The agendas in our lives often set us up for overwhelm….and overwhelm blocks our joy!
Agenda: a list or plan of things to be done
We all know that some agendas are necessary. Those agendas that help us keep life organized and running smoothly are important to us. The agendas that we need to uncover and surrender, are those that we adopt unconsciously….they’re the agendas that we may not even realize that we have! They are the ones that don’t help us, serve us, or complete us….they’re the agendas that keep us feeling inadequate and ineffectual. They overwhelm us, and block our joy!
Hidden agendas show up in a multitude of disguises, and unless we look for them, and weed them out, we may not even know they exist, or that they are contributing to overwhelm. Sometimes they appear in self talk. Have you ever spoken these words to yourself:
"What’s wrong with me?"
"I‘ll never measure up."
"I just can’t get it together!"
"Why can’t I do this?"
"I’m a failure!"
If you feel frustrated by these feelings, you could have a popular hidden agenda of perfectionism: a personal standard of a high degree of proficiency, excellence, or skill. The demands you make of yourself are higher than what you would expect of anyone else.
Your agenda of perfectionism may be full blown, or you could have just enough operating to keep you from the joy you deserve, and the joy you’ve earned!
I often volunteer with a personal development group which includes some teenagers and young adults. I always come away marveling at how much I learn from them. Personally, I think that many young people today have amazing depth. What I’m most impressed with is their intention to be authentic.
The great poet, Kahlil Gibran, gave us instruction about younger people when he said, "You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you." Those authentic young people often remind me that they are more focused on being true to themselves, and living up to their own expectations, than many of my peers.
If we are caught up in perfectionism, that is, a standard that we and others, have set for ourselves, we can be our own worst enemy.
When we:
*Frequently compare ourselves to others
*Assume that people are judging us for not being enough
*Feel that others don’t know us as our true selves…….,
We’re not loving ourselves, and we’re not being authentic.
Self love & authenticity are synergistic:
The interaction of the combined elements produce a total effect that is greater than the individual elements.
What one thing can you do for yourself today that will demonstrate being true to YOU? Take the time to get quiet and still and Check With Your Heart…..Make a Joy Choice to be the real, adorable, valuable, natural, authentic, YOU!
You (the real you) is important to this planet….and, by the way… I love the real you!
Joy & Blessings, Carole xxx
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