“Ignorance is bliss” says Cypher to Agent Smith (in the movie Matrix, in case you didn’t see it a thousand times like I did when it was released).

In a time of my life when I am trying out a very new role (being a mom), and where there is so much pressure to be a perfect parent, I can really relate to Cypher’s desire to surrender and abandon the resistance. Regardless of what your bliss is in life, it seems that because we have access to almost any information and know-how out there (thanks to Internet), the pressure to know or do it all is suffocating.

There is a covert message looming behind every advertisement and harmless conversation with friends & family that assures us this: there’s more, more, more out there we’re missing out on, that we don’t know / do / have enough of (fill in the blank). A message of lack. Of dirty imperfection.

How dare you not:

• Adhere to the latest tech trends: iPad, iPhone, BB, Facebook, twitter, daily blogging, bla bla bla…
• Research every product out there in order to buy “the right one”
• Have: read book X, seen the episode of show A, travelled to place B, a pencil skirt in your closet (ok, I’ve been watching What Not to Wear again), etc. (What do you feel pressured – whether by yourself or your environment – to do or know…the RIGHT way?)
• Use spell check and make typos

…Lately, as I’m on a sort of quest to expand my multiple selves, I often forget that there is no right or wrong way. I get sucked into thinking: oh but what if…I make a mistake? Screw up? There must be a book (in your case, maybe a workshop, website, family member or friend) out there that will give me the key to doing it right! (as I read book after book with little added sense of security or certitude).

Are we snubbing our intuitive wisdom in favour of somebody else’s opinion and individual experience?

I say PUT DOWN THAT BOOK! CLOSE that browser window! SSSSHHHH…listen. What is your body telling you? What is your spirit whispering or shouting to you? What initial feeling do you get about a choice you’re making? Even Justin Bieber knows to eenie, meenie, miney, mo.

The answer is withIN, not withOUT.  But of course, you knew that.

So I invite you to remember.