The four words that changed my life.

There was a time when hobbies, interests and time-for-me didn’t exist in my life.

Each day I awoke preparing to survive the next onslaught of demands.  Tired, exhausted and struggling I wanted something to change.

At the beginning I wasn’t even sure what I wanted, there was no long-term commitment or major life plan.  I just knew I couldn’t continue on as things were.

So I read a ‘self help’ book, and then another and another.

I began to make small changes to my thinking and they began to add up.

I felt better, so I kept going.

I continued to dive deeper into who I was and what I wanted.  Eventually spending months, and then years unravelling myself from the tangled web of should, musts and have to’s that had suffocated my desires.

I paid attention to the feelings of heaviness that signalled I was acting out of obligation and not from a resounding ‘yes please’!

I started creating space for choice instead of unrelenting busyness.

I turned off the autopilot that was set to people pleasing, keeping the peace and doing it all.

I began trusting my heart, my feelings and inner wisdom to navigate my own unique way.

It was not easy.

I cried, I doubted, I worried and I thought about giving up many times… But the risk of not changing was too great.

I forced myself to celebrate my wins until it became comfortable to do so.

When I needed help and was scared to appear weak I found paid help.  I sought out professionals who could move me through my blocks and in turn I discovered the value and power of support.

I identified the wonderful team of cheerleaders already around me.  The people who believed in me more than I believed in myself and I began listening to what they had to say.

I practiced accepting compliments and once I did my strengths rose up and things became easier.

I evolved gradually and I felt good.

By early 2014 I knew what really mattered to me, how I wanted to feel and I was in the lead.

Then one day, as I felt that familiar pang of guilt holding me back from doing what I most wanted, I said these four simple words, and I meant them like never before.

It’s important to Me.

My guilt took a back seat for once and my heart leaped to the front.

It’s important to Me.   

Four words that can alter a conversation.

Four words that can change your attitude

Four words that put you and your desires front and centre.

Four words that let the world know what matters to you.

The four most important words you can say with conviction.

My deepest wish is for you to say these four words with confidence, strength and a commitment to your own joy and ease.

The next time you feel yourself saying no to you,  pause and repeat…
It’s Important to me.

Declare it. You may be surprised by what happens.