Flow………… take a deep breath………… flow…………… whatever you have in mind please let it flow for a moment. Just flow. If you are not able to do that then stop reading and get back later. Take a break and breathe …………
Sometimes we are caught between appointments, obligations, and routines. We simply function. We don’t even think about why we are doing what we do, we just do it. OK, at times it is better not to think about some things we need to do or we would freak out… lol!!! But it is more this unconscious and stereotypical acting to simply get everything done. I don’t say skip things – sometimes simply everything accumulates. But if you can skip things!
I experienced myself in packing my days. Not because there really was so much to do but to make others see how much of a powerful woman I was. I managed my three children, kept joining my singing classes and worked as a professional singer, worked part-time, started a new education, organized everything around the family, and took care of the house and garden. I did everything 200% and I did not accept any help. But why? Because I was running so low on self-esteem. Although I had a lot to do, kept everything more than clean and tidy, and always cared for a nice and cozy home, I felt like never doing enough. I went to work only half a day at that time. Although I did not really want to do more because I liked my flexibility and wanted to be there for the kids I thought that my surroundings would not respect and appreciate me because I was only a “housewife” with some “hobbies” around. I was frustrated and took over more obligations only to make others see how busy I was and how perfectly I accomplished everything.
Yes, I got everything done… but… I was nervous, got moody, lost energy, and was always planning, organizing, and chasing my kids around to have everything under control. It was horror. Horror for me but also for the kids. When they got sick I felt lost…… my schedule, my holy schedule…😲 One day I asked myself: “What am I doing here? Why am I doing this?”
I realized for the first time in my life that I did not do it for myself but to impress others and even sacrificed my children. And the crazy part was, that I wanted to impress people who let me down, lied to me, manipulated, and fooled me over and over again. I asked myself why I wore myself out to impress someone who was not even worth it. I even blamed them for forcing me into doing this all to impress them. How sick is that?
Finally, I realized that they would never change for me to have an easier life ……….. and I paused. I stopped being the perfect cook and at times I bought a cake instead of baking one. I stopped making new decorations by myself for Easter and Christmas every single year. I stopped cleaning where everything was already clean. I granted myself half an hour a day for reading. I calmed down. I looked at my children and started to enjoy watching their development instead of trying to develop them. I stopped making them fit into my schedule but organized my schedule around their well-being. I did not feel guilty anymore when I did…. nothing! Because I deserved to do nothing. I was doing enough and finally understood that I was not obliged to prove anything to anyone. And the power has come back.
Today I do a lot more than before, but I do it because it is part of me. After all, it developed from who I am and not from who I thought I was supposed to be. That means my whole power within me also surrounds me and nurtures itself from everything that comes back again. I started to love my life, to love myself, to love what I do, and to do what I love. I started to feel myself again. This opened up paths and new doors I had never seen before. Life got brighter and more colorful. Actually, I finally got an idea of what life could be and should be about.
Stop…… pause…… flow……. Step back and look at your life. Do you love what you do? And if not, can you change something or simply skip something to get more room to breathe? What was fitting is not meant to fit all your life. Make room for yourself wherever possible. Never feel guilty for doing that. Only then do you gain the real power to achieve things of value and persistence. Only then you can develop new projects. Only then you are fully focused on what you do and can lay a piece of yourself in it. Stop trying to live the life others want you to live…. or what you believe they might want. Stop living a life only because you are used to living it that way.
Take care of your precious being.
Happy New Year!!
In Love and Light
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This is a question troubling many and Erika you had your share.
Some how one has to find the ways for themselves. OMG!
The answer to the question, maybe many times is in the negative and one would respond and surrender. Until then it goes unnoticed. 😃
Shiva
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I think so too, Shiva. As long as we think others have to change something for us we won’t experience a change until we figure that it has always been us – who put the pressure on us and who is able to change something about it!
