Choice

The subject of Choice came up in several conversations with women this week. In this case, choice has nothing to do with politics or rights, and everything to do with honoring our worth.

A friend shared this beautiful idea from this year’s U.S. poet laureate, Ada Limon:

“I like to focus on possibilities. I want young people to know that you don’t have to just choose who you are and then live in that box forever. You get to change. You get to change your mind. And you get to choose who you want to be every day. Every day is a choice.”

This is a message for ALL of us! We can choose to be open-minded, young at heart, and constantly refining our perspective.

We can give ourselves permission to change our opinion, or at least to bring freshness to our perspective. We are free to question old established expectations and responsibilities, stagnant relationships, and the way we’ve always done things.  We have the ability to see everything with new eyes that, in looking out for others, don't forget to see and value ourselves.

For me, it’s time to break away from influences that I’ve followed to form opinions and to stand solo and empowered in my own chosen message and voice.

So many women are navigating questions surrounding big life changes – from family needs and career aspirations to personal priorities, and even our own relevance. 

At times, we may fear we’re beginning to disappear as we hand the baton to the next generation and search for a new sense of purpose. 

Some of us have questioned our worth for years. We’ve fallen short in our own eyes or hesitated to speak our sense of truth. Perhaps we’ve been afraid of how others perceive or might react to us. Maybe there have been repercussions from others close to us when we’ve stepped into our own chosen light.

Not only can we change; we should change. Evolve. 

Being committed to maintaining an open heart – curious, learning, and growing – demonstrates our desire for continued clarity about who we are, and our unique purpose. We find our own voice when we listen within and are honestly self-aware. In doing so, we learn to hone our distinct chosen values. These help define our message.

As we overcome hesitation or self-doubt and stand up to voices that intimidate or suppress – either self-inflicted or from a culture long-held – we step into our light. Our full radiance. Our unwavering voice. 

I’ve always said that, if you’re going to be Yellow, be BRIGHT Yellow – vibrant, clear, and joyous.

Ask yourself where you grow the most, spiritually. Where you feel secure, calm, peaceful and empowered. Where you are most in tune with your fullness, and with the Divine. THIS is where you will be, and give, the most. It’s where you are always relevant.

It’s where you are radiantly You. It’s not a You defined by title, relationship, or ownership, but by all that your heart holds dear. All that you truly cherish and nurture. All that is naturally You, without outside direction or overprotection.

It’s always been there – this You. This feeling is called Freedom.

“You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.” – Brene Brown

It must be a conscious, committed choice to shed what holds you back. It takes an honest heart to identify and call out limitations – both in thought and action. And it takes humility to strip these away and stand in a new, unfamiliar light and begin to reclothe yourself again, clear and colorful. No longer shrouded or muddied. 

Who we are – our distinct gifts, our unique opportunities, our inheritance as a daughter of God – has always been. We have always been known to Divine Love. We have always stood in our individual light. For some of us, it’s just time to make a conscious choice to turn that light on.

According to research by Harvard scientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, it only takes ninety seconds to identify an emotion and allow it to dissipate as you observe it. This means that we can learn to choose whether or not to let the emotion continue.

Embrace the momentary discomfort in order to recognize and release labels and limitations of the past, and reach out with courage to choose a new “you.”  Growth and progress are essential and natural. Necessary. We just need to choose them, and know that this empowers and honors our value. 

Playing safe can hold us back, dull the senses, and make us complacent. We often go within and chastise ourselves for not being more courageous. 

The possibilities for what’s ahead are infinite, and we can choose to break free of old, safe opinions and decisions. It keeps us relevant…and ALIVE!