Self-Advocacy & Doing The Thing
Greetings on this Holiday weekend, May 29th, 2011
Just the other day, I went to my mailbox hoping for something positive and I got something
negative instead.
I could feel my mood start to drop. Then I started thinking about times I've heard people say, "I can have 10 people compliment me on my ------(fill in the blank), and if one person
criticizes me, it brings me down".
Why do we focus on the negative?
Why do we place such importance on what others think of us.
So I decided to use my mailbox experience as a lesson in self-mastery. I realized I could practice choosing ways to look at it that would shift how I was feeling. Instead of telling myself I should think positive, I allowed myself to feel a range of natural emotions first.
What surprised me was that it was my anger at getting what I did not want that motivated me to advocate for myself and ask myself very strongly, "What DO you want?"
Answering that question as strongly as it was asked, motivated me even more and gave me a very positive focus. Now instead of dwelling on that one disappointment, I am feeling hopeful about all that I may look forward to.
This experience also reminded me to appreciate all the things in my life that are going well.
What we focus on grows.
(This exercise can apply to anything from my tiny little mail box disappointment to a grand scale challenge.)
I see the most important key in this whole process = our ability to see our self-worth.
As we grow in knowing we deserve all the good feelings / relationships / things available to us as humans, life will get easier and happier. Our feeling of unworthiness acts as resistance to keep us from full health and happiness.
One more thing I learned on this mailbox day is HUGE...It is human nature to want. It is who we are. It drives us to create. It is natural to want more and more as we grow within ourselves. Feeling greedy or guilty for wanting, causes tension which keeps us from the flow of receiving which adds to our doubts, frustrations and unworthiness issues.
Today give yourself permission to want and at least a glimmer of knowing you deserve it.
Do The Thing with Heart,
Dana
Just the other day, I went to my mailbox hoping for something positive and I got something
negative instead.
I could feel my mood start to drop. Then I started thinking about times I've heard people say, "I can have 10 people compliment me on my ------(fill in the blank), and if one person
criticizes me, it brings me down".
Why do we focus on the negative?
Why do we place such importance on what others think of us.
So I decided to use my mailbox experience as a lesson in self-mastery. I realized I could practice choosing ways to look at it that would shift how I was feeling. Instead of telling myself I should think positive, I allowed myself to feel a range of natural emotions first.
What surprised me was that it was my anger at getting what I did not want that motivated me to advocate for myself and ask myself very strongly, "What DO you want?"
Answering that question as strongly as it was asked, motivated me even more and gave me a very positive focus. Now instead of dwelling on that one disappointment, I am feeling hopeful about all that I may look forward to.
This experience also reminded me to appreciate all the things in my life that are going well.
What we focus on grows.
(This exercise can apply to anything from my tiny little mail box disappointment to a grand scale challenge.)
I see the most important key in this whole process = our ability to see our self-worth.
As we grow in knowing we deserve all the good feelings / relationships / things available to us as humans, life will get easier and happier. Our feeling of unworthiness acts as resistance to keep us from full health and happiness.
One more thing I learned on this mailbox day is HUGE...It is human nature to want. It is who we are. It drives us to create. It is natural to want more and more as we grow within ourselves. Feeling greedy or guilty for wanting, causes tension which keeps us from the flow of receiving which adds to our doubts, frustrations and unworthiness issues.
Today give yourself permission to want and at least a glimmer of knowing you deserve it.
Do The Thing with Heart,
Dana
Posted by Dana Quade at 5/29/2011 9:05 AM 
Categories: Journal Entry
Tags: Selfmastery selfadvocacy Hope Success problem solving Anger
Categories: Journal Entry
Tags: Selfmastery selfadvocacy Hope Success problem solving Anger
Dana, I love your heart. I love your thoughts and how beautifully you express them. Thank you for sharing who you are as a beacon for the rest of us. I see why we are going to be great friends and I am grateful that Nems introduced us!
Keep shining your light!
With love,
Dyann
Reply to this
Dear Dyann, Thank you so much for your meaningful response here!
I sit here sharing and quietly wondering who sees it and where it goes.
So...it made my day to hear from my lovely new friend.
When I see you soon, let's clink our glasses to Nems.
In love and appreciation,
Dana
Reply to this