This is a message I meant to send out over the
July 4th holiday weekend. However, I declared my
independence from work all weekend, and instead
enjoyed the company of family and friends.
I hope you had a nice holiday weekend as well, if
you're here in the States. For my friends overseas,
I hope you had a great weekend, period.
July is chock full of independence days, isn't it?
The U.S.'s birthday is July 4th (although technically
the Declaration of Independence was ratified on
July 2nd, 1776). Canada Day was July 1st. And my
friends from Peru will be celebrating their country's
holiday in a couple of weeks.
All this independence day stuff got me to thinking
about how important it is to declare your own
personal independence once in awhile.
Independence from worry. Independence from anxiety.
Independence from always worrying about what other
people think about you.
That's a big one, isn't it? Worrying about what
others think about you.
It has been said that liberty and freedom are the
ultimate power. When you look back at the huge
achievers in the world - in modern times as well
as throughout history - you typically find people
who didn't care what other people thought about
them. They forged ahead with their visions and
their dreams, even though they often had to endure
criticism and censure.
I think many of us - myself included - often worry
too much about what other people will think about
us. This is an insidious form of worry, because its
like this constant dialogue going on in your head,
slowly sapping your energy and spirit. This form of
worry often leads us to shy away from what we
really want to do with and in our lives.
For example, I have a friend who is getting divorced
and has to go back into career mode (she's been
staying home with the kids). I keep encouraging her
to start one of those consulting businesses where
the consultant comes into your home and helps you
get all the crap and clutter organized, and helps you
get control of your house and your life.
She would be perfect for this kind of work. She is
a natural born sales person, and she is a freak
when it comes to keeping things picked up and
organized.
She's interested, she really is. She knows she would
be good at it. But she's worried about what her family
and friends will think. She's being told she should
be sensible and get a "real job" where she will be
making a dependable salary and have some security.
News flash: the corporate world ain't so secure
anymore. The only real security you have, job and
career-wise, is to invest in yourself, continually
learning and improving in your particular area of
interests and talents.
This dilemma my friend faces is very common. We
worry about what others will think if we decide
to follow our heart and do what we really want to
do...or embark on some challenge, like learning
a new skill...or choose to love the one we really
want to love.
Joseph Campbell, who is famous for his writings and
teachings about mythology, was fond of saying,
"Follow your bliss". I heard him on a CD once
saying that he meant this from a career perspective:
in other words, choose your career based on what
you are truly passionate about.
On this CD, he said he also meant this in purely
personal terms. Do the things you want to do,
love the person you want to love. Don't worry
about what others may think or say. It's your
life!
So, here's my appeal to you: just for today, declare
your independence.
Just for today, turn off that internal dialogue that
is telling you that you can't do something or
shouldn't do something...or that is warning you about
what others might think if you do.
Just for today, follow your bliss.
You Can Do It!
Karen Van Ness
http://www.OvercomeAsthma.com
P.S. One of the most direct and rapid ways to expand
your thoughts, your energies, and your horizons is
through deep breathing. Breathing properly can not only
help you overcome asthma. It also has an immediate and
profound impact on your body, brain and emotions. Learn
how breathing can help you get more out of life by going
to the Overcome Asthma website at
http://www.overcomeasthma.com .
Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2008
**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**
