The Missing Jigsaw Piece

I see so many posts and ads from people or businesses online that advertise that once they found this *one* thing, everything else in their life fell into place.  It was as if their life was a puzzle that was missing one piece, and once they found that piece, the picture became whole.  

For a few years I lived believing this as well, but I began to wonder if this was actually true.  In fact, I began to think that living with this belief can actually lead to a dysfunctional and toxic relationship with the self.  In my experience believing that there was one thing that I needed to find or discover, led me to subconsciously believe that I was an incomplete being, which I now know is not true.

Believing I was incomplete led me to constantly search outside of myself for happiness and fulfillment.  It cost me hundreds, probably thousands, of dollars because I was constantly buying new programs and products thinking that they may help piece me together or "fix" me.  It led me to hate my body and view it as an enemy, and it left me feeling empty and full of guilt.  I would constantly wonder, what is wrong with me that I just couldn't find that piece?  I made life so much harder on myself.

We are all whole and complete beings.  There is no “missing piece” that will complete the picture.  Our happiness and health does not solely rely on this mysterious, magical piece that will solve all of our troubles.  True peace can only be cultivated from within and there is no one right or wrong way to achieve this.  It is specific to who you are and to your own individual desires, wants, and needs.

By learning more and adding additional pieces to our puzzle, the picture does become clearer.  But I think it is the kind of picture that just keeps expanding and is never truly finished or complete.

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