Monday, July 24, 2006

Stepping out of the Box - Article

Have you ever considered that there may be more out there for you to discover… if only you would have the courage to step out of your box?

If you are anything like I was; you are content with your life as it is now, feeling safe within your box. Perhaps you think, this is who I am, this is all I will ever be, this life is pretty good, I can’t do anything different now anyway so I will just live with it. Notice that voice deep down within your body that knows you could be so much more. Up until this year, I would never listen to that voice, after all I was content in my box.

From an early age I was taught to doubt my Self. My thoughts and ideas were put down or dismissed as being foolish, or ignored completely. When I did or said something I felt my Self needed to say or do, I was humiliated to the point of tears, then told that I should be good (meaning to my child self, ‘don’t speak or act independently’). So by the time I came into my adult hood I had lost my Self. I allowed others through the years to define who I was. After many bouts of depression and self hate, sadness, and loneliness I finally just accepted my lot in life…and I resolved myself to be content with that.

I put on a great façade, always smiling, laughing having a good time. Always keeping in my place, not speaking up about my feelings and opinions. Always doing for others, never able to say “No”. I was a just mom, I was just a clerk, don’t look at me for something special, I doubted my ability to step out of my box. After all, if I stepped out of my box, what would people say? I didn’t have anything to offer.

Then one day I got curious about who I defined my Self to be. As I wrote down the traits I had believed defined me, I discovered that none of those were definitions I had for myself… they were imposed on me. I was not going to be a victim anymore and right then and there I decided I would define my Self, I was stepping out of my box. After all who’s life is it?

I invite you to consider the following questions, notice how your body feels when you read them, and pay attention to that…

Is your definition of Self truly your own definition?

Are you holding yourself in a certain box because of uncertainty or fear?

Do you believe that you are capable of doing more, living more, being more?

What is holding you back from awakening to your own brilliance and true Self? Realizing the Power of your Personal Potential?

© Lori Walton, 2006
Unlimited Potential. Ever Unfolding. Continually Discovering. Authentic Self.

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