How do you make yourself small?

This was the first question I read from my favorite blogs and websites, The Daily Love or TDL. Wow, what a way to stir the pot! Mastin Kipp, founder/author of TDL, talks about how we make excuses for why we can’t get what we want in life. Even when we allow ourselves those moments to dream about that dream job, house, car, vacation, relationship, business, etc., we make excuses as to why it can’t or never will happen. In the past, I always had an excuse for why I couldn’t do something.

While I was in Yoga Teacher Training, we had our Teaching Methods class, which was very challenging for me. I got so nervous standing in front of my teacher and classmates teaching a pose, that I started to shake, speak too low, sweat, and forget the main actions of the pose. I had a tough teacher, who would chime in A LOT to correct us, and I know now, all she wanted was for us to be the best teachers ever.

But I took it so personally, that I created the belief that I was a failure at everything and wasn’t good enough.

I also had a need to be understood, heard and loved, but my negative self-talk (aka Mind Chatter) would make me wrong for the way I was feeling (frustration, sadness) because I had another belief/story that it’s wrong to feel frustration, anger, or sadness.

Although I got teaching opportunities after my training, this belief (which affected everything in my life) still hung over me to the extent that I almost quit teaching. However, I know these beliefs started a long time ago, and through lots of personal growth work over the years, I realized these beliefs were not me and not true.

What we say and think about ourselves matters. I learned this through Marshall Rosenberg’s amazing process of Nonviolent Communication, which teaches us to openly and honestly express our feelings and needs without judgment.

He says “Every criticism, judgment, diagnosis, and expression of anger is the tragic expression of an unmet need.”

In other words, we tend to make ourselves or others wrong for feeling angry, frustrated, or sad, when really it all stems from a need not being met and that we may not aware of.

So what beliefs do you have? What statements/excuses do you tell yourself why something is? The ones I have heard myself say and others say are: I’m too old; it’s just too hard; I’m not good enough; I don’t deserve it; they won’t like/believe me.

These are the beliefs that hold us back from getting what we want and are needs met. But what we forget is that the Universe provides everything; and when we ask for those desires through affirmation or prayer, we need to feel that light and joy of possibility when we put it out there. That we are worthy and deserving. That we are not our thoughts, stories or beliefs. We are love, light and apart of this world.

So I invite you to track these thoughts or beliefs that you tell yourself. Write them down throughout the day, and then see what feeling or emotion is attached to it.

For example, my past story was, “I’m not good enough. I feel sad and depressed because I have a need for acceptance, to be heard and understood.”

So be aware of the challenges in your life, but don’t let them stop you. We all have challenges, but we also have choices.

I AM Worthy!

A statement such as the title of this post was never in my language at a time. In the past, I believed that I didn't deserve anything better. I believed that I was selfish for wanting more or something else than what I already had. Now, the more I'm grateful for what I have, MORE shows up! I believe we all deserve what we want, and if we want more, so be it!

I was inspired to write this post from a blog I follow called The Daily Love. The author/owner talks about how if we believe we aren't worthy or deserving of better things for our life (in relationships, health, career, etc.) , it can prevent us from moving forward toward how we want to be and live. It's all about owning your power, but most importantly, REMEMBERING that we have our own power. The power to choose and love whoever and whatever you want to do with your life. The power to CHANGE anything in the moment.

I am experiencing growth in my healing business. I asked for it, and the best part is that I'm receiving it and enjoying it. I catch the chatter when it says, "you don't deserve it" or "I'm not strong enough, so I can't handle it". When I hear that in the background, I know it's those old patterns and ways of being. I know that it's not ME. It's old stories that I picked up or learned over the years. I know of many times when I tried something new because I wanted to do it, and did it. When there are stumbles along the way, I know, now, to keep going. How are we going to know , if we don't try? Who cares what others think! Isn't it about what you/I/we want?

These are the experiences that feed our mind, body and spirit. They shakes us up, to wake us up! Aaahh, now that's refreshing!

What do you do to shake up your life?

If any of this (even a little bit) resonates with you, I invite to read more of the post on The Daily Love here.