I came into this world to live, to gain experiences, to grow, and to learn.
To this day, I have experienced a lot. I have a pretty clear sense of who I am. I know what I am good at and what I am not. I know what I like and what I don’t, what I want and what I no longer accept. I have learned to set boundaries. I am becoming more and more aware of my desires, my triggers, and my body.
Of course, learning never stops. We continue to grow throughout our entire lives. But I am talking about the person I am right now, in this very moment.
We live in a fascinating time. Never before has knowledge been as accessible as it is today. With just a few clicks, we can find information on almost any topic. This is a tremendous gift.
And at the same time, it is also a time of information overload and uncertainty. Because there are now almost endless amounts of information available. Information and opinions… Opinions about information, studies, texts, and even more opinions…
You search for a topic, for example a health condition or a way to live a healthier life. Within just a few minutes, you find studies, expert opinions, personal experiences, and countless videos. One person says: Never do this under any circumstances. The next claims: This is exactly what you should do. Then you come across headlines like: “You’ve been doing it wrong your entire life!” or “This one method changes everything!”
Who should you believe? … Or should you even believe any of this information at all? That is exactly what happened to me today.
I researched a topic because I wanted to know whether I could better support my weight loss journey. An interesting and current topic.
Within just a few minutes, I had found five different “professional” approaches, ten different opinions, and several people who were convinced that everything I had known or experienced myself so far was wrong. Some referred to studies, others to their education, and others to personal experiences. Many insult each other in the comments and claim that one approach is better or worse than another.
Many people confidently say: “Do it this way!” or “I did it, so why can’t you?” They generalize everything and put everyone else into the same box, as if we all lived the same life and had the same circumstances.
Then I thought: Hey… but I am ME… not you… I closed my laptop and reflected.
Yes, some of the information was interesting. Some of it I want to remember and perhaps look into more closely later. The rest, I simply let go. Then I asked myself another question:
What does my own experience actually tell me? What do I truly know about this topic — not because I read it somewhere, but because I have experienced it myself?
What does my body tell me? What has been good for me so far? What has actually helped me reach my goals?
Maybe a “professional” or influencer calls their method the perfect solution. But is it also the perfect solution for me?
Hmm… let me think…
No… not necessarily.
Because in the end, that too is just an opinion.
My body is unique. My story is unique. That’s why my path is allowed to be unique as well. For me, the answer today was very simple:
On Monday, I will see my doctor, ask my questions, and listen to his assessment… After that, I will continue to stay true to my own path. I listen to my body. I trust my experience and my common sense.
And I take information for what it is: the opinions of other people. Possibilities — but by no means truths.
I believe this thought applies to almost everything in life. We can listen, learn, and stay open-minded. But we don’t have to make every opinion our own truth. Sometimes the most important answer is not found in the next video or article — but already within ourselves.
My path is my path.
