Do you ever have those
moments when you are talking to someone and the words coming out of your mouth
are things you know to be true for you?
Advice you that applies
to you.
I find this happens to me
frequently when I am counseling others but not balanced myself. It’s like
clients are coming into my office and we are bringing awareness to each
other. It is easy for me to be objective and recognize their unconscious
psychological patterns that have emerged, those opportunities for learning and
growth that are deeply rooted in childhood experiences. At times, it is harder to recognize and reconcile them in myself.
Like everyone else on
the planet who has patterns emerge at some point or another (and usually several
points), I am currently slowly moving through a triggered life-long pattern of
needing others to fill me up emotionally (meet my emotional needs) because I
am not doing it for myself. I find I get frustrated with people in my
family or others in my life who are not “giving me what I need” (aka:
validating me somehow).
Then, in the mysterious
ways of the Universe, I find that all of the sudden I have clients that are in
a similar predicament. We are drawn together through our similar energy. These clients are going through some sort of hard time, some sort of period that has them questioning life, death, sanity, purpose, God, power, relationships, etc.
So I bring to you a list
of things (that are loosely tied together) that I said to others today. Things
I should also be saying to myself (I'm willing to bet you will find something
in there that applies to you too);
1. “There must be a
tearing down, a destruction of self, for you to build back up into a
more aware and evolved person. It can be emotional and scary but when it’s
over it is so good.”
Evolution and expansion
requires destruction- those parts of you that no longer serve you (usually parts of the ego-self) have to
be destroyed for you to build back up (or allow your true self to emerge) into something improved. I see women all
around me that are constantly doing for others, BEING for others, and
wondering why they are emotionally depleted. Any change or loss requires a
grieving process and in order to grieve, you have to let yourself fall
apart in order to discover your wholeness again.
2. “How long have you
been choosing to feel responsible for what other people feel?”
Ahhhh, the people
pleasers in life. At times, when I am not balanced, I could be president
of that club.
Not allowing ourselves to
speak our truth or meet our own needs for fear of others
perceptions, judgments or
reactions blocks us from experiencing true emotional intimacy in its healthiest
form.
3. “As long as you aren’t
being malicious or intentionally hurting someone; what other people think
or feel about what you say is none of your damn business.”
In addition to #2, how
others choose to perceive what you say, as long as your intention is pure, is
not your business. Speak your truth! Furthermore, how they perceive it says
everything about where they are at and the healing they need to do. If there is
defensiveness –awareness and healing are required. The enemy has the
potential to become the teacher. Someone doesn’t like you? Good for you –
you
just gave someone else
the opportunity to see what they are subconsciously projecting onto you,
which really requires their own attention and healing. If it bothers you that
someone doesn't like you, is judging you, or not giving you enough recognition,
then you can bet that your own self-limiting belief that "I'm not good
enough" is at work. Is that another person's responsibility? No. That's on
you. When you are balanced, you won't care what others think, feel or say about
you.
4. “When you choose not
to touch that inherent value that is inside of you as a soul, you are not only
keeping that beauty from others, but most importantly, you deny yourself of
power, love and your own God-given purpose.”
This relates to #3 a bit
in that there are three types of "self-limiting beliefs," (SLB's)
which are subconscious beliefs that you have been programmed with through
family, culture, society, etc. Since our beliefs greatly influence our actions,
they substantially affect our reality. These SLB's are; "If I try I will
fail," "I'm not good enough" and "No one will ever want
me." When you make
decisions out of fear of one of these beliefs you are giving away your power.
You have a purpose. Everybody has a purpose in this Divine network of
connections, growth, love, learning and lessons that we exchange. When you play
small, or hold yourself back to feel "safe," you are not valuing
yourself or your contribution to the world. You are choosing fear, lack, and
weakness. It is a choice. You are also modeling those negative emotions for any
children you have in your life as well. You are showing them who they are
because our children view themselves as extensions of us. They form their
identities around what we model for them and their experiences with us. What do
you want for them? What do you want for you? What brings you joy? Why hold back
what you came here to do? You may say; "Well, I can't because...[enter SLB
here]" All you have to do is recognize the SLB, be aware of it, and make a
different choice. It starts with choosing different thoughts, then those
thoughts influence your feelings, which influence your beliefs, then your
behavior/action, and finally, your reality. It looks like this;
THOUGHTS=FEELINGS=BELIEFS=BEHAVIOR/ACTION=REALITY
An example;
If you hold a SLB that
"If I try, I will fail" you will have thoughts (from your ego, not your
soul self) that pop into your mind anytime you are considering following your
purpose. "My dream job would be to be a fishing guide, to work outside and
teach people skills as they connect with nature...but I would have to go back
to school...and I don't know how I would pay for it...how could I build a
business and support myself? It is impossible." These thoughts create
resistance to you achieving your purpose. If it feels right in your gut, it is
right for you, and you simply need to get out of your own way. Start with focusing on what you want (not on what you don't want). If a negative thought comes into your mind - try to turn it into a positive statement, or at least a neutral one. Then hold onto the good feeling thoughts, hold onto the positive beliefs that come with the good feelings and watch how your reality
changes.
