Have you ever just Sat and Thought …

I put out on my Facebook Timeline this week, a picture and saying (I do this every day – my own or someone else’s that appeals to me), and this was one I had put out in 2015 and it said –

‘Have you ever just sat and thought – Fuck, I’ve been through a lot of shit’

For me, I have found that it’s really important to stop and look back at my life every now and again. It’s about taking the space to reflect on what’s been happening for me. So often, I can forget or things seem like a blur of happenings and it is important to give myself that reflection time – however painful or joyful it might be.

Have you ever done that? If not, when you do I’ll bet you’ll be surprised at how far you’ve come, and see with amazement, not only what you’ve been through, not only what you’ve been carrying but also what you’ve achieved during that time.

And it isn’t only what you’ve done in the big, wide world. It is also looking to see all the inner changes you have made too. I am sure they will also surprise you as you see what’s happened to your self-awareness as this can get covered up simply by the busyness of life.

Inner Light

I have also been able to see those occasions when someone or something frightens, hurts, ridicules, embarrasses or somehow disrespects me in some way. That’s when I can feel my openness to life and my faith in human beings being shaken – that inner light turns down and dims a little – especially with all that is going on in our chaotic world at the moment.

What I have done at those times is to become smaller to protect myself and my heart. I have allowed myself to shrink and become invisible. Or else I have closed my heart in retaliation and anger so my inner light doesn’t shine through.

Shit Times

When you do stop and take your day, week, year or life all in, you will identify what is important to YOU. You’ll be able to breathe in and see that it is important to honour those ‘shit’ times of worry, tears, pain, anger, bewilderment, despair, loss ……….

When you’ve allowed space for those feelings you can then allow in that you’ve come, or are coming through them, and that there have been good times, lots of support and even adventures!! All of these are in the bank of you, ready to withdraw when you need that little bit encouragement when you’re thrown off track or simply had enough.

Couer = Heart

Something I’d like to share with you is that those of you, women, who need to withdraw from life now and again, actually have courage to choose to join it again. Why? Because you put yourselves forward time and time again when it would be easier to stay in your little comfort zone and not come out. You allow yourselves to be visible in so many different ways, from the little to the large.

And, although I’ve said it many times before, did you know that ‘couer’ means ‘heart’ so courage actually means coming from your heart and that is the basis of life for me.

Forget what all the Gurus say – Your purpose doesn’t have to be an enormous striving for thing. Your purpose is to express you into the world. Quite simply to be Yourself – Shit and all!!!

I’d love to see you at my Day Workshop on the 25th November, 2017, at the RadissonBlu, Portman Square, London Hotel, where you will learn more about moving from Self-Doubt to Inner Confidence with other like-minded women. See more about it here

If this article resonates with you then I’d invite you to explore it further by contacting me via my website www.thevisibewoman.com or email irene@irenebrankin.co.uk