On this, my birthday, I wanted to share with you a message I shared on Facebook this week because it's such an important one.
Basically, I'm asking you "What message are you sending yourself?"
Last week, my body felt heavy and I ached all over. I felt both “wired tighter than a drum” and lethargic. And still I motored on.
A little voice inside of me prompted me to do some yoga – that my body needed to stretch and get energy moving.
I ignored it. I had other things to do. I didn’t have time.
On Friday, I was prompted to get a massage and resisted it as well – until I caught the PATTERN.
That’s when I asked myself the same game-changing question I'm asking you now..
"What message am I sending myself?”
When I ignored the prompting to do some yoga (even 10 minutes), the message I was sending myself was that I wasn’t important. That what I needed to do was more important than me. That I wasn’t worth 10 minutes of my time.
When I was prompted to get a massage and resisted it, the message I was sending myself was that I wasn’t worth making the effort or spending the money to do so - even though I had the money to spend.
I have struggled with feeling worthy, important and enough all my life. In reaction, I’ve done all sorts of things to try to prove (to myself and others) how worthy and important I am because I do all these things, I accomplish all these tasks, I handle things and even that I sacrifice my own needs to do so.
Not only does it NOT work, it is not true…
My inherent worth is not tied to what I do or do not do any more than it is tied to how much money I make, the house I live in or the successes I have. And neither is yours.
Our inherent worth was given us the day we were created by a God who, as told in the Genesis One Creation Story, declared Adam and Eve to be VERY GOOD from the beginning – before they had done or accomplished anything. And the same is true of you and me.
I also know that it’s one thing to hear this and nod your head in agreement and it’s another thing to LIVE it.
Because living it looks like making those seemingly small choices that are YOU telling yourself that you are worthy and important – that your needs and desires matter. Choices like listening to my body and doing some yoga stretching for 10 minutes or getting a massage.
It even looks like putting lotion on your feet before you put your socks on. (Yesterday morning I was tempted to skip doing so even though the lotion is right next to my bed.)
It’s not like I have to make a RULE about putting lotion on my feet every morning. It’s more about recognizing the underlying pattern and belief that would have me NOT do so. And yesterday morning, it was that it wasn’t important and I had to get going. (Translation: “I’m not important enough to take 30 seconds to care for myself.)
And so I ask you now, my friend…
What message are you sending YOURSELF?
What message are you sending YOURSELF in the choices, large and small, you make each day with your time, your energy, your relationship and your finances?
Are you sending yourself the message that you don’t matter, that you aren’t important, that you aren’t worthy?
If so, I’m calling you out. It's time for you to STOP.
It's time for you to start making more loving, empowering and healthy choices – moment by moment.
Because THAT is the message the one who created you sends you every day – and has from the beginning. It’s the one I’m sending you (and me) as well.
You are important.
You matter.
What you need and want matters.
You are worthy.
Most of all…
You are loved.
Blessings on your day and weekend!