This week's blog is inspired by Sarah Blondin's Podcast, Live Awake. Thank you Sarah for continuing to inspire me to go inward to reach the depths of my soul's purpose with loving kindness. (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/live-awake/id1030019034?mt=2)
I often write when I feel inspired and I will be honest, it has been awhile. Fear and overwhelm can do that to a person. Can you relate? Do you lack inspiration lately or has it been awhile since you REALLY felt inspired at the core of your being, from the depths of your soul to create something new and powerful and deliciously splendid?
How often do we wait for something or someone outside of ourselves to create our most powerful, life changing shift? How often do we feel stuck or trapped in our own existence hoping and praying that something greater than us will wave it's magic wand and poof- we will be set free, make a decision, take that job, start something new, buy the home we have always wanted, marry the person we adore and whom truly adores us, leave an abusive relationship, live our passion, go back to school, retire, play more, go on an adventure, dance, laugh more, trust more, love the way we want to love, etc. etc. etc.?
Sometimes, when the world seems so big and overwhelming, and the demands of life too much, we need a reminder from someone, anyone that says, "Hey, YOU matter."
When our relationships seem like they are going nowhere or we feel stuck in our job, or we can't communicate the way we want to, or we struggle to figure out a decision, we need someone to gently remind us of these words, "You matter."
After a long day, when we are exhausted and can't cram anything more into our brains, when we are so tired and stressed that we cannot fall asleep or stay asleep, we need the comfort of a whisper that calms us by saying, "You matter."
Drawing a Line in the Sand...
Having your boundaries violated can be devastating, especially when it is repeatedly done by family members, friends, and especially intimate partners. For some, having your boundaries violated can become such a "normal" occurrence that you may not even realize when it is happening. So, how do you know when one of your boundaries has been violated? Answer the following questions:
What does your body tell you when someone violates your boundary?
What do your emotions tell you when your boundaries are crossed?
Do you feel uneasy, like you are on the edge of getting ready to run? Do you feel your walls come up, becoming guarded with your speech and body language? Do you become angry and/or aggressive?
What do you DO when someone violates your boundaries? Do you ignore it, call it out, set boundaries? Allow your boundaries to be crossed?
Do you play small in your life; in your relationships and at work? If you are unsure, read the following and see if playing small applies to you:
1. You wait to be asked or to share your truth(this is often a result of fear- read #2). Examples of this include waiting to share your opinion, waiting to talk at a meeting, or waiting to share how you really feel with loved ones until and unless they bring issues up. You also wait to highlight just how talented you are unless asked by others to showcase your services. You hide.
2. Fear overwhelms and ultimately defeats you. You fear rejection, judgment, disappointing others or losing love. So you comply with those around you both personally and professionally even if your soul is screaming that it wants something else. Even if your spirit calls you to be bold, brave and to spread your glorious wings; you clip them to make others comfortable.
Communication can be challenging in any relationship and especially in one that is unhealthy. The fear of starting a fight, being rejected or ignored, or having your partner refuse to support you can feel unbearable. Whether the relationship has some type of abuse or addiction present or there has been past betrayal or abuse, speaking your own opinion or bringing up personal needs or wants can cause significant anxiety. You may have had one or many challenging experiences in the past with bringing up your needs, leaving you to want to bottle up any requests, leaving you feeling hopeless about any future attempts at communication. Or you may feel forced to live in what seems to be an unfair lie without the opportunity to share your truth of what you need.
