"Once we become Unveiled we no longer have to hide behind the sheer screen of insecurity; we can be BOLD and Confident to take on the challenge and succeed."
The freedom to just be is the kryptonite to anxiety. Seek it…find it…embody it.
We often worry about what others will say or how they will feel; but we rarely will first think about the liberty in just being real. We associate the consequence of judgment and rejection here all too often. When the fact of the matter is that it’s all a part of life and simply put you will not be able to please everybody all the time. Your primary goal in life should be to live out your purpose by design. As you move forward and grow you will quickly realize this infallible truth…life has a funny way of teaching you the things that matter the most.
It’s a sad and very dangerous thing for a person to experience or suffer from the effects of amnesia, dementia or Alzheimer’s. The majority of our lives are built upon what we are able to remember. So quite naturally the inability to identify with who you really are, remembering all of what happened in 1975 and none of what happened 20 minutes ago, can be frightening when you’re lost in your own home. This can be frustrating and devastating for not only the affected person but their family, friends, co-workers and other acquaintances as well. No one is exempt from suffering and life changes for EVERYONE.
Definitely not to make light of these distressing illnesses in any form, but these same effects can plague one who has disassociated themselves with their true inner being. (Stay with me, it’s not as book-wormish as it sounds.) As a result of bad experience or traumatic incident…surgeons have traded their scalpels for lawn mowers, musicians have traded their instruments for aprons, executives have traded Wall Street for a classroom…abandoning the passion that drives their very being. A paralyzing fear of failing or not measuring up to the expectation of others can cause us to “forget” who we are and in turn exile ourselves to the island of “there has to be more to life than this”.
There is! But you gave it up because you punked out! You had a few bad experiences and you ran away. You allowed yourself to be bullied and became overcome by the appearance of rejection instead of standing up and taking your rightful place in the forefront to do what you know how to do, what you love to do, what you were created to do. Then when given the opportunity to “get back in the game” you “FORGET” that you are GREAT and instead fall to the back embarrassing yourself and disappointing those who KNOW you are more than capable. (Which by the way does not help anybody, in fact; it frustrates you and angers those who have to deal with you.) So am I saying that you should seek to please people? NO! I’m saying that you should seek to fulfill your purpose…ON PURPOSE...BOLDLY and with CONFIDENCE!
It doesn’t matter what anyone else knows or believes to be true about you until you KNOW WHO YOU ARE FOR YOURSELF.
Past failures are the stepping stones to greatness. If you never failed how would you ever know when you did something right?
Running from your past perpetuates the pain of the experience; learning from it is the key to being able to move forward and be the great being that you were created to be.
So we’re two weeks into the New Year, some of us have “fallen off the wagon” already with the New Year’s Resolutions that were set with such empty promise; some of us have gotten off to a slow start with refocusing our lives and setting goals for the year; some of us are energized and are experiencing incredible momentum and some of us have not even begun to put a plan in motion for maximizing the year. Which lane on the race track are you in? The good thing about this “race” is that you are only competing against yourself and you can stop for training, conditioning, or a complete rerouting at any time.
This is definitely a time where one MUST be proactive and learn to seize EVERY OPPORTUNITY that comes along. In fact, often times the only opportunities that are guaranteed are the ones you create…so don’t be afraid to MAKE IT HAPPEN. Exercising your creativity is what will open many of the doors that you will walk through.
There will be times when you may be required to evaluate something about your personality or even your character. A key to being successful is being able to accept criticism, correction and credit. No one ever does EVERYTHING right and once you acknowledge and accept your perfectly imperfect nature you will be able to accept these three a lot easier. Coming from the right source (with the right motive) these can all be empowering, however they can also be detrimental when the source is using them with the precision of a Sniper to take you out. Always remain open and flexible, if for no other reason than to be able to dodge the bullet of discouragement that can come to challenge you and make you want to give up.
Set backs are to be expected as well. Just when you think you have “found your footing” something can come along to shake you. RECOVER. Respect the shift, even if it comes at the expense of ALL that you have worked so hard to achieve. Know that NOTHING JUST HAPPENS and the divine plan working in the background is always working in our favor. RECOVER. Don’t allow what appears to be a failure to cause you to walk away from your destiny.
Most importantly NEVER allow another person to determine your worth. If you don’t know your value you can easily be taken by the lowest bidder. Respect and honor those who have “gone before you”, but don’t compromise your being for what appears to be opportunity. There will be others that don’t come at the price of your mental/emotional stability. Balance is essential in the relationships that we maintain. No one controls who or what you become other than you.
Remember “slow and steady” wins the race…be consistent, be loyal, be committed, and ENDURE!
Last year really taught me a lot about the power of perseverance. After employing the things that I have written about (Commanding destiny through declarations, expecting greatness, living on purpose, giving thanks, embracing new beginnings) I had the best year of my life. Yes, of my life.
As we welcome the New Year and we all purpose to “turn over a new leaf” here are some things to consider putting into action. Actively subscribing to them can truly make a difference in you reaching your goals.
Find a Mentor – Yes, even as adults you NEED a mentor. There is always someone who can add to your life and challenge you to grow. Often times this is more than one person as they may fill different roles (i.e. professional mentor, personal mentor, Spiritual mentor).
Make a vision board – A vision board is a visual collage of those things that you desire to see manifest in your life. Not the superficial house, car, husband/wife type stuff but rather the burning soulful desires that you have…those things that you can see for yourself in your dreams and when you think of them your heart begins to race. Keeping those things in a place where you have to see them every day gives you a sense of accountability and motivation.
Daily Declarations – Along with the concept of Vision Boarding comes verbally declaring each day what you desire to possess in all areas of your life. This is usually a foundational declaration that spans all aspects and may not be specific, but may be coupled with specific desires. Making this declaration daily is a demonstration of the power that we have to set our atmosphere. (See previous post “What Are You Saying” & “Great Expectations”)
Be Intentional – Always live on purpose. When you set out to do something know what it is that you want from that experience and seek that. Don’t waste time flirting around with possibilities…go for them or move on to the next thing. However, be mindful to enjoy your journey.
Take Calculated Risks – Challenge yourself to move beyond complacency and comfort. Sometimes you have to be uncomfortable for a moment in an effort to obtain that coveted goal. Count up the costs, make your plan and move forward. Sitting back paining over it will only result in you not doing anything…MAKE THE PLAN AND DO IT!
The freedom to just be is the kryptonite to anxiety. Seek it…find it…embody it.
