I didn’t sleep well the other night. I worked too late and couldn’t stop thinking about all the exciting things I am working on. Since I only got a few hours of sleep, I was tired by 3:30 pm. I thought about going for a walk but talked myself out of it. It was 96 degrees out and the bed was calling my name.
So, I went to the bed, laid down, and closed my eyes. I was quickly falling asleep but a little voice in my head said “Go for a walk. You’ll feel better.” So, what did I do? I listened to that voice, crawled off the bed, slowly made my way downstairs, got my sneakers, and went for a walk. Taking the first step was the hardest but the rest was so easy. I could feel energy filling my body and while it was hot and I was sweaty, I felt great. I actually walked for an hour instead of my usual thirty minutes.
Don’t get me wrong. I have ignored that inner voice on more occasions than I ‘d like to admit. I’ve just come to realize that if I don’t do good by me, I am only punishing myself. Why would I do that? Yes, as a woman, it’s very easy to take care of everybody else first and if there is room and time, then maybe just maybe you’ll actually take care of yourself. But that is not right! We can’t give what we don’t have so if you don’t love yourself (I equate not taking care on yourself with not loving yourself), how can you give to others what you don’t have? Shouldn’t you first love yourself so you can truly love others?
I share this with you because that inner voice speaks to us all of the time. We can listen to it or ignore it. We can use it to elevate us or to keep us down. The really cool thing is that the decision is ours. We get to dictate what that inner voice says. If it starts going in a direction that doesn’t serve us, we can mute it and shift the focus and the stories we tell ourselves into positive ones.
How does your inner voice make you feel? Better or worse? If your friend spoke to you the way you speak to yourself, would you still be friends?
Just remember that what you want is usually just outside your comfort zone and what you need to get there is to take that first step. Don’t let fear and indecision prevent you from living the awesome life that you deserve. Go in the direction that invigorates you, not the one that keeps you at the status quo.
Just know that we all fall off the bandwagon. That’s part of life and it’s ok. Just get back up and keep going and leave the judgement out of it! Hold on to your dreams and know that you have the power to realize them all. All you have to do is to take that first step.
Yours truly,
Caroline