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One of my goals for 2019 is to work on Self Development daily. What does that look like you may ask?
I listen to worship music, I read he bible and write down a few verses onto my notebook every day. I also listen to motivational speakers and podcasts that feed into my life and my business.
I am finding that it is also a process of removing the negative from my life. So I am working on removing negative voices and creating boundaries with people who often hurt me with their words and actions.
A huge part of my self development is reading. I stopped making time for reading pretty much at the time my first child was born. In the midst of diaper changing, tantrums and food smudges, reading didn't even come close to making it to my priority list.
But feeding our brain with positive words that help us grow and giving ourselves time to hear truth about ourselves in what we are reading, is SOOO important. I will do a post on the books I have read these last three months soon. But today I wanted to write very briefly about the one I read yesterday: Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist.
While reading this book, I kept having the feeling that I could have written those words on the pages myself. What she says in the book is so true to my life, right now!
These past two years I have been working on building my business from nothing. I have dedicated all my time to taking care of the house, kids and work and I can tell you it is exhausting but I know this is my path, I know that, because I love doing what I'm doing. I love assisting other moms with their businesses, I love learning new tech and design stuff. But at the same time, I am learning to say "NO" to other things....or at least I'm learn to recognize which things I should be saying no to. I am still working on actually saying the word....I have been a people pleaser saying YES to everything for so long, it's a tough thing to say no.
“Be careful how much of yourself you give away, even with the best of intentions. There are things you cannot get back. Things He has not asked you to sacrifice." - Shauna Niequist, Present Over Perfect
In her book Shauna Niequist, mentions how she always felt like she needed to prove how competent, tough, and reliable she was. How she was successful in the eyes of the world but her mind, body and family were struggling. As super busy moms we need to recognize that in the end of it all, the thing that is going to matter is our relationship with our family. My husband and my boys and so often I find myself giving my best to the people outside of that circle while they only get to see tired and cracky-faced mom!
“I don't want to get to the end of my life and look back and realize that the best thing about me was I was organized.” ― Shauna Niequist, Present Over Perfect
In the midst of my books about growing my brand and building businesses, this sweet voice reminded me to rest, focus on the bare minimum and to be present in that place. I find so often while I am spending time with my kids, it so hard to focus on what I'm doing, my mind is elsewhere. This needs to change.
“What kills a soul? Exhaustion, secret keeping, image management. And what brings a soul back from the dead? Honesty, connection, grace” - Shauna Niequist, Present Over Perfect
This year I want to be more present. Whatever it is that I am doing...be fully there!
