Do You Have the Courage To Know Yourself?
Published on 3 Oct 2008 at 5:09 pm.
4 Comments.
Filed under Courage Series, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
“We need to recognize and OWN that we create our own reality. As long as we have someone or something to blame for our life, we never have to look at ourselves.” – Lorraine Cohen
Last week, on my way to do a presentation at a networking meeting for women in financial services, I got into a conversation with the woman driving me into Philly. I was scheduled to talk about “Being Fearless- Overcoming Barriers to Success”.
Whenever I present this topic, one of the points I always make is how many ways people can sabotage their success because of their fears and beliefs. I told her how often I meet people who only want to focus on solutions to their problems without looking at how they are creating them.
I believe it takes courage to get to know yourself intimately. You’ll find out lots of things -some stuff that can be pretty painful. Whatever we are holding onto that is unresolved and causes pain, takes a lot of energy every day to keep stuffed down inside. Pain usually comes out in some form of self-sabotage or destructive pattern that is a signal that something needs to be healed and released. I’ve seen people get pretty squirmy when they get close to things that are uncomfortable. Without resolution or release, stuff gets held in our bodies to create all sorts of dis-ease.
I meet people who say to me, “Just tell me what I have to do to change this or that. I’m not interested in the touchie feely stuff.”
No? Hmmmmm….Well, you contributed to creating this situation. Would you want to repeat this again in your future?
Nooooooooooooooooooo?
On the other side, you can be missing out on knowing or owning some wonderfull things about yourself. Do you know what your unique talents and gifts are? How about your strengths? Passions?
Months ago I wrote a post called What Makes You Fabulous, Lovable, Wonderfull? Go read it and do the exercise
In a conversation with a client yesterday, she mentioned having an admiration for people who have a light touch. She wants to be strong yet soft with people and be able to roll with life rather than feeling a need to be in control all the time. She sees herself as someone with a very strong personality that people don’t want to mess with. Growing up in a chaotic, unpredictable environment with two active alcoholics caused her to become a responsible adult at a young age.
Since working together I’ve witnessed a tempering of her anger and a softening with others as she describes situations to me. Does she see it? No. What she admires in others and wants for herself, she is already cultivating. This softer quality has always been within her - it wasn’t safe for her to be that vulnerable growing up. Now it is. She can let go of being a tough broad and ease into being strong and firm or soft when she chooses to be.
I could tell she was smiling right through the phone.
Sometimes we’re so close to things we lose perspective - like trying to see yourself with your nose pressed up against the mirror.
True Power. True Freedom is being real and authentic - being true to who you “really” are in any situation. How can you do that if you are a stranger to yourself?
It takes courage to get real. That means showing up for yourself and taking responsibility for who you are and what you do without blaming people and situations for your life. It’s also incredibly freeing to know who you are through your own eyes rather that how others see and define you.
How well do you know yourself? If you say not too well, you might be amazed at how fabulous and lovable you really are. If you could see yourself through the eyes of God/Higher Power/Soul you might be surprised at how much love there is for you and how dazzling your light is.
If you’ve been getting to know the real “you”, Bravo. Be the model for others and share the love.
Have a great weekend
Lorraine
www.powerfull-living.biz
Gamy Rachel on 4 Oct 2008 at 3:14 am: 1
Hi Lorraine,
I can resonate with what you are talking about. Knowing and loving oneself. Yes, I agree totally that by getting to know the person in the mirror is the first step towards emotional freedom.
Loving oneself can be tough if we don’t even know ourselves well. In the past I didn’t know how to love myself, the way I do now.
Now I can truly say I love and approve of myself, thus giving me a chance to discover my loving and soft side which in the past was hiding behind a tough mask, just to protect myself.
Once I learned to know and love myself more I can remove the wall that was built up for many years.
Love,
Gamy
Anne-Marie on 4 Oct 2008 at 9:40 pm: 2
“…you can be missing out on knowing or owning some wonderful things about yourself” Oh yes. I often forget how easy certain things are for me compared to others. I’m always a little surprised when people are having a tough time figuring out technology on the computer, and I don’t. I forget that I have a talent and can occasionally be “smarter than the average bear” at times.
Lola Fayemi / Nourishment for your spiritual awakening on 7 Oct 2008 at 5:57 am: 3
Hi Lorraine
I whole heartedly agree with you here. It does indeed take courage but the payoffs are so huge that you never regret it.
I also hear you on people that want to skip right to the solution as I used to be one of those people. Now, I relish the inner work and all that it brings.
In love, light and abundance x x x
lorraine on 7 Oct 2008 at 7:03 am: 4
I love how you roll up your sleeves and embrace the journey Lola
You are indeed a woman of courage!
Personally, I have found the inner work so freeing and contributing to feeling so much more alive. While I know there are times when being real and showing up is uncomfortable, it’s all worth it!
Thanks for stopping by my friend
Blessings,
Lorraine