Week has been a whirlwind juggling between the visit of Aunt Flo and work. It had me asking myself the question of “what is the story I’m telling myself” more than I usually do (which borders on obsessive) to keep myself grounded especially with all the hormonal changes.
And the light bulb moment of the week: The greatest act of self-love is embracing the story of how you’ve come to be how you are.
Well, I’ll say a deeper ephiphany to the realisation that everything that has happened, happened exactly as it should to enable me to be the person I am.
The question I ponder on as life happens “what is the story I’m telling myself about what’s happening” has been an integral part of growing through life. We are meaning meaning machines and create narratives as naturally as we breathe. We’ve stories about anything and everything and it takes hyper self awareness to be conscious of the stories you feed yourself.
The way you see it determines how you feel about it. If you don’t like what you’re experiencing, change your perspective.
With the awareness, we can open our minds and begin to change our story. We can never change what happen but we can change the way we tell the story which shapes the change in our future experiences. Coming to a place of awareness and acceptance takes strength and courage to arrive at a place of taking responsibility for what happens next.
I’ve to say the narrative I was running for this week wasn’t exactly the healthiest of the lot. Don’t know if it’s just me – when the time of the month comes a-knocking, it literally knocks me off my feet. Undergo this crazy ass rollercoaster of emotions whilst feeling like a dying whale that oscillates between wanting to just sleep the entire period away and work.
The upside of the entire week? Coming to realisation that I am definitely evolving especially in terms of self-talk. I am thankful for how I am no longer ripping myself apart with self-critique. To be aware of the self-doubt and negativity that sprouts up and to observe them and not let them eat into me.
Did up a list of some of the things that has aided me and is aiding me in terms of changing my narratives. The list is not exhaustive and I’m sure given time, I might revisit and add more activities!
– Being with close ones
– Spending time alone
– Losing or changing our relationship
– Setting and readusting boundaries
– Accepting myself (warts, flaws and all)
– Acknowledging my past and to stop living in it (especially with childhood)
– Forgiving myself
– Sitting with my feelings
– Choosing myself
– Not dimming my light for others
– Prioritising myself
– Holding myself to a higher standard
Hope the list helps you if ground as much as it has helped (and is helping) me! This week has testified I am growing as I go and remind me that where I am now is where I hoped to be years back. Growth is a dance, it isn’t a light switch and no matter how much work I’ve done myself, I snap back sometimes.
