Kiss your life. Accept it, just as it is.
Today. Now.
SO that those moments of happiness you're waiting for don't pass you by.
“What are you giving up for Lent?” someone asked me last week when I returned to work after having a 7 day stomach flu. “Food,” I jokingly said, then quickly gave my real Lenten project, “Judgement, especially self-judgement. That crushing, self-doubting, destructive kind.”
Yeah. That’s me. Silly, but serious too. I’ve given up all sorts of things in years past: alcohol, chocolate, swearing, interrupting, t.v. a few nights a week, my time to help others, etc. But, last year I tried something new. I decided go more internal and in the hopes it would make my external life happier and healthier. I gave up worrying.
I didn’t overthink it. I just heard this good ‘ole Irish saying and thought, hey maybe I’ll try that for real.
So, for 40 days I did my best to give less time to worry, to quell the noise of my mind when it went in to panic response mode over little things. Slowly, slowly, I loosened my grip on how I thought things should be day to day and began to embrace the way things were without my need to control them. What happened? An unexpected, tremendous relief! I had no idea I was causing myself so much tension and strife. Soon I felt I could breathe more deeply and easily.
The way Brian's face looks is how I found myself feeling more and more each day. Simply serene.
Before I knew it I found myself feeling lighter and brighter, and even sleeping better. Something I had struggled with for years. This letting go of worry thing worked so well I continued to practice it well after Lent was over. More often than not, what I realized as my days played out was that things worked out just as they should without any assistance from the opinions of my overly concerned mind. In fact, many days and events went even better than I could have imagined, even when they took unexpected turns. The best part of all of this was I was able to be more present, fully enjoy each moment and even laugh at just how amazing life really is.
So, with that frame of mind I embark this Lent on another internal journey to drop judgement. I’m not sure exactly where it will lead me, and that’s okay. This isn’t about being perfect. It’s just about lightening myself up, and in doing so hopefully bringing more light into my world and those of others too. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.
Now, I’d love to hear from you!
Is there anything in your life you feel you could drop that would help make you lighter and brighter, or perhaps set you on a more productive path? Or, have you worked to let go of something in the past that was holding you back? If so, how did it go?
Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to be inspired by your stories and cheer you on with your new endeavors.
Cheers to judgement-free, worry free, lighter, brighter days!
Here’s to enjoying your life & ALL GOOD THINGS my friends!
XOXO,
Mary
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