Surrendering To YES! What It Really Means To Your Life
Published on 25 May 2009 at 11:45 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under Attraction, Courage Series, Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
At the beginning of 2008, the thoughts about saying yes came flooding into my mind. Questions began to arise about what saying yes really means. This year, I started writing my new book about saying YES to who you are meant to be. I began thinking about what saying YES really means…..
Saying yes to what and to who?
Did it mean being committed to reaching goals and visions?
Was it about agreeing to requests and taking on responsibilities so you could be considered a “good person”?
Did it mean being willing to do whatever it takes to have what you want?
Was it only about making yes and no choices to decisions and requests?
Or, is it also about being summoned to a deeper YES from your spirit that is calling you to fulfill a life purpose and destiny that is bigger than your human mind could fathom?
YES!
Years ago, at one of my mastermind meeting to grow my business, we were doing our monthly check in – what we had done or not done for the prior month. I began by sharing what I had gotten accomplished. To me, it looked like I had been busy doing things and I expected a positive response. Instead, one of the members challenged me by saying, “I hear you have been busy doing things and your check in sounds like a to-do list . You’ve said you want to take your business out in a bigger way and you are still playing small by staying well within your comfort zone. Where are you stretching yourself?’”
After my initial reaction of getting angry and defensive, I realized there was a lot of truth in what she said to me. Her challenge caused me to look more deeply within myself at my resistance, fears, and excuses I was using to play small and how I was holding myself back from being who I am meant to be.
It was the kick in the pants that I really needed at the time and I was grateful she didn’t hold back on holding me accountable! Many people keep silent because they don’t want to be confrontational or cause upset others. Withholding doesn’t serve the other person to grow!
I receive emails all the time from people who tell me that they are struggling with finances, relationships, growing their business, losing weight….
They think they have said yes to the things they say they want. In reality, they have to an extent while staying in enough of their comfort zone to do small stretching. That’s a good way to start - baby steps as long as you keep enough of a stretch going so that you don’t re-establish your next comfort zone and stop expanding. Here’s where you can trick yourself as I did until my mastermind partner called me on. There’s a big difference between having a to-do list of accomplishments and stepping into your destiny.
As a society we have a low tolerance for discomfort and impatience when things move too slow according to our expectations and time lines. We want it and we want it now. We get upset and frustrated when things don’t go our way and then we brood and become disheartened - like kids. We give up, become resigned to things remaining the same, compare our losses to the successes of others, wonder what’s wrong with us, judge our deficiencies, beat ourselves up and end up feeling like a puddle on the floor.
So what does saying YES really mean to your life?
I believe it means having the faith and courage to step into the next and highest version of who you are meant to be as spiritual beings and Creators in a physical body. And to keep expanding into your highest potential which may beyond your imagination to conceive. It means going the distance without giving up and quitting; releasing the false illusions about who you think you are to allow the real magnificent you to more fully emerge.
Fulfilling our dreams and desires does not end with a single yes to any vision, action plan, or goal. Thinking that just because we came to a decision to do or have something that our success is assured is naive. We must say yes every second, every minute, and every hour of every day as we make choices that move us towards what we truly desire. And, we must know when choosing to say no is the right answer because saying yes will take us in an opposite direction of what we desire.
Are you aware of what your soul is calling you to become?
Have you been listening the whispers of your spirit and following your inner nudges?
What YES have you been resisting that is persisting?
Have you been making choices that are moving you towards or away from your desires?
Questions that arise:
1. What will be I be asked to do that I may not want to do?
Life (God, Soul, The Divine) will not give you step two until you take step one. Spiritual practices such as meditation, morning papers, journaling, and walks in natures create connections for Life to speak to us through intuition, instincts, feelings… It is true that the guidance we sense or hear might seem scary, confusing, …even nuts. Our ego/mind screams, “No way. It’s not safe. It’s crazy…” Our gut and instincts say, “Trust that all will be well. Go for it.” What is guiding your decisions? The fears and illusions of your mind? Or, the knowing wisdom from your soul looking beyond the limitations of your mind and beckoning you to the wonders of what’s next?
Attempting to remain stagnant is impossible because evolution and change is a constant. You are either moving forward or you are moving backward. Look at your life to see where you are.
2. How far do I need to s-t-r-e-t-c-h?
You want some guarantees or a preview of what is to come before decided to take the plunge? Sorry,. Life doesn’t work that way. That’s why it’s called taking a leap of faith. You must stretch as far as is needed to receive what you desire. There may be periods of extreme challenge that can cause you to waver in doubt and fear.
How well you know yourself, your spiritual practices, ongoing evolution, attitude shifting tools, and circle of support are critical factors to staying strong no matter what is happening.
3. What if my YES upsets others?
It might. And in weighing all the elements of saying yes, you must also trust that the people in your life will benefit in the long run even if the short term brings some discomfort. You do not know what the people in your life have come to experience to become who they are meant to be.
Marianne Williamson’s famous quote from “A Return To Love” speaks to the very heart of each of us who fear or feel undeserving of owning our greatness
“…Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of the Universe. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others…”
More to come on saying yes. Have you seen my new video movie - I Say Yes?
Cheers,
Lorraine
www.powerfull-living.biz
Carol Rozek on 26 May 2009 at 1:37 pm: 1
Working with you the last eight months has been an incredible journey. I have been stepping into versions of myself I had never foreseen. Now I can envision myself stepping into a leadership role in the community as I continue to find my voice and share what I have to say in a big way. That leadership role will truly be the next and highest version of who I am meant to be. It’s both scary and exciting, yet I know, with you as my coach and dear friend, it will be sensational!
Cheers to continuing to say Yes!
Hugs,
Carol
lorraine on 26 May 2009 at 2:48 pm: 2
Whoo-hoo Carol
Isn’t it exciting to see yourself from this new perspective? It takes courage to release those parts of yourself that are “not the real you” to allow more of who you are to emerge.
The leadership role inthe community sounds exciting. I look forward to hearing more!
Blessings,
Lorraine