Speak, Even If Your Voice Shakes

Don’t be so committed to being nice that you don’t speak the truth.

You know those moments. Where you say “yes” when you really shouldn’t have. Or you accept treatment that you know you don’t deserve. Those moments where you go along with what is happening but spend hours after thinking about how you could have dealt with it differently.

Don’t just go along. Don’t just say yes because you don’t want to make people mad or sad. Part of living your best, most authentic life is knowing that something isn’t a good fit for you.

Sure, it looks amazing on the outside.

Sure, in the moment it didn’t look like a big deal to just go along with it.

Really though, it was. Or this post wouldn’t resonate as much.

You know that feeling. That feeling of stepping out of alignment with yourself. Where you allow someone to say something mean to you unchecked. Or you allow someone to push you in a direction you don’t want to go.

And I mean anyone. A boss, a parent, a friend, a significant other. Anyone. Anywhere.

You were mean to yourself. And you should stop doing that.

Speak up. Even if they get pissed, speak up. Even if they express feelings of hurt, speak up. Even if they stop liking you, speak up.

Speak up. Say what’s on your mind. Say your piece, even if your voice shakes.

Choose you.

Choose you always. Choose to live in alignment with yourself and your values.

It’s hard though. Super duper hard. And you aren’t accustomed to it so there is a huge learning curve for you.

Do it anyway. Speak.

Speak, even if your voice shakes.

You need to take care of yourself because others may not remember to take care of you.

It’s hard but necessary work.

As always though, don’t beat yourself up. It’s a process.

Be kind to yourself.

The Chime Of My Alarm Is Stressful

Perhaps the sound of my alarm on my phone gives me anxiety.

Or in any event, contributes to it.

Every time I hear that alarm it is generally in the morning before I have to start work and start the day, and all the things I have organized in my day.

I have a firm commitment to being productive.

But also the stress of being productive.

That's what the alarm reminds me of every single morning.

The chime is what my brain associated with commands like "get up".

It's the sound of interruption.

It's the sound of "you must now do".

I don't think that is the sound I want to live the rest of my life to.

But, it's also useful. It reminds me that sitting and doing nothing for extended periods of time has a consequence. And that I'm happier when I'm busy.

Not just the busy that is easy to say to people but the busy that leads to things getting done.

The right things getting done.

But the chime of my alarm may just be stressing me out.

And it may be stressing you out too.

Be kind to yourself.

Use The Nice Things

I'm focusing on the things I have this year.

Using them up.

Not buying any more.

Deciding if I need or merely want something. That sort of thing.

What I've noticed however is that I have a lot of things I've kept because they're nice.

I've therefore kept them for fancy times when I will use the nice thing.

I've been holding on to them.

I have no assurance that when I go to bed tonight I'll wake up tomorrow morning and certainly no assurance that I'll wake up in good health and in a condition and position to use any of these things.

Yet, I hold on to them.

I have a lot of things that I have kept to use at a nice and fancy time.

Sometime in the future when some imaginary thing happens and it will be the right time to use it.

I hope to break myself of that habit this year.

Every day is a great day to use things up.

Even the nice things.

Remember though, be kind to yourself.



You Need Relationship Skills: A New View Of The World

Know what I enjoy most about meeting new people? That they have a different set of eyes, a different mind, a different view of the world.

Maybe the guy you spoke to yesterday seemed really dumb. And the woman you were trying to explain something to absolutely didn't get it. But if you see them as a way to get a view of the world that you never could through your own eyes, you will always win. You will always benefit. You will always grow.

Remember though, if it doesn't happen quickly, it's a process. A journey to seeing the world through the eyes of people who annoy you.

Be kind to yourself.