Day 257/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
Even when I think I've celebrated my success, the evidence suggests otherwise.
Sarah's essay this morning is in sync with my recent realisation that I need to sift through the boxes and files of certificates and accomplishments and get them framed and hung on my walls where I can celebrate them and others can celebrate with me.
Not just my academic achievements, also artwork that I have created. I'm very good at drawing yet my efforts are hidden in folders and art books and no one even knows this about me.
Sarah reminded me of that childhood song, which I never sang nor even heard about to be honest, but came to me later, "The bear went over the mountain, the bear when over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain and what do you think he saw? He saw another mountain, he saw another mountain, he saw another mountain and what do you think he did? He climbed that other mountain, he climbed that other mountain, ..." Climbing bear syndrome!
One mountain after another hoping that someone will notice us.
Sarah rightly identifies the source of that habituated climbing bear syndrome, the failure of our early caregivers to notice us and acknowledge our achievements. We never stop aching for that recognition until, that is, we recognise it for what it is.
This is precisely how we are become habituated as young people into patterns that don't serve us in adulthood.
The stages to resolve this habituated behaviours may be many and unique to each of us. For me it's been a slow journey of undoing, and finally truly recognising myself as an accomplished, resourceful woman.
For my clients, my experience has become a shortcut for theirs as I know how to guide them to the realisation.
Today I'm measuring up frames for my academic achievements and career milestones, and maybe for those art pieces as well.
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.