This is a little baby elf hat. He recently insists on wearing it every day. The kid is a little weird, I'm not going to lie.
Have you ever noticed that little kids can be a little...weird? I mean that in the best way, but they just don't seem to care much about what others think of their behavior. When they are happy they dance (or in my boys' case...RUN), they believe FULLY in their convictions, and they don't put much thought into complete shifts in direction before they happen. It turns out there is a lot we can learn in this approach about ourselves.
A few months ago, I started feeling aimless and stuck. It's a feeling that I'm familiar with. After the birth of my sons I was so consumed with motherhood and sleep deprivation (as many are) that I completely let my own needs go, and ended up depressed and a shell of my usual positive self. I was able to recognize the storm coming this time, and really took some time to shift gears and think about what was happening.
I tend to be a routine-based person. I crave adventure, change and new experiences but easily get trapped in the comfort of doing the same thing over and over and OVER again. Often I'm far down the road of melancholy when I realize that it's been too long that I've not challenged myself. This time, I changed my routine by doing a 21 Day Cleanse, which turned out to make all the difference. Can you guess how long I hemmed and hawed before actually doing it? MONTHS.
As children, we are spontaneous. We haven't yet been conditioned to base our actions on the opinions of others, and we don't have to worry about a host of other responsibilities that may drive our choices. Unfortunately being an 'adult' often is synonymous with being frozen. I've learned the hard way that life is just too short to keep doing the same thing all the time. So, how to get out of that?
What made your heart sing as a child? Was it being in nature? Animals? Sports? This may really inform what would make you happy now and serve as a welcome distraction to all the other stresses of life. If your favorite activity was riding horses, that does not mean you need to become a horse trainer but just the act of getting back to that cherished pastime may open up a world of happiness and possibility in your life.
Who are YOU? This is a tough one in today's world of experts everywhere, envy over Instagram feeds, concern over headlines that come out by the minute. Sometimes it's hard to know what to think. My recommendation? Take a digital detox. I'm not suggesting anything as crazy as a whole day, but why not commit to 10 minutes of internet free time in the morning to journal and just think about what makes you happy as soon as you wake up. The same goes for bedtime. When we first wake up, and when we sleep, are when our subconscious memories are most active, and this is prime time to get in touch with who you really are.
The past. Sure, you may have been the most outgoing kid in elementary school, a jock in high school and a brilliant beer drinker in college but let's talk about now. Where are you NOW? I give you permission to be someone different. Life is long, and every year we are changing. There is NO way that we are exactly who we were 10, 20 years ago or even last month. The beauty of this life is that we can change and in fact we DO. Own it, love it and shine no matter how different or similar you are now to who you were.
Shine. Once you have a grasp on who you are now, shine. OWN it. Don't let the opinions of other people get in your way. If you love unicorns, and knitting, start a group! Love dancing salsa? Go out to a class and post that ish up on Facebook! Why not?
Once you are true to who you are, you'll realize that you feel more clear. Case in point. I'm on my own journey. Here is who I've been: happy and alternately insecure teenager, lover of nature, voracious reader, introvert, big believer in close friendships, dedicated student, extrovert and party gal (college, I see you), leader, serious career woman, dedicated yogi, budding writer, traveler, New Yorker, wife, mother, health coach, dreamer, teacher and so much more. Guess what? I'm still going, still changing. It's what keeps me turned up to the world.
Get that energy going, get to know who you are today and go watch all those dreams come true!
Live your Good, Better, Best life.
