Who Am I (When I'm not trying to be Toby Keith?)

"I want to talk about me
Want to talk about I
Want to talk about number one
Oh my me my
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see
I like talking about you, you, you, you usually, but occasionally
I want to talk about me
I want to talk about me"
Bobby Braddock

But seriously, Folks..........it's easy to get caught up in who we think we should be based on what other people find interesting.  If you don't take the time to make sure you find yourself interesting,  you are missing the point of this beautiful, wonderful life!

I am not my awards and what other people think of me.  I am not my grades and what other people see listed beside my name in my high school yearbook and graduation program.  I am not my job title or how much money I get direct deposited into my bank account.  If I believe that is who I am, I am heading down the wrong Yellow Brick Road.  

Internal approval is so much more powerful than external approval because when we love ourselves internally first, the world becomes a mirror of that.  Friends drawn to our status won't be there if our status is gone.  Being true to ourselves first allows us the internal knowing that we are enough, no matter what we wear, drive or what device we use to phone home...(I think I had one of the last flip phones in the United States of America).

We all seek other peoples' approval, it's human nature.  We can all be humiliated if the world is against us.  "Hater's gonna hate" and it's unrealistic to say we wouldn't be bothered by it, but we become LESS bothered by it when we love ourselves for who we are on the inside.  When we accept all parts of us, good and bad, for the undeniable truth that we all have shades of "not good" in us, that is the road we need to be on to live our best lives!!

Here's the caveat....if we are especially proud of shunning public opinion, i.e., if I attach my self-esteem to being proud of having a flip phone, it backfires.  If I purposefully choose to be the opposite of the mainstream to show everyone I don't need to fit in, I am not helping myself.  Anything we need to PROVE to others, making an effort to be popular or making an effort to be an outsider, is energy we are wasting on external needs.  When we focus first on our internal "me, me, me" and get comfortable with what makes us uncomfortable, we are reducing stress in our bodies.  It's a very subtle but extremely important concept.

And I know it's not the intention of Toby Keith's song, I just think the song is funny!!  In quite moments, first thing in the morning or last think at night, give an extra thought to if there is anything you put effort into based strictly on status.  If there is, perhaps consider what you need out of that activity.  Give yourself the gift of knowing you are enough, no matter what the world thinks of you.  No, I don't mean I have to run to the store in my oldest clothes without combing my hair.  I mean I am OK with the person I am on the inside, in my best clothes, waving to my fans ;)

Have a great day!

xo
Conni