Only We Have The Power To Change Ourselves
December 4, 2007 | In Making A Diff. Lifestyle |
Table of contents for Understanding Ourselves
- Creating Our Self Definition
- Only We Have The Power To Change Ourselves
- Choosing Our Support Carefully
- Let Giving - Not Money - Motivate You
I have a confession to make: while it was relatively easy to create a new self definition, it is proving much more difficult to change how I act. I go through my day, repeating “I’m an activist” and I feel hope for change. But when those words fade away, I wonder how true they really are.
Photo by Lady-bug
I know that simply saying the words is not enough. The other day, after a shower, instead of just glancing over my image in the mirror, I paused and took a good look. I was not pleased with what I saw. But this time, for some reason, the automatic excuses didn’t come to mind. I finally realized, with a bone deep certainty, that I have complete control of my health. There is no one to “blame” but myself. Even if, in the end, I’m not super healthy, it is my responsibility to take charge and be as healthy as I can be. Otherwise, how can I give back; how can I be an activist? This realization was not easy, and I’m still not sure where I go from here.
Have You Examined Yourself?
When was the last time you took a moment to really examine yourself? Even if it was recently, I invite you to do so again. Take off all of your clothes and pose in front of a mirror (full length if available.) Look at yourself from all angles and really pay attention to what you see. Do you like what you see, or do you wish something was different? Do you see a body that will carry you to your dreams?
What immediately comes to mind when you do this? For me it’s negative judgements on various parts. Then, quickly following, as a way to appease the sadness and guilt, come the excuses - I don’t have time, I don’t have willpower, etc. Is it the same for you? Do you have excuses?
But behind all the excuses and the parts you may or may not like, what’s there? What I finally realized the other day is that beneath all my fears and sadness I have value and I’m worth fighting for. I have dreams and those dreams matter.
We Have Value And Purpose
But I’m not alone. You have value as well. You have a purpose, a reason you are here. And if you want to reach your dreams, and fulfill your purpose, you must wake up and take responsibility for yourself. No one else is going to do it for you.
That was very difficult for me to accept and it may be for you too. How many times have we wished, hoped, maybe even prayed, that someone or something would happen to change things? We are scared of change, scared of the unknown. But, when you think about it, does anyone care about reaching your dreams as much as you do?
When you look in the mirror, you see the body you have. This is the body that will carry you, will help you achieve your goals. You don’t get to trade it in for another body. You only have this one. I know that mine is not in the best shape, and therefore part of living as an activist is to improve my health; if I don’t have the energy and stamina to volunteer for hours or chase after children at a zoo, I won’t be able to give back in all the ways I desire.
You crafted a new self definition. Now you know how you want to be and how you want others to see you. But, you’re not there yet; in order to get there something must change. And it’s time to change. It won’t be easy, and there will be obstacles. However, if, like me, you truly want to be the person you defined yourself as, you must change. You must be willing to do something different.
Change Requires A Choice
There is always something you can do differently - but it requires a choice. It requires that you stop dwelling on the negative and choose to do something positive. Something small, something big - it doesn’t matter. Just do something. Get one step closer to living the life of your dreams.
I have chosen to get an exercise buddy as my first step. What will you chose to do? What’s your first step to change the person you see in the mirror to match the words you chose to define who you are?
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