"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I want to feel LIGHTER."
This is a phrase I've heard from many women.
Usually after expressing things like,
"I feel run down and sluggish."
"I'm exhausted all the time."
"I feel so heavy right now."
It's only natural to think that the solution to the problem of feeling heavy is to make yourself light...by weighing less.
And yes, improving your health may also lead to becoming PHYSICALLY lighter.
But there is another kind of lightness to be had.
The one that comes as a result of letting go of trying to be someone or something that you are not.
And fully embracing who you truly are.
Without fear. Without shame. Without guilt. And without apology. It's the lightness that comes when you show up in the world as your whole, authentic self — imperfections and all. The lightness that comes when you grant yourself permission TO JUST BE YOU. And to be EVERY version of you. The vulnerable you. The strong you. The silly you. The solemn you. Rather than trying to mold yourself into who someone else thinks you should be. Over the weekend I had a great time being the silly version of myself. Alejandro, Bella and I got dressed up for a Halloween party that we had in our neighborhood dog park.
And it was a MUCH needed reminder of how little time I have given myself recently to be silly.
To not take life so seriously.
To lighten up.
And it felt SO GOOD to give myself the freedom to not care what anyone thinks about an almost 40 year old woman,
#1) wearing a Halloween costume and
#2) coordinating it with her dog's.
Because the levity of this weekend was worth so much more than the approval of strangers.
So if you are feeling heavy,
Consider how you can make yourself lighter,
Not by WEIGHING less.
But by CARRYING less.
And by letting go of the need to be anything other than your whole, authentic self.
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