Your growth (and the choices you make that support your growth) don’t have to make sense to those around you. In fact, in order to expand into the fullness and wholeness of who we really are, we will eventually and inevitably upset the status quo. ⁣

We will eventually upset, disappoint, concern, aggravate, and/or enrage some of the very people we’ve historically been invested in pleasing, proving ourselves to, and/or seeking validation from. ⁣

Some of the most essential growth I’ve experienced in my journey so far happened when I let go of what my parents might think, what my husband (at the time) might think, and even what my best friend thought of me. Each of these choices to continue following MY truth was incredibly uncomfortable, even terrifying at times. AND, each was essential to cultivating the felt sense of wholeness I now cherish more than anything else in my life. ⁣

If this idea feels daunting (it sure did to me), start small:⁣

⁣Skip with your kids through the produce aisle (they’ll likely never forget it). Stand in a grassy meadow with your eyes closed, holding a cup of tea and breathing through the discomfort of what people might think if they saw you. ⁣Disrupt your defaults and get a little uncomfortable, on purpose. ⁣Then, as you slowly build strength, play a little bigger: ⁣

⁣Start saying no to the volunteer opportunities at your kids’ school that you feel obligated to. Take that job that lights you up inside but pays less. Plan a night away from your family. Every time we override the voice that says, “but what will ____ think?” or “but ____ might think I’m ____,” we are slowly building tolerance for the type of discomfort we NEED in order to feel the way we long to feel. ⁣

I don’t know about you, but WHOLE and FREE and WILD and SOULFULLY CONNECTED are at the top of that list for me.

Growing right along with you,