Journey XIV Week 4
Dropping Weight
Double your workout! Twins? Last week while attending a cross training class, Monarchs Amy Younkman and Kaye Eichler not only showed up in the same clothes, but also realized they have daughters the same age and many more similarities. A friendship was formed and we're reminded that while we don't have to dress the same, we all have many more similarities than differences. Connecting with community and creating friendships is a key element in life, as we're ALL in this together.
“You cannot let go of anything if you cannot notice that you are holding it. Admit your ‘weaknesses’ and watch them morph into your greatest strengths.” — Neale Donald Walsch
Action: Write down anything that is holding you back, weighing you down and keeping you from “taking flight” and experiencing your greatest life.
Have you ever walked or exercised with Velcro weights around your ankles, or walked up Mt. Bonnell while holding three or five pound dumbbells? Better yet, have you been responsible for a big project that consumes all of your thoughts, time and energy? I am certain you can answer yes to at least one of these scenarios and also agree how thankful, light and free you felt after taking the weights off, dropping the dumbbells or completing the project.
Based on the title of the journal entry you might assume that this journal entry will be about the importance of losing physical weight. I do think it's important that we aspire to lose any extra weight that might be creating health risks or problems, but the kind of weight I am referring to here is emotional weight and baggage that clips our wings and inhibits us from taking flight and experiencing our greatest life.
Life is so interesting. While it can be so wonderful and filled with abundant opportunities and worthwhile experiences, we all know it is also filled with painful and hurtful moments that often leave us emotionally bruised, scarred and jaded. If we never face our bruises and scars, they will never heal and always have power over us. Recognize why they are there and do something about them—like throw them in the trash—so you can enjoy your relationships, opportunities, and life's greatest pleasures.
The weight of our past, regrets or wrong paths we've gone down cannot be corrected. What is done can not be undone. But what we can do is dig deep, see the truth, and identify the extra emotional weight we are carrying. We can forgive ourselves and the people who have hurt us. We can stop repeating the behavior of letting the hurtful experiences effect our lives in a negative way. We can move on, love ourselves, love everyone and look ahead to living our best.
If there is one thing that we can all agree on, it's that there are no guarantees in life. We don't know how many heartbeats we have left, so I encourage you to stop spending them on bad energy. Use your heartbeats in a way that counts—on things that are important and really matter—on people, experiences and opportunities that add heartbeats to your life. Whether or not you consider yourself a caretaker, peacemaker, fixer or all-knower, remember that you cannot be everything to everyone. Use your time and energy wisely.
This week, I encourage you to honor your current life and the awesome future that lies ahead of you. Be truthful in your assessment of unnecessary and unwanted garbage that you are holding onto—whatever it is keeping you from taking flight. Write down everything: who you are forgiving and what you are letting go of. Include the new and improved actions and life you plan to live as a result. Let's not be Monarchs with clipped wings. Let's re-grow our wings, take flight and soar to great heights...together.
OH WHAT A FEELING you will have once you let go of extra weight. It's quite possible you might feel as alive and liberated as the passionate dancer in this weeks video, which I know you will enjoy.
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