In February of 2011, I was having a day that invited me to question my worthiness, my enoughness. I was feeling stuck in an old story of not being able to hear the kindness of others because my own self-doubt was so loud.
This contrast pushed me to give myself a pep talk of sorts. I turned on my microphone and recorded the words I would say to you if you were sitting across from me at my kitchen table needing an invitation to see that you are enough. The words became a love note to myself, to you, and when I came across the recording again this past weekend, I transcribed it (with a few little edits) and felt moved to share these words with you today (you can hear the original recording by clicking on "what would happen" at the end of this post):
As you sit in your corner today, what would happen if you just believed that your story matters?
What would happen if you just owned all the phrases that you say to others, the way you sign your emails to the ones you love, the way you encourage your friends with all of their pursuits in their life, what would happen if you owned that same belief that you have for your friends for yourself?
What would happen if you looked in the mirror and saw the beauty that others see when they look at you?
What would happen if you gave yourself permission to let hope bloom inside you?
What would happen if you listened to yourself when you experienced joy, if you listened to why, if you noticed why the joy comes up inside you when it does?
What would happen if you let go of wishing you were someone else and walked to the mirror and met for the first time the real you whose waiting inside you?
What would happen if you believed the kind things people say and write about you?
What would happen if you took the next compliment someone gives you and believed it?
What would happen if you quit looking at the phrase “I am enough” and thinking “oh yeah one day I’ll believe that” and instead just took it as part of your personal truth?
What would happen if you believed the phrase I am enough was part of your personal truth?
What would happen if you walked to the mirror right now and looked at yourself and saw the beauty that those who love you see?
What would happen if you walked to the mirror and let go of looking at the person reflected back at you and thinking “oh I wish her hair looked…if only she was…if only she was…” and instead of thinking if only she was, if you looked at the person reflected back at you and saw who she is?
What would happen if the next time the little girl inside you who loves to play with paint and paper or fabric or color or her camera or words, what would happen if you listened to her and let her play?
What would happen if you stopped trying to be that person that you aren’t and don’t want to be?
What would happen if instead you just were yourself?
What would happen if you walked across the room, down the hall, and found that mirror and looked at the person reflected back at you and chose love?
What would happen if you believed people when they paid you a compliment?
What would happen if you said, “you’re welcome” when someone said, “thank you” instead of saying, “oh it was no big deal”?
What would happen if you walked down the hall and looked in the mirror and chose to see love and chose to use love when you looked at the person reflected back at you?
What would happen if you spoke to yourself as softly and calmly as you speak to those you love?
What would happen if you gave yourself the same space to just do the best you can that you give so many others?
What would happen if you walked down the hall and looked in the mirror and chose love when you looked at that reflection?
What would happen if you just believed that in this moment, in your corner, you are enough?
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What Would Happen
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