Living your truth should be something we all strive to do. If you believe, like I do, that we are here for a specific purpose, to share our gifts, that we are doing a disservice not only to ourselves, but to the world as a whole when we don't. To me, this is one of the most important pillars of the Live BRIGHTer platform, as it is the culmination of all the others, and the ultimate goal of living a fulfilled life.
Yet, for many of us it can be somewhat elusive for not only do you have to know what it is, you then have to be brave enough to pursue it. As a mom, we spend so much of our lives taking care of and doing for others, that it can be challenging enough just to keep up, let alone stop to consider whether or not we are happy or fulfilled. And so we distract ourselves with all the duties our role entails, until the day when our kids start to need us a little less, and there we are with nothing but space to think about it.
But what does it really mean to live your truth, and how do you figure out what your truth is? And once you figure it out, then what? What if your truth is in direct contradiction with the reality of your life? When all the things you thought you knew suddenly don’t seem to fit anymore?
These are the questions that I grappled with as a young mom, searching for purpose and trying to understand why I felt so out of sorts. Why wasn’t my life working anymore? It was like I had out grown a pair of shoes that used to fit beautifully, but now with each passing step, they pinched and squeezed my feet until I couldn’t walk anymore. I was stuck.
I had no idea why they didn’t fit anymore. After all, I picked them out myself, broke them in and they felt so good for so long. Until they didn’t. It must be something wrong with me – after all, nothing around me had changed. When I could no longer take it, I ripped them off and started limping along, barefoot and battered, unsure of where I was headed but knowing I had to do something to find myself again.
It wasn’t until I spent months in inquiry asking myself – what do I want? What will make me happy? What do I care about? Who am I? - that the picture started to emerge. I wanted to travel. I wanted to do something that made a difference in the world. I wanted to spend more time closer to home so I could be there for my kids as they grew up. I wanted to reconnect with my husband so that we could dream of our future together. I wanted to be happy. I wanted to love and be loved. I wanted to live my life so that I wouldn’t wake up one day, look at my husband and say ‘who are you and where have I been for the past 20 years’?
I wanted to make my life count.
It wasn’t easy – there were many times that I stopped, paralyzed by doubt and fear about whether or not I was doing the right thing. It certainly would have been easier to just suck it up. But at what cost? As painful and difficult as it was, it was so worth it, and I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.
I understand why moms who feel they’ve lost themselves in their role might think that it’s just too much work. That they can continue to keep limping along in a pair of shoes that no longer fits.
But here’s the deal. If there’s anything that we learned through this past year, is that tomorrow is not guaranteed. If you’re reading this, knowing deep down that I’m talking to you, it’s time to live your truth. To heed the call that you’ve been ignoring because it’s easier to just suffer. Every day you spend choking back and stuffing down your truth, is another day lost.
So where do you start?
Start with YOU.
Commit time (10-30 minutes) for you EVERY DAY where you can look inward - to be in inquiry. This is an absolutely crucial component to this process. This can feel awkward and uncomfortable – like you’re being selfish. And guess what? You have to be. This is about YOUR life. YOUR dreams and YOUR purpose.
Some questions to consider
What am I tolerating?
What do I want?
What does happiness look like for me?
What do I love to do?
What brings me joy?
If I could wave a magic wand, what would I create?
Dream big, from possibility not limitation. You can have ANYTHING, what would it look like? How would you feel? What would your day look like?
You can do this when you’re on a walk, driving to the store or sitting quietly with your cup of coffee in the morning. Write down whatever comes to you – don’t edit it. Use your voice memo on your phone if you’re out on a walk or driving in your car.
Eventually a picture will start to form. You’ll find that the same vision and feelings keep ‘bubbling’ up. And then you know you’re getting closer.
This is a process, so be patient with yourself!
In two weeks, I’ll post another blog that will lead you through the next phase of finding – and how to start to live - your truth.
Until then, embrace the process of uncovering who you are at the very core of your being and if you get stuck, don’t hesitate to book a call with me so I can support you in your journey. You’re worth it.