Be open to who you are meant to be

Image by Ulrike Leone from Pixabay

We need to forget what we think we are, so that we can really become what we are. – Paulo Coelho

Are you holding yourself back?  Do you look at yourself and think you can't do that because it's not you?

I love this quote because it really speaks to the heart of the matter.  Who we think we are is not necessarily who we are meant to be.  We have to forget our current identity and be open to who we are meant to be.

Scary?

Definitely!

Impossible?

No. Nothing is impossible.

Today is December 3rd and I say it is the perfect time for a transformation.  Be like a butterfly and transform into who you are meant to become.

MRS N

Be proud of your accomplishments!

See how far you’ve come. Be proud of yourself. If nothing else, one day you can look someone straight in the eyes and say, “But I lived through it, and it made me who I am today.” 

There has been a lot of talk in social media lately about all the ways to improve yourself.  They offer advice, exercises and books on ways to be better.  I think that is fantastic if it's what your heart is telling you to do, then go for it.

But what if that is not what your heart is telling you?  

Think for a minute and ask yourself, When was the last time I was proud of myself?

Contrary to popular opinion, being proud of who you are and what you have been through is not a bad thing.  In fact, it is a way of loving yourself.

What have you done that deserves a pat on the back?  A project at work?  Getting good grades in school?  Landing a job after months of unemployment?  Starting a blog?

No matter what it is, be proud of yourself.  You have done a wonderful thing and you deserve a shiny purple star. Way to go you!

Today, take a moment and think of all the things you have done and all the things you have been through.  Then smile and give yourself a hug.  

MRS N

Scars are beautiful... by @NNP_W_Light

I think scars are like battle wounds - beautiful, in a way. They show what you've been through and how strong you are for coming out of it. ~ Demi Lovato

Do you love your scars or do you hide them in shame?

I love this quote by Demi Lovato because it brings a new perspective to scars. We all have scars, some visible while others are invisible. Whether we like them or not, they are a part of us.

I saw a friend of mine on Twitter last night and he was talking about his scars. He hates them, wishes they weren't there. He's ashamed because it reminds him of a dark, destructive time in his life. His comments broke my heart a little and I wanted to give him a hug. It also got me thinking of my own scars.

Twenty years ago, I went through a very dark time. I hated my life and I felt so out of control. I put my body through hell and have the scars to prove it. Do I look at them now and cringe? Sure. Do I feel shame? No. They're my battle scars. I was in the pit of despair back then and every time I see my scars, I'm reminded of how far I've come. I'm reminded of the strength I had to not end it all and to deal with the pain, one small step at a time.

Take my advice and love your scars. Your physical, emotional and mental scars are badges of courage and they only add to your beauty. Love them and let them become a part of who you are. 

MRS N

Before you explode like a battery... @NNP_W_Light

Before the pressure and stress gets the best of you, take a mental health break. 

Last week, we had a funny thing happen. We were watching college football when we started smelling an odd smell. It got stronger and stronger until it made my stomach wretch. What was it? A battery in our remote control exploded. We concluded it must've been the last heat wave which caused the explosion. It got me thinking...

Most of us, at one time or another, have leaked acid all over the place due to stress. We snap at our loved ones, friends, co-workers, pets and it causes our stomachs to clench. The various pressures in our lives get the best of us and we're left to wonder what went wrong.

My solution: take a mental health break. 

Last Friday, MR N and I took a mental health day off. We alerted our bosses as well as our clients. We took three naps, ate delicious yet simple food, watched television, read and had a lovely time off. We didn't talk about work at all. We also rested and took it easy on Saturday and Sunday. It was exactly what we needed.

So take my advice and do some self-care before you explode. 

MRS N

Let love in by @NNP_W_Light #love

Let someone love you just the way you are – as flawed as you might be, as unattractive as you sometimes feel, and as unaccomplished as you think you are. To believe that you must hide all the parts of you that are broken, out of fear that someone else is incapable of loving what is less than perfect, is to believe that sunlight is incapable of entering a broken window and illuminating a dark room. – Mark Hack

Have you been afraid to show someone the "real" you? Have you been hiding your warts for fear of rejection?

Read the quote above.

Now read it again s-l-o-w-l-y.

I used to believe I couldn't show anyone my "dark" side. I was deathly afraid they would laugh at me and leave me. It wasn't until I met MR N that I realized I was doing myself a disservice. My dark side was a part of me and if people couldn't accept it, too bad.

Have you had the same thought?

Newsflash: No one is perfect. Everyone is broken/scarred in some way.

Let people see you for who you are. It's only when you love all the parts of yourself can you let someone else love you.

You are a beautiful person and I love you. Thank you for being you, warts and all.

MRS N