that the book will flop, and I’m afraid that it will be wildly successful. Wow, talk about setting yourself up to be dissatisfied with any outcome! I feel empowered by having that realization. The book launch will be a big deal for me. Whatever happens, things will change. Now that I hear this internal voice, I can choose how to respond.

Another realization this week: 85% of readers I surveyed feel disconnected from friends and family, or that no one knows the real them. Wow! This is just from a small sample of infrequent readers, but it has made me wonder about the rest of you. Many people have told me that my email newsletter is the only one they are sure to read whenever it comes.

I write about myself, but I don’t know anything about your spiritual journey. I’d love to hear it – please take a few minutes to take this short survey – it will help guide the topics I write about. I’ll let you know the results next week too.

Mussar is all about taking action. When we feel that no one knows us, what is one small action that we can take to let people in? More importantly, what inside is holding us back from making those connections? Many soul traits could be in play, but which soul traits will vary from person to person.

The Real Question, The Real Question is how well do you know yourself? Today I learned something important about myself. Not something I’m happy about, but now that I know I am afraid, I can take action to make sure I don’t derail myself.

How many people know the real you? Do you want more people to know you?

If you have successfully reached out to others, and no longer feel this way, please share your success story below. It will inspire those of us who want to follow your example.