Happy Saturday!
I tried my best to get this out on Friday but Thursday was a bit of a long day and Friday morning just vanished right in front of my eyes. As you know, a thought usually pops into my head and then is confirmed by seemingly random interactions or images. This week was similar and most of my conversations revolved around this week’s blog.
What I want to touch on this week is kind of two-fold. So first and foremost I want you to embrace where you are on your journey. Which takes me back to last week. If you did not read last week’s post, then stop and read it and come back to this. If you read last week’s blog, you would know I spoke about being grateful and appreciating what you have. I hope you made a list. Your journey may not have gone as you had anticipated or hoped but there are things (lessons, blessings, persons or actual things) you accumulated while on the journey that you would not have experienced if you did not take that specific path.
Your path is unique to you and shapes who you are. If you do not like the road you are on then look for the next turn or alley and take a different path. It is never too late to change paths. I once read that when you don’t know where you are going, any path can take you there. I don’t think we need to focus on the path so much as ensuring we reach our final destination. We are hard on ourselves when we take a wrong turn and that negativity blocks us from seeing that we are on a new path filled with sunshine and all the things we like. Where you have been does not determine where you will go.Take a look at where you are at now and how far you have come and adjust your path accordingly but don’t focus too much on the negative.
Secondly, I want to talk about speaking up for yourself. There is a lot happening right now and it may seem easier to speak up for others because it is the right thing to do but it is equally important to speak up for yourself. I was faced with a few situations this week where normally I would shrink myself just to avoid any conflict. Subconsciously I found myself speaking up for myself and lo and behold, there still was no conflict. Poof! That untruth was crushed. I could speak up for myself, get the issue resolved and the world did not end. In all of the situations I was respectful but stern.
You set the standard for your interactions. If you are constantly letting things slide, you are giving the impression that subpar service or work is acceptable. So here is my example without any names. I purchased a service from a local service provider and despite my efforts, communication was lacking and the service was terminated unbeknownst to me. When I found out, I normally would have left it and grumbled at the money I lost. This time I respectfully but firmly laid out my side of the story and mentioned that I found their response unacceptable. Lo and behold, I received a call explaining what went wrong and the representative took responsibility for her part and assured me she would find a solution.
Speaking up for yourself gives you the confidence to trust yourself, and get what you deserve.There is no more internal war or the feeling that you got the short end of the stick. There may not always be a solution but the fact that you spoke up gives you peace of mind that you did everything possible to rectify the situation. Speaking up for yourself is also really important when it comes to setting and maintaining boundaries which I will touch on in another blog post. If someone is constantly doing or saying something you do not like, then speak up and let them know you do not appreciate it. It could make all of the difference.
The challenge this week is pretty easy. Pay attention to opportunities to speak up for yourself and also opportunities to embrace where you are one your journey. Sometimes a wrong turn can lead us to a shortcut or the scenic route to our destination. Speaking up builds our confidence, increases our self love and can sometimes allow us to get back on the path we are meant to be on. Do not lower your standards for anything or anyone. Have a great weekend!
MotherLovingDiva 