While sitting in a forum about self expression last night, I was asked to declare where I saw a breakdown in my life. What area in my life wasn’t I happy with? I turned to my son and my girlfriend, who were also there with me, and kind of gave a fluff answer. I was having trouble pinpointing anything. Overall, I’m happy. Could areas be better? Sure, but I kind of felt guilty complaining when things are going so well.
Oddly my son and girlfriend had the same look on their face when I spurted out my textbook answer. Neither one of them needed to say a word, as they tilted their heads, and in a sideways glare implied with their smirks, “Seriously, that’s the best you can do?” Geez, they weren’t going to let me off easy, so I mustered up something to say, and before I knew it, I realized I didn’t have just one area. I had a list of areas.
#1 there’s a breakdown in my health. I can’t remember the last time I felt 100% physically.
#2 there’s a breakdown in how I view money. We’ll leave that topic for another blog post.
#3 there’s a breakdown in self. I’ve been working out of town, making plans for this coming travel season with Girl Noticed, and keeping up with social commitments. At the end of the day, week, and month, I’m left with little time or energy. This endless cycle becomes a formula for the laundry piling up, the house becoming a mess, my car becoming a mess, and my business suffering. I make lousy food choices, drink way to much caffeine and end up with stomach issues as a result. Let’s face it, my life becomes a mess. Honestly, I’m not the most organized person on a good day, so when chaos surrounds me, as it is everywhere I look right now, I want to throw my hands up and say ____ it.
But what good is it to declare these breakdowns? Wasn’t I feeling better when I was ignoring them and saying, “I’m fine, everything is going great”? It might seem that way, but what I realized is declaring it was the first step in taking action to fix it. It felt so good to say it out loud. Let go of it, instead of holding onto it like my dirty little secret. Instantly, I found myself doing things to un-clutter and clean up my chaos.
Words are powerful. When we use them we declare the possibilities we can create in that moment, and take action to achieve what we want to create for our future.
I’m thinking that’s why the first step in any 12 step program is declaring you have the addiction. You surrender by simply saying it, and then start taking actions/steps to make the lasting change.
What do you declare for your life? How powerful will you make that declaration, wether it’s for change, or to create something new?
This Friday night I’m giving 12-18 year old females the opportunity to declare their change, their future. Come join us at Artserve at 6:30pm. It just may be a very important first step.
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