Over the past four years I've learned alot about myself. Most importantly, how I treat myself. I'm a wife (and every now and then "sexy' wife:), mother, business owner, PTA officer, church volunteer and friend. Seems pretty managable..........but my life had been managing me, so it was exhausting.
I'm a helper at heart. I enjoy helping others and watching them succeed. I also enjoy cooking and feeding my friends and family when I can. If I could just entertain and cook for a living I'd be set. LOL!! I developed a bad habit of not knowing when to say no. So I trained those around me that I'm always available, always able and always willing. Problem is none of that is true. I was overextending myself and sometimes for people that didn't appreciate it.
So what did I do to change how I was operating? I started to manage my time more wisely. Before my head leaves the pillow I thank God for another day for me and my family, then I spend 20 minutes with Him before doing anything. That's my time for prayer, Bible study, reflection. This change in the start of my day has made a world of difference about how I value my time. I manage my client schedule in a way that allows me to spend the time I desire with my children and gives me the opportunity to volunteer at their schools. Creating a legacy for my family became priority, not just taking as many clients as possible. I have a date night with my wonderful husband once a week - just me and him doing whatever we want. I purchased a dry erase calendar, put it on my frig and fill it in with my families activities for the month so I don't over schedule any of us. I make time to do "nothing", whatever my nothing is I plan to do it.
Now that I take time for myself, I finally have a chance to listen to my body, notice things I had glanced at but never paid attention to. I listen to my husband and children and make an effort to ensure that I actually hear them. I perceive what's important differently and I value the small details that make a big difference. I changed my business to ensure it matched up with what I value, I'm facilitating healing with my clients. I talk to them, learn about their lifestyles, family, issues, etc. (You'd be amazed that 90% of scalp problems have nothing to do with the scalp itself - marriage problems, worrying about children, financial difficulties, job stress, poor nutrition - its so not about what it looks like, so my discernment has heightened.) I give my time and make concessions of my time for those that I know truly do value me, my family and my time. I make my home a peaceful, restful place for my family and I don't allow drama, people or otherwise, into our home. If I find that when in the presense of an individual, I'm drained when we part ways, I don't spend my personal time with that person. If being in someones presense is work, its not enjoyable. I love being around positive people and I enjoy being around people that I learn from, that add to me as a person.
When I started to re-evaluate how I treated myself and the outcome I was getting when I treated myself well, I truly began to live life more abundantly. My money hasn't changed, some of my circumstances didn't change, but my perspective did.
Blessings,
Natural by Nature
No comments:
Post a Comment