“I’m just not that interested”. This phrase has served me well when I’m asked to do something I have no desire for. It may sound a little cold, perhaps harsh, but what’s the other side of this? How many times have you agreed to do something or go somewhere and you either go unwilling or back out? Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. For the last year, I’ve decided to be ruthlessly honest with myself. What do I want for my personal and professional life? How do I want to live? It’s a simple question that I never asked myself until recently. What does my character say about me if I’m a “yes” person simply because I don’t want to offend or hurt someone’s feelings?
When I take inventory of my life, my plate is filled to the brim with obligations. Obligations to family, work, friends and myself. Duty to family, responsibility to work, dedication to friends and commitment to myself. My plate is no higher than anyone else. There are plenty of times I fall short. Times I don’t meet my own expectations. So, what carries me through?
I was fortunate enough to attend some ah-mazing yoga classes this week. The messages I received helped carry me through a particularly long week. Instead of looking at things as something I have to do, I can look at it as something I get to do. This “tip” brought by Kaiea. I GET to go to work. I GET to go grocery shopping. I GET to drive my vehicle and pick up my kids. Life is full of hard stuff we don’t always want to do. We do it because there’s a pay off. Sometimes the pay off is as simple as feeling good afterwards. Right on, Amanda. There are times, “I’m just not that interested” doesn’t apply. Sometimes we simply have to do things we don’t want, do it anyway. Fortitude, grit and a little tenacity gives me “staying power”. Meeting obstacles by simply putting in the work and getting comfortable saying no.
Anita