A few weeks ago a friend explained to me why she no longer modeled. She simply said: “I just don’t feel good when I do it.”
It was such a simple statement, yet has stayed with me. How often do any of us ask ourselves how we feel about what we do, until we are bursting with negative feelings? Even then, I bet half of my female friends reading this typically just push aside the bad feelings due to obligation or fear. We stay in dead-end jobs with negative energy or abusive bosses, for instance, because we need the pay check and are afraid there won’t be something else out there. I get it. Or, we sometimes put up with abusive and disrespectful partners because we don’t want to be alone, or be that ‘single mom’ that we see rushing around and struggling financially.
Fear and anxiety, obligation and childhood programming can really get in the way of just knowing how we feel and then doing something to move away from a negative experience and towards a more positive one. What we focus on expands. It’s taken me a long time to trust the Universe enough to move towards what feels good. Maybe I didn’t think I deserved to feel good or to be treated with respect or to be nurtured? Maybe I just didn’t think I was allowed to ‘do what feels good’ for a living? It takes time to shift out of fear and into awareness—and even more time to shift into action. Yoga and meditation is what has helped me the most. I’ve written about that a lot. Here’s one story about the process of shedding trauma that leaves a watermark of crippling fear. ( The Science Behind Sanskara )
After shedding some fear and embracing who I am and what I have been through, I’ve been able to shift into allowing myself to ‘feel good’ and not just ‘do good’ & ‘be good’ & please everyone else. It’s hard to make this shift, especially as a southern woman and a mother. I think many of us women are programmed to be good moms, good wives, good friends and daughters and to serve, serve, serve to the point that we no longer even know what feels good because we are so busy helping others. Balance is key. Knowing I, and you, are worthy, allows us to seek that balance. Yoga has helped to release super heavy memories and scars and to lighten up. I’m still in that process of recognizing what feels good and what doesn’t feel good. So here is a list of some of what I’ve been processing and what the Universe is sending me through ‘teachers.’ The Italics are how I am responding or not responding, yet shifting mentally. I share to be of service.
Someone being disrespectful. I lean away. No need to even explain myself or engage. I Float toward those who UPLIFT & SUPPORT.
When someone ignores me or is neglectful. I no longer try to reach out & am not available the second they are demanding & ‘need me.’.
When someone makes fun of what really matters to me. Next. Don’t even engage.
When someone lies to me. No time for more of that in my life. That phase is OVER.
When someone is abusing substances & is no longer a safe, reliable or loving friend. I don’t own their issue and I don’t need to fix them or even be there for them.
When someone is pushy and tries to force me to do something that clearly benefits them, that I don’t want to do. Sorry, it’s just not for me.
When someone is being manipulative and trying to make me feel sorry for them so I will continue to ‘help’ them, even though they know I’m strapped for time as a full time single mother who is working: Instead of being resentful I just mentally drop this person and explain to them: “I hear you, but I’m really swamped right now. “
When what someone says isn’t backed up by their actions—Your actions matter. I wish you well, but this doesn’t feel good. I deserve to be treated with kindness and with respect. I wish things were different, but they aren’t. Good bye. I now float towards what feels good.
When someone doesn’t want to listen to me. Ever: I stop trying. I visualize supportive, nurturing people flowing in and stop expecting those to give, who just can’t.
When someone is judgmental and makes assumptions about me or uses phrases like, “you want …” or “you believe …” I drift away with love for this learning experience as I must be authentically and unapologetically myself and free from manipulation and control.
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– Manifesting B A L A N C E = More Play
