Forest Gump said, “Stupid is as stupid does.”

We can substitute any word for stupid: smart, pretty, kind, fun, wise, sweet, etc. The point of the statement is to focus on the irony. Forest certainly knew he wasn’t like others, but he knew he wasn’t stupid for two reasons: his mamma told him, “Forest, you’re no different than anybody else is,” and he had the concrete, innocent mind of a child.

If I say I’m Christian and then treat people with cruelty and lie when I speak, am I a Christian, or do I hang my hat on that classification for credibility? If I say I’m broke (financially) and then come home with a trunk full of shopping bags, am I broke, dishonest, or looking for sympathy?

If I say I’m a good neighbor, pile stuff in my yard, or let the weeds go unattended, am I a good neighbor, inconsiderate or lazy?

If we are honest and authentic, our actions match our words. Right?

It isn’t always easy to be congruent—to be who we claim or want to be. We are human, and situations arise where we fall short of our strengths. Imagine a movie where the bad guy in the black hat wants the pretty lady on the boardwalk. Acting like a good guy in the white hat seldom ends well for the lady.

Three to four hundred years BC, “Know Thyself” was carved into stone at the entrance to Apollo’s temple at Delphi in Greece. I would change it to “Know and Be Thyself.”

Regarding mental wellness, “Know Thyself” might be the wisest quote to survive the centuries. It sounds easy enough, but it is not.

As a mental health counselor, I seldom worked with individuals or couples without having them complete the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It helped them know themselves and each other. How else can we understand and own our choices, plus allow others to own their behavior?

Forest knew himself, and he lived authentically. He loved Jenny, Mamma, Bubba, and Lieutenant Dan. Forest gave his all to football, ping-pong, the Vietnam War, mowing, shrimping, and running. He forgave others and built on the good around him. He did not do stupid things, so the title did not belong to him.

If we know who we are, we have a far better chance of living OUR authentic life.

I guess the question for discussion is:  If who we are and how we act are connected, we have a great start to becoming mentally healthy? We find, understand, and proudly present our true selves in our living and learning.

“That’s all I have to say about that.”

Until the next time: Live while you live.

Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of “My Clients…My Teachers,” and the blogger and writer of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.

Powered by WPeMatico