Look familiar?
I don’t think it is any coincidence that I found this quote in my Facebook feed today: “Problems are like washing machines, they twist us, spin us, and knock us around, but in the end, we come out cleaner, brighter, and better than before” (Author Unknown).
If we are really (and I mean brutally, fist-in-your-face) honest with ourselves, this is a very true statement.
And now, I will say something bold: Problems just are, whether we like it or not. Stuff happens. Life sucks. Often, circumstances suck. Sometimes, people suck )(I admittedly suck sometimes). And more importantly, we have a choice (Wait, did you know that?). We can respond well to these problems, or not. We can overcome the problem, or not. It’s. All. Up. To. You. It’s up to you how to respond. It’s up to you to make a change in how you deal with the things that come your way. You are not forever doomed to be a victim of your circumstances, your childhood, your bad relationship, your anger problem, or your “whatever”. That’s right darlin’, you CAN change. Yes, you heard me right.
You may ask me, “How do YOU know?”. And I would respond with, “Cuz I been there done that.” I am changed-from-the-inside-out person. I used to be shy, I’m not anymore. I used to have multiple personalities, now I don’t. I used to lack confidence, now I am a fairly confident person. I used to totally suck at relationships, now I suck less (hey, nobody’s perfect). I used to respond to everything with anger and fear, now I take the time to really try to think through the reality of the situation, check my resources, and respond as appropriately as I can. I used to be bossy know-it-all, well I…ahem…I guess I still am that way. (If my sister reads this, she can verify what kind of person I used to be, and what kind of person I am today. Right sis? *clears throat* RIGHT, sis? Come on, be nice!)
This blog is about the process in between getting in the washing machine and coming out cleaner and brighter and better than you were before. You, and I (and the kid down the street whose mom MAKES him wash his own clothes. The nerve!) both know that when you put clothes in the washing machine it takes time for the clothes to come out clean. First you have to put in the soap, then you have to choose the right settings (you know, “Normal”, “Perm Press”, “Hot/Cold” “Cold/Cold”, and etc.), start the water, and wait for the machine to agitate, spin, rinse, and spin again. Like I said, it’s a process. Changing behavior and thinking patterns is a process, you start with Step A, then move to Step B…I think you get the picture.
More than anything, I want you to succeed in life. I want you to be who you are meant to be (Haven’t got a clue? Contact this guy, he’ll help you figure it out). But, you have to be willing to see some things differently, you have to be willing to knock down the walls of your little self-imposed prison. You have to be willing to work at it. And, it ain’t gonna be easy. But, if getting knocked about a bit means you will be cleaner and brighter and better able to handle life’s problems, then the pain of the process is worth it, right? Right? I’m sorry, I can’t hear you. RIGHT?!
I thought so.
Okay, so let’s get started: Choose one thing you want to work on…I’ll give you a minute to think about.
Go ahead, it’s okay.
Just one thing, however small it may be. It’s worth changing for a better tomorrow.
So, tell me, what would you like to change, starting today?
Looking forward to the journey with you,
Stephanie
Stage Fright 