Stay true to YOU...

So, I always close my post by saying, "stay positive, stay true to you"... 

My life has changed in so many ways... mostly for the good.  But there are times when I really struggle with what my life turned into versus what I had imagined it would be like when I was much younger.  But I am where I am in my life because I started many years ago to stay true to myself.  This isn't always easy and there has been pain and struggle but I can honestly say that I've learned (and am still learning) to honor myself, my values, my worth, and my talents and gifts.

But being authentically "you", can be a scary experience because that means living out the good parts of yourself but also accepting and dealing with the not-so-good things, too.  It means accepting that you are human, you make mistakes, and your actions will not always be approved of by others.  This can be very uncomfortable at first.  However, once you start doing this more and more, it will get easier and feel awesome!!!  

I met someone who reminded me so much of myself and who I was about 10 yrs ago.  This person seemed (and my perception could be wrong), to be living a life created by expectations he or someone else had created years ago.  Yet, he sometimes spoke and acted in ways that felt as if there was someone else inside of him fighting to get out -- which I sensed was the more authentic side of him.  For reasons I may never know, this seemed to be a struggle for him.  All I can say is that if you feel like you are holding back who you truly are, let that person out little by little and eventually, it will become second nature and you will be pleasantly surprised!!

Once you align with (and accept) all of who you are and who you truly want to be and start living it... it's an amazing experience.  It creates a sense of peace and authenticity that attracts more of what you truly want into your life.  It is an incredibly free feeling.

Don't live your life and try to live up to someone else's expectations of you, society's expectations of you, your parents, spouse's, or friend's expectations of you or even outdated expectations you have for yourself.  For many years I lived my life trying to be who I thought other people wanted or expected me to be.  It was pretty miserable. 

I am pretty true to myself these days.  But my life has not turned out as I had once envisioned...  at 47, I live in a small (but wonderful) apartment, I have 2 wonderful sons who are just turning into these amazing young men that make me wildly proud to be their mom, I'm about to be a grandmother for the first time (excited, but I'm not old enough to be a grandma! :-)  I've been single for going on four years and it has it's up sides and down sides.  Now this all sounds great and for the most part, it is.  But my vision many years ago would be that my sons would grow into adults and I would still be married and spending the empty nest years reconnecting with my husband, traveling, and kind of settling into my life a little more... our home would be paid off, we would be moving towards retirement... etc. etc.

So, as you can see, the vision versus the reality is quite different. This can be very uncomfortable at times.  But when I wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror, I know I am living my life according to my expectations and values.  I have a new vision for my life that is focused around creating and building stronger, better relationships and being with someone who is better matched to me and vice versa...  Just a few years back, I wanted to travel, make more money,  and have an amazing career.  I still want those things, but building better relationships is more my priority these days...

There are times when I still struggle with being authentically "me" because occasionally I still have that old vision of my life.  So, I work on trusting that I am where I am supposed to be and staying true to myself will bring more wonderful things my way...

“We may not know it, but most of us live to be remembered as someone else and not as who we truly are.”

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Being yourself is like showing your soul to the world, being somebody else is like showing your shadow in the dark.”

Stay positive,
Stay true to YOU!!

Sue

Encourage me, and I will NOT forget you...

Consider this:

FLATTER me, and I may not BELIEVE You.
CRITICIZE me, and I may not LIKE You.
IGNORE me, and I may not FORGIVE you.
ENCOURAGE me, and I will not FORGET You.

I came across this quote the other day and it really made me stop and think.  Ironically, I had a conversation the following day with a friend who truly encouraged me to think and act much "bigger" in terms of expanding my zumba® career...  Her words helped me to see myself in a different light!  It felt awesome and really motivated me to push myself outside of my own comfort zone to work on that goal!

I'm truly blessed to have a friend who sees potential in me that I don't... and could tell me in a way that was kind and empowering.

Criticism rarely feels good to anyone yet there is some inane justification in some people's minds that criticism is a huge motivator - and yes, I am guilty of that at times.  I was in a marriage in which I was harshly criticized for years.  This wore away at my self-esteem and reinforced to me that I am not good enough.  I've worked really hard to shed that "baggage", and I've made a lot of progress but still have a ways to go...   We also often live out our own negativity and challenges through others rather than taking on the responsibility ourselves to take charge of our own lives and reach for our own dreams.

No one is perfect and this life is to learn lessons and pass our gifts and talents on to others. 

My friend's words to me were kind and not critical which was amazingly motivating!  Don't be your own worst critic and the next time you are being hard on someone else or yourself, think about the positive of whatever situation you or they are in, give that person or yourself a pat on the back for the positives (even if they are little) and forgive yourself for the negatives as we are all human and will make mistakes which usually brings us to a better place in our lives!  Always remember, that you are enough!!

Just came across this and love it!!  Enjoy!

Do the things you used to talk about doing but never did.  Know when to let go and when to hold on tight.  Stop rushing.  Don't be intimidated to say it like it is.  Stop apologizing all the time.  Learn to say no so your yes has some oomph.  Spend time with friends who lift you up, and cut loose the ones that bring you down.  Stop giving your power away.  Be more concerned with being interested than being interesting.  Be old enough to appreciate your freedom, and young enough to enjoy it.  Finally know who you are.    ~ Kristin Armstrong

Stay positive...
Stay true to you...
Sue