Life By Design: Promises to Myself
I
don't know about you, but there are things that I want to do, and the only thing stopping me from doing them is the limitations that I place upon myself. We all dream of having the life that we want. We dream of pursuing our passions, following our hearts and being the woman we've always wanted to be, but those dreams don't have to be limited to huge plans of change. Those dreams can be promises to yourself - honoring yourself and your internal light. Here's a powerful quote that pulls it all together, "This life is Yours, Take the power to choose what you want to do." But can it really be that simple? Choosing to be happy, choosing to be whatever you want to be. Life by design. What a concept!
But having the life you want doesn't happen all by itself. Think about it. Sitting back and doing nothing usually makes us miserable, guilty and frustrated about leading a stagnant, if not non-existent life. We already know that. And so, the obvious answer is that You have to participate in your own journey to get where it is you should be. It's all about believing in yourself, following your heart and living your dreams. I can go on and on. Change and the unknown can be scary, but there's no feeling like being scared and exhilarated at the same time when you are in life and challenging all it has to offer.
Over the years I have come to learn this. For years, I was afraid to step out of the paper bag that was my life - until I realized that I had to embrace myself, life and all the changes that come with it. There is no point being afraid and taking a back seat because if all you are is afraid, then nothing but fear comes of it.
I had to want to look into the future and take myself there - not to be pulled along by the tide of circumstances, but to be an actiive participant in my own life. Once I started to embrace that concept, something powerful was realeased within me, and I made the connection that everything in this life, what you want to be, how you want people to see you, how far you can go, must come from within. To be empowered must come from within.
It was a change of attitude for me. Finding and believing in my own power and realizing that I could shape my own destiny. Sure, alot of times we have no control over things, but I do believe we have that inner power, core strength and faith that carries us along and allows us to follow through with our dreams and passions. Once we discover this power, and it can extend to many things, it's easier to embrace life. For me it was finding my woman power, and also embracing my own beauty within and without. It's true; beauty comes from within. Once I got it all together within, my own beauty was there for me to see in all its wonderful glory. It was there all along.
It works the same way with life. Once you realize that the power is within you to shape your life, you see the beauty in life and you want to embrace, challenge and explore it. Embrace. Challenge. Explore. Margaret Sanger's words "Women must not accept; she must challenge. She must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression
..." echoes and reverberates through my entire body, reminding me to find new ways to expand my horizons and honor myself.
You can be the woman that you've always wanted to be. So this year, instead of the usual laundry list of resolutions, how about making promises to yourself to be that woman. Life by Design. You can make it whatever you want.
Promise yourself to walk to the beat of your own drummer, dance to your own swan song.
Promise yourself to look in the mirror and see the woman staring back at you for who she is, and accept her for who she is--flaws and all.
Promise yourself to try something new this year...change something about yourself.
promise to forgive yourself and give yorself a break when things don't work out.
Promise to cherish the woman inside and nurture her spirit...
promise to make words like passions, inspirations, love, laughter part of your vocabulary.
promise to find what you love to do and do it for the rest of your life and do it with the same zest as you did the first time.
promise to never let age get in the way of making plans for tomorrow as tomorrow comes anyway regardless of how old you are...
promise to advance a litte each day in your ideals.
Promise to take the power that is within you and design your life. Go ahead. Choose a color for your life.
- Dawn
Copyright 2008 © Dawn Prince. Not to be reprinted without expressed permission.
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