Stop Hiding from Yourself
At a meeting the other day, someone asked:
Where is the best place to hide a tree?
Of course, we all looked around at each other confused. He replied:
In a forest.
Which then made me think:
Where is the best place to hide your most authentic self?
Take a moment to let this roll around in the ol’ noggin’. What came to mind? For me, I thought the best place to hide our most authentic selves is:
In a life of rush, self-criticism, out-of-control egos, self-sabotage, and lack of self-care (because we’ve learned throughout our years that putting ourselves first is selfish).
As we begin to close in on 2022, and I reflect back on my life’s experiences, the experiences my clients are sharing, and all I’ve come to know, how “healthy” our life is really seems to have less and less to do with what we’re eating and how much we’re exercising (yes, it is a part of the puzzle, but not the entire puzzle like we’re often led to believe). Before we can get into a sustainable relationship with how we nourish our bodies, minds, and souls, we have to first take that brave, bold step and actually step back, slow down, and sit with, and get to know ourselves.
I ask this in a totally NO JUDGEMENT WAY (because goodness knows, I have not mastered this practice), but when was the last time you took some time to just sit with yourself? When was the last time you gave yourself permission to just have space to be what you need to be, to explore your wildest dreams, and to do what your heart wanted to do at that moment?
I TOTALLY GET how hard it can feel to “justify” this time, but having been recently exploring this practice more and more, this time with myself has changed my life for the better. It has brought me clarity around what is truly important in my personal life and career (versus what I convinced myself was), I’ve also begun to realize that all those nice things people say about me are actually true (because previously, I convinced myself that people felt bad for me and were just being nice 😳), and has totally has helped me on the human/mom front, because I really feel like I’m growing in how truly present I can be with others.
So, i’m just going to go ahead and say it (also, because I always appreciate the reminder for myself).
Your wellbeing is not an option anymore, babe. You getting to know yourself, is not something fun to do once in a year on a random Saturday for a couple hours. You, your precious life, your complex soul, your beautiful body, your brilliant mind, are no longer something that can be deprioritized until everything else is done because…
🚨SPOILER ALERT🚨
All the things are never done, there will always be a task to hide from ourselves in, and last I checked, you’re the only one that spends your ENTIRE life with yourself, yet you may not even know who you are or what you want in your life anymore.
If this post struck a chord, just know, you aren’t alone in this experience. This is something that I am becoming more and more convinced has become our societal norm, and I refuse to let it continue.
If you have absolutely NO IDEA how to even find this time, I am an EXPERT in fun-sizing time with yourself in a way that feels right, good, and NOT overwhelming, so reach out! I promise you, no matter how you’re currently feeling about yourself (which I hope is AMAZING, because you are, but even if you’re not currently able to recognize that amazingness in yourself), stop hiding in the rush of life, you are WORTH making time for and spending time with! Your life will become exponentially more fulfilling when you begin to get glimpses of seeing yourself the way that so many others do, absolutely phenomenal, just as you are!
Lindsey is an encourager, optimist, health + life coach, and yoga teacher who helps caregivers live fuller, healthier, vibrant lives through exploring all aspects of their life and health while helping to cultivate simple, sustainable fun-size habits, so that they can continue to make a meaningful impact in themselves, their loved ones, and the world, for generations to come.
