Gem of Truth: How many of us hold back?
Hold back from saying, “I love you” or telling a dear one how you light up when they are with you?
Hold back from appreciating this life of yours and being grateful?
Hold back from asking for what you want? Asking for support, a hug, a friend to listen – really listen?
Hold back from holding your children and telling them why you think they are amazing?
Hold back from calling your aging mom or dad and telling them how much you do love them?
How many of us hold back?
How many of us don’t really live life but rather just get through it?
How many of us want to live with a sense of freedom where love motivates our actions and belief in ourselves?
Maybe it’s me turning 40 soon. Maybe it’s something within me finally reaching a tipping point over the last few years. Maybe it’s now being a parent and seeing how that fierce love we have for our children teaches us how to love and honor ourselves.
Whatever it is, I’m not holding back any more. Over the last few years, I’ve taken little (and some big!) steps to live with no regrets. I’ve taken it slow. I’m not out to conquer anything but rather EMBRACE. Embrace my life.
TODAY TRY THIS…
Whether you are 20, 42, 57, 65 or 92, if you have been holding back, don’t.
Listen to that voice within you and say what you have been dying to say – for years, maybe even decades.
Listen to that voice within you that encourages you to speak your truth, be bold, take a chance, be sensual, be a rock star (even if just in your own bathroom!), go for what you deeply, deeply desire.
Leap. Take a chance. Sure It’s safer to stay put. But you are unhappy! You feel the gripping in your throat each time you hold back.
Honor your own self – the yearnings, the whisperings, the prompts within you that want you to feel free, untethered, alive, connected…and whole.
Today, ask yourself: “What am I holding back?”
Today, try taking ONE step toward not holding back – toward speaking your truth.
Even if it has to be a LITTLE step – that’s how we do it! Even if it has to come out as a whisper or the words aren’t “perfect.”
DROP the perfect. Drop the self-judgment.
Notice the sense of contentment and wholeness that come from not holding back…and EMBRACING your life.
Blessings,
So beautiful Lisa ~ I love the way you communicated this important life lesson. Thank you dearest friend ~ it feels so much better for me NOT to hold back!! x Love and Blessings (and what a great photo btw) !
Robyn
Robyn, I thought of you when I took this picture! You take pics of yourself and post ’em and I LOVE it! Yes, NOT holding back — we do feel better. I feel a sense of expansion across my whole body. I feel liberated…and at the same time I feel both quiet AND bold! Love, Lisa
Lisa, I love this and you are right, it does not pay to hold back. I just recently lost a friend of mine and was too late in telling him the positive impact he had on my life. I know that he is pure positive energy now and knows how I feel, but it still would have made me feel better to tell him face to face. Thank you for your words!!!! With Love, Cindy
Cindy, I so hear you. I’m so sorry about your friend. Yes, keep on telling him – even now. My mom often would tell me that after her parents died, her relationship with them continued…and deepened. Cindy – would you email me at lmccrohan(at)gmail(dot)com? I’d love to send you a podcast that I did – it’s still in raw form/unedited, but I’d love to send it to you. It’s on forgiveness. It’s quite healing. Maybe it can serve and nourish you.
I’d imagine that this experience is prompting you to not hold back in your life right now – this moment — this breath – with this person. Beautiful, Cindy.
Love,
Lisa
Beautiful, beautiful! I have learned this lesson just this week, and I am so full of joy and excitement. So happy to work and live and give now. Thank you for sharing your own lesson! Much love.
Jove, you got it, mama! Thank you. Yes, I hear you that this practice – and other skillful means or mindful strategies – can have that impact on us — we can feel free and alive and “full” — full of deep joy and a type of excitement that isn’t based on the ups and downs of the situations in our lives. Beautiful, Jove.
Love,
Lisa
I think we hold back because we think we are protecting ourselves, but boy do we really suffer more intensely from this! I am with you! Open to all possibilites! <3
Oh totally Jodi! Yes, we are protecting ourselves. I have been thinking about you and writing a post for your blog! It’s on my heart. Love, Lisa