Last week I wrote about the anti-self-care habit of procrastination and how it can be a form of self-sabotage.
Why do we sabotage ourselves?
I don’t set out to purposefully undermine myself and yet it happens. Often I don’t even realize that I have sabotaged myself until after the deed is done. I’m guessing the same may be true for you.
Conscious and sometimes unconscious reasons get in our way. These reasons may include an underlying feeling of unworthiness, fear of failure, or fear of success.
Yes…a fear of success.
Sometimes success requires big changes in our lives that we are afraid to make or don’t feel ready to make. This can bring up all sorts of fear and next thing you know…we sabotage the success that is just sitting there waiting for us to embrace it.
The quote below has been a longtime favorite of mine.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Excerpted from A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles, by Marianne Williamson.
Procrastination, self-criticism, getting caught up in drama and minutia, gossiping, complaining and chronic worry are several ways that we undermine our love, extinguish our light and keep joy at arm’s length.
Not being our most authentic self with those around us is another way. Often we hide the truth of who we are because we are afraid of rejection. If we are not being truthful about who we are…we are rejecting ourselves. The result is the same either way. We are diminishing our light.
Shine your light. Accept your light. Love your light.
What is one way that you play small or extinguish the light in your life?
What is one action you can take that allows your light to shine and ignites your Soul?
Let’s support each other in living our best life possible. As we create healing in ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually….we create healing in the entire world. And…the world needs our light and our love.
Email me at lisa@theconscioushealthcoach and share with me one action you are going to take that allows your light to shine.