I almost don’t want to write this post. We’ve spent over six weeks together building our success identity and here we are at the finish line (wait… isn’t that a song?). I’ve loved every moment of this experience, especially the tough ones.
Belonging reminded me about the importance of reaching out to others in meaningful ways. I’ve worked to incorporate a handwritten note to a friend into my weekly routine. To make sure others know I notice, care and am grateful. Mostly I was surprised that in supporting others I felt better about my life and my own identity.
Power had me reaching to do things I’d been putting off or avoiding. That week reminded me to take control of my life in baby steps by doing things that made me feel like I had some ability to affect the outcome. By focusing on the things I had power to control, my anxiety decreased over the things I couldn’t… probably because I wasn’t thinking about those things. I was too busy feeling good over my other accomplishments.
Freedom led to the largest shift in my current paradigm… ever. The fall out from evaluating my current belief system has been dark and painful. It’s never easy to look at the rules we live by–keeping the ones that still serve us and tossing the ones that don’t. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to let go of the things that harm instead of help me. I’m still reeling from the changes, but I think I’ll be a stronger, happier person for it because the pieces I keep will be MY pieces… not beliefs and values forced on me by others.
Fun turned out to be the hardest need to meet. I couldn’t seem to relax and allow myself to have fun. I had a tendency to over- or under-do. I finally had to reach out to my support system for help and I continue to utilize them to help me enjoy life, not just live it.
Survival came naturally. Back in September I became super sick (as in I couldn’t eat/drink barely anything for over three weeks without my body reacting in all sorts of I-shouldn’t-mention-it-on-a-blog kind of ways) and I spent the rest of 2011 and 2012 (thus far) trying to figure out the issues. So in a way I cheated because I’ve been working on creating good health habits for over 6 months now (minus the recent lapse in self-medicating via kit kats). However, the one thing survival week did make me aware of was my need to breathe. Yep, the very basic instinct of inhale/exhale. I tend to overlook it even though I need it the most.
I learned a lot over the last several weeks. I improved in some areas and failed in others, but I gained valuable insight through the process. I grew as a wife, sister, woman and friend. But I have to say, the most rewarding part of this journey has been sharing it with you.
YOU make blogging worth it. YOU make writing the greatest career on the planet. YOU make me want to get up in the morning and help me to keep moving when I want to sit down and give up. And I’ll never forget you… not even when I’m a hundred.
So thank you for your comments, your support and your awesomeness. I’m one of the luckiest girls on the planet and you help me feel that every day.
I love you guys!
As a heads up, I’ll be taking next week off as I determine how I’d like to proceed with my blog posts. I’m thinking I’d like to host a 30 Days of Happiness something-or-other, but I haven’t wrapped my brain around what I want that to look like yet. *shrugs* I’ll get there!
If you haven’t subscribed to the blog via email, I’d encourage you to do so, that way you won’t miss a thing!!! (AND you won’t get mad at me for having to check the site/reader for my next post.)
Remember I love you and appreciate you. Have a very happy weekend and REMEMBER… just because the challenge is over doesn’t mean your journey is. Keep working on your success identity, keeping encouraging it to grow. If you can’t do it all, don’t worry. Pick one area and focus on enhancing that.
Hugs & Loves,
Deb
Any insights or experiences you want to share? I’d love to hear from you!
Success Identity Series
– I Can’t Get No Satisfaction: The Success Identity Challenge
– #SuccessID Challenge: BELONGING
– By the power of Grayskull… I have the POWER
– Wide Open Spaces: Our Need for FREEDOM
– Fun. Fun. How can we have FUN?
– Are you voting yourself off SURVIVAL island?