5. “In finding your
value, you come into your power, and inspire others around you to do the same.”
When you hold yourself
back from stepping into your power, in an attempt to make life more comfortable
for others, you withhold growth, learning and power for everyone involved. When
you live small, you serve no-one. Living your Truth, with love, honor and
purpose, is courageous. Living small robs the people you love of their own
lessons as you attempt to protect them from the pain it will bring up for
them as you step into your power.
Finding your value, so
that you can step into your power, requires presence and being present requires
discipline but as you practice being present, and getting balanced (and
subsequently into alignment with your Higher Power) by simply bringing
attention to the present moment- you will naturally start to discover
your value. In present moment awareness you will be able to notice the SLB
that come into your thoughts and you will be more easily able to change them.You
will see your purpose, your strengths and your abilities. You will make
positive changes. Others will notice those changes and be inspired in many
ways, like the metaphor of a ripple in a pond.
6. “Feeling loved is only
temporary if you do not discover your own self-worth. You will live your whole
life doing and being for others in an insane attempt to fill yourself up.”
Women frequently do this.
We adopt a societal view of who we should be; doing, care taking, meeting
other’s needs and expectations of us, in an attempt to find value and worth.
We become rescuers. We find importance in helping others and “saving” them
from their own lessons. We try to bulldoze a path of least resistance so
they can be happy. In doing that, we feel loved and emotionally fulfilled.
But we find that we can never completely fill that gap that only holds a space
for our own self-love. The reprieve is only temporary, so we do it again.
And again. Despite the little voice that tells us we shouldn't. Then we
find ourselves having an identity crisis at some point in our lives, when
we realize we have lived our lives for others and that is our only
identity. Our self-worth is tied up in how others feel, which we really
have no control over anyway. And what about us? What do we really want? What
brings us happiness? Where is our own value if we are so caught up in
doing for others and trying not to be “selfish?!” Without awareness, this
leads us to attempts at distraction from seeking fulfillment elsewhere,
like through extramarital affairs, jumping from relationship to
relationship, having unhealthy boundaries, and/or being judgmental of others to make
ourselves feel powerful.
All because we don't take
steps to find our own worth.
We listen to erroneous
messages we were spoon fed as children and let them continue to have power over
us. Messages that came from other flawed humans. Once again, the answer
lies in taking the time to be in the present moment. It is only in the present
moment that your false identity (ego) will yield to your authentic self (soul).
In the present moment, the ego is powerless. So take time every day (even if
only 5 minutes) to get centered; through prayer, through focused breathing,
through yoga, etc. Any activity that keeps you focused in that moment and lets
go of thoughts. You are then able to feel and connect with your heart
center.
7. “In being aware of your feelings, in
accepting them and allowing them to surface without judgment or the need
to change them, you will experience a natural evolution and healing.”
Some feelings you have
may seem “wrong.” With grief, I always encourage others to feel whatever
comes up, without judgment, because judgment creates resistance, and you
will continue to experience what you resist. You can’t work through it if
you are resisting it and “what you resist, persists” (Abraham Hicks said
that, I think). So whether it has to do with feelings of grief (over a death),
or feelings of loss over the ending of some other life domain (The
Physical, Social, Personal and/or Spiritual Realms), just allow the feelings
to be. Acknowledge that they are there and and make an attempt to focus back on what you want and how it would feel to have what you want. If your attention is too focused in your thoughts in a negative way - take a nap, stretch, or breathe. Give your brain a reboot. So there you have it. I welcome comments and insight into other's learning. One, I like to know I'm not alone in this processing of the journey that is life, and two, learning from each other is part of why we are here! My intention is that you can take something in and work it in a positive way for you. If you can't - at least put some love out into the world...hug a tree, snuggle a kitten, love yourself.
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