Live an authentic life you love
The other day, my friend brought up one of my favourite New Year’s traditions: choosing an inspiring word.
It’s something I’ve been doing for years.
And keep me on track.
So I live my life based on my highest values.
You see, I don’t do resolutions anymore.
‘Cuz when I have in the past, I realized how futile they were.
And how self-punishing.
Continue reading “Do you have an inspiring word for the year?”
Dear 2020,
It was nice knowing you.
But I think it’s time for you to go now.
Don’t get me wrong.
I learned a lot from you.
And I’m surprisingly grateful.
You were a very difficult, yet wise, teacher.
While doing my yoga practice this morning I was reminded of these wise and powerful words from Yoga with Adriene:
“Keep what makes you happy. Let go of what doesn’t serve you.”
If the Great Pause of 2020 has taught us anything, I believe it’s exactly that.
That as a result of having to slow down and sit with our own ‘stuff,’ we learned — very quickly — what did and didn’t work for us.
And what didn’t.
I have a confession to make.
I haven’t written a blog in 12 whole months. And I’ve felt very conflicted about it.
On one hand, I’ve had plenty to say and have started many drafts. On the other hand, I’ve been severely lacking in follow through.
And that’s just plain sucked.
And I’ve come up with all sorts of answers. Or perhaps they were just excuses.
And felt like the long, dark days were closing in on you?
If so, you’re not alone.
I live in Vancouver, and while we don’t get a lot of snow in the winter, we do get our fair share of cold, grey, rainy days.
Every January or February I get hit by the winter doldrums. And my mood begins to feel as grey as our weather.
I want to climb under a big, warm comforter. And stay there.
Forever.
The gifts you were born with that make you uniquely you? The ones you were meant to share with the world?
Recently I was reminded of mine. And the timing couldn’t have been more perfect!
I was in the middle of a challenging situation with a colleague. I was feeling criticized and dismissed. As though I was just a number.
A cog in the wheel. Nothing special.
The exact opposite of how I believe we all deserve to feel.
As a result, my confidence was taking a hit. I began second-guessing myself. And everything I said or did.
I felt like I was walking on eggshells (always a bad sign for a recovering people-pleaser like me).
My intuition was on high alert. My brain began screaming “danger, danger, pay attention!”
So I decided to take a step back and analyze the situation a bit more carefully. To sit with my anxiety instead of run from it. To see what my body – always a barometer for my soul – had to say.
A girlfriend of mine recently said something that gave me pause.
Worthy of me?
What a concept! It seems so basic.
Yet I realized the truth of it as soon as she said it. That I’ve actually had it backwards all my life.
I’ve worked so hard to show them that I’m good, kind, smart, and capable.
And even more, that I’m not too needy, too emotional, or lord help me, too dependent! For fear they would run in the opposite direction.
Ugh. Seriously?! Wtf is up with that?
The other day I was listening to one of my favorite Life Coaches, Nancy Levin, on Hay House Radio. One of her callers said something that triggered an ah-ha moment for me.
And helped me uncover a life-long pattern.
The woman was describing an unkind comment made by a dance teacher she’d had when she was young.
It was a thoughtless comment. One that caused the caller to have doubts about herself and her body image for many years to come.
It was a comment made by my grade 4 teacher that ended up having a profound effect on me.