When you gonna make up your mind?
When you gonna love you as much as I do?
~Tori Amos
Will the Circle be Unbroken
Today I was at an intimate concert from Ariana Hall with a few friends and a few new-to-me friends as well. To set the feeling as more of a group of friends than a show, we went around and introduced ourselves before the music started. I introduced myself as someone who works with creatives on stretching their comfort zones and practicing self care.
I have a tendency to introduce myself as a jewelry designer, my day job, because people know what that means. I design jewelry. They know what jewelry is, they know that people design it. Simple. I’m still working on telling people this:
I’m a comfort zone stretching social enrichment coach for creatives who want to get out more, meet people, have adventures; and believe that being shy, introverted, and highly sensitive is a blessing — if we allow it to be.
But if I don’t claim it, then I am, in fact, denying it.
Against the Grain
In this group there were yoga teachers, body workers, musicians… All people I tend to think of as having two jobs and maybe they did and maybe they didn’t, but they chose to identify in a certain way.
As the music got going I couldn’t stop thinking about how the people I surround myself with all go after their dreams. We do what we can to live our lives, the ones we claim. We may not make every possible choice to get us closer to our goals in life, but we do make every choice we can.
Can’t You Hear Me Callin’
I have one friend who comes to mind, N, he’s an author, just finishing the second draft of his novel. While I haven’t read any of this particular work, I have read his writing before. He’s got a strong voice, a talent for spinning a story and the man can research like few I’ve seen.
And, yet…
He makes light of compliments and currently considers anything less than a publishing deal to be failure. I want to bring him into this circle of determination and love. To *force* him to see how much he has done and how much he has to offer. But I can’t.
Never Give Up
As pissy as it makes me, I can’t tip back his head and feed him his own worth. I can, however, do this, I can support him in his choices and let him know how amazing he and his works are and maybe one day, he’ll get it for himself.
And I want you to know this, you are amazing. Whatever you create, share it, and when people praise you, believe them. You know what it was like getting there, you know how it all happened (maybe) and you probably even know that you’re not *quite* where you want to be yet. And still, believe them, because you need to love you as much as I do.
Today, I’d like to hear what you’re working on, what you’ve just finished, what ever it is that you can share that makes you, you. Please, share with us.
Annnnnnnnnd we stretch Two Three Four. Sign up for Inching Along and you’ll get small comfort zone stretches sent to your inbox ever other week, plus resources and other fun nuggets of info.
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In the comments:
We’re being open here, sharing and saying things we don’t always say out loud. What helps: Sharing your stories and Ideas. Cheering and telling what works/worked for you. What hurts: shoulds, harshness, and such. (I used to teach first grade, I can’t help it.)
Tags: Awareness, Beginning, comfort zone, fear, unnerving
