§ We came to this world to LIVE OUT LOUD!
A Humbling Realization
I think of myself as a fairly conscious person. Yet, I am humbled lately as I see all the ways in which I still need to grow.
Cooking healthy food together and enjoying nightly dinners.
Going for walks and having heartfelt conversations.
Playing games and watching movies, cuddled up together on the big couch.
Recently, we have even been able to go watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
There have also been some very difficult moments – worry, anxiety and stress – which often translates into short tempers. Especially with two teenage girls under one roof.
The majority of us are extroverted, happiest-when-we-are-out-in-the-world people so we have had to get creative and rely on our deepest inner resources to thrive in relative captivity.
Over the past couple of weeks, I realized that it’s so easy to fall into the trap of looking at my partner or loved ones and seeing THEIR flaws and short comings. THEY are impatient. THEY are stubborn. THEY are unreasonable. THEY are quick to anger.
When in reality, I AM all the things that I see in others. Other people are basically just a mirror to the less than polished parts of myself.
We are human. We all have shortcomings. And there’s no better time than confinement with other humans to look at and have compassion for our own shortcomings.
For instance, the other day, I got on Facebook and saw that a friend had posted this image of green flags in relationships – the things you want from both partners in order for a relationship to thrive:
Self-responsibility
Communicates openly
Supports your personal growth
Self-reflective
Empathy
Spirituality
Honors Boundaries
Heathy hobbies
Practices self-care
Long-standing friendships
Vulnerability
Self-sufficiency
You wanna know the first thing that I did with this list?
I started thinking about how my husband measures up in each category!!!
I caught myself and felt pretty embarrassed by my unevolved humanness at that moment.
I know better.
I have been doing personal growth work for nearly 30 years.
Yet, I still fell in the trap.
It’s so much easier to look at him than to look at myself.
So I asked myself, how do I show up in each category? And how can I do better?
But I reminded myself that every moment of every day can be a spiritual practice, if I’m open to it.
It wasn’t easy but I was proud of myself. I felt strong and powerful as I acknowledged my shortcomings.
Can you relate? What are you learning about yourself during these past couple of months?
You know I love hearing from you so feel free to leave a comment below or email me at natalie@nataliematushenko.com
Happy Tuesday!
Natalie
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