Choose you. Prioritize your happiness and your peace.
This past Saturday, I celebrated my entrepreneurial anniversary. It’s been one whole year since I’ve been in this thang full-time. I like to sum up my cycles with a word or phrase. An imprint, if you will. This year, “in spite of” kept coming up. Here are a few ways you can continually choose you:
Write
I disagree with claims of needing private space to write. It may be ideal, but not necessarily practical. You gotta make it work. If that means rocking the car seat with your right foot while the other child coloring next to your left foot, then so be it. Write. Put them to bed 30 minutes earlier and write. Wake up 30 minutes earlier and get it done.
Care for self
Until we arrive at that grand day where money really ain’t an issue, then you gotta care for you in spite of not having a dollar to your name. That goes for time too. May 2014 taught me that. That’s when I embraced the notion of taking full responsibility for my experience. I may not be able to control what’s happening externally, but as far what’s going on up in here…that’s all me.
Speak your truth
For me, one of the worst feelings is regretting not speaking up for myself. If it’s too difficult to say it, write it. Whatever you do, speak your truth–through the chin trembles, the tears, deep breaths, eye rolling, and whatever else may come with it. I’ve finally cuddled the fact that I need to write my truth before I speak it. I’m most honest in writing, and the more I write, the easier it is to speak my truth. Be it a client, family member, friend, spouse, supervisor, or mirror reflection. Try it.
Watch your words
For what you say to others, most definitely, but even more what you say to you. Your body believes everything you say, so watch your words. God is listening. Your goals are listening. The kids are listening. And they all respond accordingly, so be mindful. This was the one thing I had to change for a different result. I grew up hearing that there’s life and death in the power of the tongue and so forth, but I believed that the work weighed more than the words. Not so. They’re balanced. Go a step further–be proactive and speak life into your own needs and wants.
Choose
When I quit, no one around me thought it was a good time. It’s not that they were unsupportive, they were just afraid (I was too!). I have a girlfriend who wanted to move to the Himalayas. It required quitting her job, selling her stuff, leaving her boyfriend, and a bunch of other stuff. She was terrified; did it anyway and is living the MFing life. Don’t wanna do the dishes tonight? Don’t. I have a note at my desk that says that I right to stop and do whatever I want to do. It works. Try it.