Hey, Lovelies!!

It’s been awhile!  It’s been a lot of growth and learning and implementing the lessons I thought I learned awhile ago. In some ways, it’s been duck-and-cover to move forward. God is not listening to my desire for a growth hiatus… I asked to be the best me possible, so I’m responsible. *sigh* Having a great big life is a lot of work!

One thing that keeps coming up is how much of a people-pleaser I am. Now, there are definitely areas of my life that this has served me in the past (my career, for one). Yet, I find myself putting almost everyone ahead of me on my VIP list. I suspect, due to my feelings of overwhelm and self-neglect, this doesn’t serve me nearly as much I once thought it did. My first instinct is to do whatever others want so I’m liked. Does being liked by others really matter when I don’t like myself because I’m not making me a priority?? No.

We teach others how to treat us. I’ve been teaching others, and myself, that my needs don’t matter. That rest, vacations, time alone, boundaries, being loved, honored and cherished, etc., don’t apply to me. Apparently, I think I’m super woman… And quite possibly a martyr to hard work, so much so that I’ve made up that the only things that have value are in struggle and exhaustion. Yuck.

Hear me: I am in no way blaming anyone else. I know these are patterns of behavior I have set in place, and it is up to me to change them. Choosing me is my current, most challenging practice. Daily, I am called to voice my needs, in a way that is supportive and loving to me, and the other person. It’s not always easy, but I’m stammering a lot less than I was at first! Go me!

As in all things of perfect timing, this quote was sent to me by a friend yesterday: “I’m not a Facebook status, you don’t have to ‘LIKE’ me.” True statement. Feel free to adopt it as your own if you experience this same issue in your life.