In the days before pondering entered my life, rather than embracing my own weaknesses, I spent time covering them up with Performance, Perfectionism, and Perseverance.
There, they remained unexamined, shoved under the rug. I was much more comfortable and confident examining my To-Do List rather than my shortcomings.
Our Inner Critics are having a field day.
You know her voice. She’s the one who numbers the reasons why you don’t need to get involved. The one who tells you to remain silent about things you know are important.
An Inner Critic has a certain finesse about the way she speaks. She makes it easy to pull up a barstool and listen as she spouts her nonsense. She has an opinion about every last, little thing. And she’s a great gossip. Her subtle, back-handed compliments and passive-aggressive ways make it hard to break up with her even when you feel awful after bantering back and forth with her.
Literally.
As I bent over to lace up my walking shoes, my frenemy pointed out the wrinkles above my knees. I know I shouldn’t have paid any attention.
Gathering around the table and in front of groups large and small, I am consistently impressed with the strength hidden inside women. Listening to stories of heroic sacrifices from mothers, sisters, and friends stirs something deep in my soul. We set aside our needs for the ones we love instead of seeking recognition or fame. Affirmation is rarely on our menu. More often than not, our sacrifices are unknown to anyone but ourselves.
I hope you experience plenty of days when your strength feels limitless and your sacrifices are effortless. The days when your Inner Cheerleader is at her best and you can hear that voice above all the others.
There are days, I know when this is not the case.
“Easier said than done.”
This phrase runs through my mind each time I receive advice about how to change something in my life. Often, I am not soliciting this advice and the words come from well-meaning people who observe that I could do something more efficiently, with greater ease, or altogether different. Even when I am asking for help, sometimes I am not always poised to receive the answer with an open mind and heart.
What is it about doing something in a new way that frightens us a little?
Wading through the details of our lives to discover our own gifts can be a daunting task. We are tempted to remain in our day to day ruts because pivoting to chart a different course into some distant unknown is daunting. It takes time. We don’t like feeling awkward and being new. Stepping out and stepping up can feel like a spotlight being shined on us. This is great when we are tanned and toned, fully prepared for the moment. More often though, this feeling is similar to the one we experience as we stare in the dressing room mirror in March, trying on a new swimsuit.