Birth Yourself

“Man’s main task in life is to give birth to himself.” (Erich Fromm)

And not just once, but over and over again. Just as a snake sheds its skin in order to grow, so do we as humans need to reinvent ourselves, or rather rediscover more of our authentic self, from time to time.

Have you outgrown the skin you’re in?  Are you ready for the next phase of yourself?  This is the perfect time of year for reflection and introspection, as we prepare to start a new year next week.

But I’m not talking about New Year’s resolutions that last a week or maybe even a month….I’m talking about beginning to live the next best version of you.

So where do you begin? Here’s an easy place for you to start:  What is something that has been nagging at you, lurking in the recesses of your mind, bothering you just enough for you to notice it, but not enough that you’ve done something about it?  THAT’S where to begin! 

I’ll share a personal example with you.  I was inspired recently to revamp my eating.  I’ve always eaten pretty normally, but I definitely was eating more sugar than I needed, too many starches and processed foods, not enough fresh fruit, etc.

So I started asking around to see what my healthier friends were eating.  I listened and asked questions, researched online, read books and watched interviews, etc.  I knew when I had found what was next for me when I felt that inner knowing saying YES.

What I decided to do is immaterial to this discussion….what matters is the process.  And I’m sure you have experienced a similar process in the past when you’ve been excited to make a change in your life.  So remember back to a time when you successfully made a change….and use that same process now to help you to shed your current skin.

If you are following your internal GPS’ guidance, then it will build momentum and speed, and roadblocks become surmountable.  Sometimes it’s downright easy.  Other times, we have to apply ourselves to make headway.  But as long as you KNOW inside that this is what’s right for you, what’s next for you — then go for it!  Grow, baby, grow! 

I don’t know who said it, but if you’re sitting still on the highway of life, you’re going to get run over.  Stagnation is death….a living death….but death nonetheless.

Take a moment this winter to reflect — is it time to birth yourself anew?  And if so, in what way?

“Human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves.”  (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

Join the discussion:  What skin are you ready to shed?  How will you birth yourself anew?

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