What would you do?

What would you do if you weren’t nervous, afraid or worried about what somone else thinks of you? Or how doing that thing might illicit judgement from a person who’s opinion you value? This could be in any arena of life. Work, your clothes, how you decorate, what house you buy, what car you drive, how you decide to spend your leisure time, what you eat, what books or show you just love but definitely would be embarrassed should someone find out? ‘Ladies of London’ two years ago, I looked forward to that over the top self-indulgent show each week, because of how and where it was shot and the insane fashion those crazies wore. Wow! An hour of guilty pleasure. But did I want anyone to know? What would that say about my values or taste level?! 😮

Here’s the thing – and I have had to say it over and over again like a mantra until I started to believe it, allowing me to begin to put less emphasis on what others think – those people that are spending so much time obsessing over your every move… THEY AREN’T! People in general are fairly occupied with their own lives and concerns to the point there simply isn’t a whole lot of time left over in their day to be dwelling on what you are or aren’t doing. Unless you’re like really famous. God, that must be a real pain.

So listen. If no one is obsessing about your choices then why are you giving their opinion such power, influencing YOUR choices that have such an impact on YOUR LIFE! This type of thinking cuts you off from the truth that is you. Your authentic self is naturally drawn to the things that are the best fit for you, but once you analyze those choices through another person’s lens you are no longer following through with your life and its purpose but adopting a version that belongs to someone else.

Think about that.

As for me, what areas do I put too much emphasis on what others think? Right now I’d have to say I worry about the appropriateness of sharing my back story, of the abuses I’ve experienced in my life. I feel like it’s a verboten subject that will label me and color my chances of creating the life I know I’m meant for. If people were to know this about me it would put a scarlet letter on my chest, thus cutting me off from reaching my potential. Perhaps, if my aspirations were in a specific direction that destained any association with this truly tragic side of humanity. But I also think the opposite. By my denying and hiding this key part of who I am and how it has influenced the person I have become and the things that matter most to me, I’m actually creating or profigating the opposite of what I want; ensuring I don’t grow into my most authentic and successful self.

This morning I was having a little conversation with myself about what is TRULY important to me, apart from being a mom, and loving design and houses and real estate, travel and alternative health protocols, the earth. Okay, that’s a lot. But what came to mind was awareness of the abuse of children, how it has and is effecting way too many people and that the very silence around it only serves to give abusers more power, an opportunity to abuse and continue the abuse. It’s something I want to talk about more and perhaps someday figure out how to become involved in this area, to give the child I was a voice she didn’t have and perhaps in doing so help others find their voice.

So that is what I would do. If I didn’t care what anyone thought.

What would you do?