The Awakening
A time comes in your life when you finally get it … when, in the
midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks
& somewhere the voice inside your head cries out “ENOUGH!”
Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on.
And like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs
begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your
tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your
awakening.
You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something
to change or for happiness, safety, and security to come galloping
over the next horizon.
You come to terms with the fact that you are neither Prince
Charming nor Cinderella. And that, in the real world, there aren’t
always fairy-tale endings (or beginnings, for that matter).
And that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with
you … and in the process, a sense of serenity is born of
acceptance.
You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not
everyone will always love, appreciate, or approve of who or what
you are … and that’s OK. They are entitled to their own views and
opinions.
And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself
… and in the process, a sense of new-found confidence is born of
self-approval.
You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things
they did to you (or didn’t do for you) and you learn that the only
thing you can really count on is the unexpected.
You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean
what they say, and that not everyone will always be there for you,
and that it’s not always about you.
So you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself …
and in the process, a sense of safety and security is born of
self-reliance.
You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept
people as they are and overlook their shortcomings and human
frailties … and in the process, a sense of peace and contentment is
born of forgiveness.
You realize that much of the way you view yourself and the world
around you is as a result of all the messages and opinions that
have been ingrained into your psyche.
And you begin to sift through all the junk you’ve been fed about
how you should behave, how you should look, how much you should
weigh, what you should wear, what you should do for a living, how
much money you should make, what you should drive, how and where
you should live, who you should marry, the importance of having and
raising children, and what you owe your parents, family, and
friends.
You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view.
And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you
really stand for.
You learn the differences between wanting and needing and you
begin to discard the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown, or
should never have bought into to begin with … and in the process,
you learn to go with your instincts.
You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that
there is
power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop
maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” looking for your
next fix.
You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not
outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together
the foundation upon which you must build a life.
You learn that you don’t know everything, it’s not your job to
save the world and that you can’t teach a pig to sing.
You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and
the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.
You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to
carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.
Then you learn about love. How to love, how much to give in
love, when to stop giving and when to walk away.
You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as
you would have them be. You stop trying to control people,
situation, and outcomes.
And you learn that alone does not mean lonely.
You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside,
smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.
You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK, and
that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things you
want … and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.
You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with
love, kindness, sensitivity, and respect … and you won’t settle for
less.
And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you
begin to care for it and treat it with respect.
You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take
more time to exercise.
You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty
and so you take more time to rest.
And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So
you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you
believe you
deserve … and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling
prophecy.
You learn anything worth achieving is worth working for and that
wishing for something to happen is different from working towards
making it happen.
More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you
need direction, discipline, and perseverance.
You also learn that no one can do it all alone … and that it’s
OK to risk asking for help.
You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest
robber baron of all: FEAR itself.
You learn to step right into and through your fears because you
know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear
is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.
And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it
living under a cloud of impending doom.
You learn that life isn’t always fair, you don’t always get what
you think you deserve, and that bad things sometimes happen to
unsuspecting, good people.
On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You
learn that God isn’t punishing you or failing to answer your
prayers. It’s just life happening.
And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state … the
ego.
You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy, and
resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate
the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.
You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges
instead of walls.
You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the
simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people
upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean
running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.
Slowly you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself
and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to
never, ever settle for less than your heart’s desire.
Hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the
wind.
Keep smiling, keep trusting, and stay open to every wonderful
possibility.
Finally, with courage in your heart , take a stand, a deep
breath, and begin to design as best you can the life you want to
live.
CHOICE BY CHOICE.
~By Virginia Marie Swift