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Connects with me on so many levels. Thank YOU for this lovely post. I appreciate your wisdom. ❤
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Wow, thank you, Annette! I am so happy when someone like you, who shares so much wisdom herself, thinks so. 💖
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Beautiful post Erika and I do really appreciate the way, as you describe your own development.
Sometimes we need to get a kick from somewhere, before we realize, that we need to change our life and this can be done in several ways. Many years ago, I was asked about my biggest wish to accomplish and realized, that wish was not possible to accomplish like my life looked back then. This was my kick…
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Yes, either we get the kick from more and more pressure and burden before we break out or our bodies say STOP and make us aware of what we are doing to us.
Thank you for the example from your own life, Irene. We need to believe in it or make room for it. Sometimes that is also necessary because cutting off something specific is the way to the realization!
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This is also a good reason to, why it is so necessary for both parts of a relationship to improve the personal development to be able to grow together, otherwise many relationships die, because only one of the parts do something to develop themselves.
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Happy New Year Erika.
What a beautiful post.
Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you very much! I am glad you like it!
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A great post Erika. There are so many things that “our world” would want us to do, but there are some key questions which should be answered… with honest thought out answers, and not the quick reaction/impulsive type!
Does this really need to be done now (can it wait if necessary)?
Am I the only person who can do this (can it be delegated)?
My personal favorite reality check question – Will there be life changing ramifications if I don’t do it? If the answer is “No!”, then accept that perspective and do something more productive/rewarding.
Have a great day! 🙂
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I love that “reality check question”. It makes obvious how we put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. But I also like the others. Only because we are used to “always” did it doesn’t mean that we have to do it forever! Thanks for that insightful comment, Colin!!
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You’re very welcome. One has to learn something in 71 years! 🙂
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And I am thankful to be in touch with that person 😁
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🙂
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We can only do the best for others when we are the best version of ourselves. Beautiful post. Thanks, Erika for your wise words.
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That’s so true, Olga. We need to take care of ourselves first. When we are happy and content we can share this condition!
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I really need to take this into account sis!!!
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I remember you made it part of your new year’s resolution to slow down a bit. This really fits well and yes… take it serious, sis 💖
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I must sis. For my health and stress levels. 😍
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I hear you, sis! I hear you loud and clearly!!
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😍
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Dearest Erika, what a beautiful and meaningful message for the start of our New Year. and that my dear friend is exactly the way I too have been feeling and why at the moment you do not see a new Post from me.. on both of my blogs at WP, I have stopped feeling obliged to post, but will do so when I need to share one and a message..
Learning to please ourselves takes us time in coming to that realisation.. So many things you have said in your post I relate to.. Especially when I worked full time in the production side of Textiles. Managing so many things and all at once, Family, Home, Garden, so many parallels in there.. Until like you, I found no joy and my health took a dive and my mental well being snapped as one more thing piled on top which was the straw that broke the camels back..
But when we shift gear and perspective, how much brighter our world becomes..
So Happy to read this Erika..
Wishing a Joyous, Happy Harmonious 2018.. Love and Blessings my friend xx ❤
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That’s a wonderfully explaining comment, Sue. We often think that we have to hang in and keep up what we started. If more comes together, we don’t consider to skip something else but instead add it, and add it, and add it. But as you said, once we find out how we worked against us and shift that gear, the energy comes back, we don’t care what others think about it, and life is more fun.
Thank you and have a fantastic year too, Sue 💖
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Enjoy that freedom.. After visiting you, the post came to life, all on its own, as I travelled out the net.. :-D.. When the time is right it presents its self.. xxx ❤
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What a calming, peaceful post. You sound as though you’re in a place of peace now Erika. I’m there too and I’m so happy for you. Have a wonderful 2018 ❤️
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I am glad you felt a peaceful energy, Miriam. I am going through a challenging time, to be honest, but what I learned over the years is helping me now to make it through it without losing myself and that’s actually amazing!
Thank you and have a fantastic new year too, dear Miriam!
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Warmest wishes to you Erika and big hugs as you navigate through your challenging period. ❤️
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