Declaring

This morning in the car we turned on some music and as we were listening Katy Perry's "Roar" came on. Bradlee and I sung our little hearts out with it and as we were singing I started to cry. I have such a love for music. It holds a sacred place in my heart.   I'm very picky about what I listen to because songs share deep messages to me.

I decided this morning that I would listen to the song again after I dropped Bradlee off at school and write down the personal meaning of the song for me. As I was doing that I felt impressed to share it here. So, here is a little piece of my heart from this song.

"I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess
So I sit quietly, agree politely
I guess that I forgot I had a choice
I let you push me past the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything"



From early on in my life I sat by and didn't share a whole lot of who I was and what I thought. There were so many times that I changed my statements and even my mind based on the opinions of those around me. I so desperately wanted to be included and loved that I hid my voice from so many people.. Because of this, I lost a big chunk of who I was. I fell into a huge place of vulnerability and gullibility.


You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Get ready 'cause I've had enough
I see it all, I see it now


I allowed Satan to hold me down. I allowed him to convince me of things that were far from the truth. Well, I'm declaring to him today....I'm done with that!  I've spent my time and will continue to spend all the time I need brushing off the "dust" of those things I believed but are holding me down and holding me back from accomplishing all that I'm meant to do.  Can you hear me yet?!  My voice is like thunder. It moves everything around me. I am declaring my life now!  I am claiming who I am. I have clarity in who I am and where I'm going.


I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar


I am strong and courageous!  No matter the circumstance, whether it's Satan's temptations or the Refiner's Fire, I will have joy and I will sing and dance. I have decided it's time to let my voice ring out. It's time to share the gifts that I've been given and help others share their gifts. It's time to take a stand.

As I write these words today and think of the feelings this song created for me I acknowledge that it is and has been one of my declaration songs. It's been a song that has connected me to claiming the power of my voice,and it doesn't even need to be shouted for all around to hear.

I am declaring today that I am strong and courageous. What are you declaring today?

Letting your light shine

 

I had the opportunity to speak on a conference call about finding our personal messages.  It led me to the verse in Matthew 5:16 that says, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  This scripture has found a place in the deep crevices of my heart. 

It led me to think about my light and what it means to let it shine.  It is scary to step out of my comfort zone and do things I have never done before, especially when it means exposing my heart to others.  That is what my light is, it is who I am. My light is my heart.  Why in the world would I want to be so exposed to others?  Why would I want to put myself out there? When I am letting my light shine I am exposing myself, I am putting myself out there.

About a month ago I sang in church.  It happened to be a Sunday when they had a baby blessing, which meant that there were extra people.  As I prepared for that day I wanted to know the song by heart.  I wanted every word to come straight from my heart.  I wanted people to feel how I felt about this song.  I poured my heart into my practices, every one.  I have never cried so much when preparing a song.  At the time I was so surprised that I was crying so much.  Looking back I now understand that it was because each time I practiced I was putting more of my heart into the song and letting more of the song into my heart.  The morning of the performance I could barely sit still.  I was  uncontrollably nervous.  I knew that I would be able to remember the words.  But here I was about ready to pour my heart and soul out in front of 150 people.  I started panicking.  What was I thinking?  Why did I want to do this?  That morning I understood the concept of having a constant prayer in your heart.  From the moment I woke up I was praying.  If I couldn't do it out loud I was doing it in my head.  Thankfully, as I stepped up to the podium and began singing and sharing I knew exactly what I had been thinking.  I loved this song and I wanted to share my love for music and this song in particular with my friends.    But more than that, I wanted to share myself with my friends.  When I reached my favorite point in the song I widened my stance and sunk my feet into the floor.  I stood with firmness and confidence.  I was letting my light shine and it felt so great.

 I have honestly never been as happy as  I am now that I am standing in my light and letting it shine.  I am declaring to myself  who I am.  I am claiming it, one piece at a time, one day at a time.  I am beginning to really share it with others.  I am letting them see my good works.  I am letting them see my truths.  These days when someone gives me a compliment I can accept it, even own it.    I respond with "Thank you!"    This is me.  This is who I am, and while I have a ways to go to get to who I want be, I have some incredible talents right now.  I have found that the more I claim those talents and share who I am with others the happier I have become.  

It interesting to me that in this scripture Christ compares sharing our talents and who we are to a light.   A few weeks ago I had someone tell me that I have a glow around me (and I'm not pregnant!).    I know that the "glow" comes from my happiness within me.  It is coming from me being true to myself and sharing my heart and my message with others.   Sharing myself has led to such happiness that there is a glow.  Now I understand why Christ would compare us to a light, a light that has a glow.  A light that leads others to their light, their happiness. 

As we live true to who we are and we share that with others, we light the path for them to find who they are and find their greater happiness.   So go forth.  Stand in your light.  Claim your truths.  Let others recognize your greatness.  Share who you are.  It will lead to greater happiness for you and for others.

My voice

I am so excited to begin this blog.  I am very passionate about my voice and the voice that others have.  There is so much importance and power in my voice and in your voice.  Your voice represents who you are, your truth, beauty, and light.  Sharing our voice with others has a big impact on those that we share it with, but it also has a big impact on you.

When I was first introduced to the idea of sharing my voice on a blog I thought, "What a great idea!"  That was several months ago.  LOL  It is certainly one thing to think of sharing what we love with others and a completely different thing to actually do it.  There are so many what ifs that could happen.  What if a lot of people see it?  What if no one sees it?  What if no one likes it?  What if I make a mistake?  What if while I am in a group I say something so ridiculous?  The list of the  what ifs goes on and on.  And the list of reasons why we don't do or say things is endless as well.  This is where bravery comes in.  Understanding that each time we share our voice with others, in whatever form that takes, it will get easier.  I heard a saying the other day on one of my workout videos that I really love,  "It doesn't get easier, you get stronger."  That goes for so much more than just working out.  Each time we share the truth that lies within us we become stronger, and then that truth within us grows as well.  We gain a deeper love for that truth and then it seems easier to share.
 
Once we have that bravery to share our message, our hearts, we then must have faith.  Faith that as we share this with others, no matter how perfect or imperfect our performance, we will still be standing and stronger for it.  Whew!  I always think when I have completed a growing a experience, "I made it!"  The most important thing we can understand after stepping out of our comfort zone and sharing ourselves with others is that we did it, we made it.  It is hard and it is scary to share our hearts with others, but it is also one of the most beautiful things that we can do.

A few months ago I decided that I was going to go without desserts or treats for one month!  Those that know me understand what a feat that is for me.  I decided that for this month my focus would be on friendship, deepening old ones and forming new ones.  To my great benefit our neighborhood had scheduled a get together for a bunch of women, and of course there were going to be treats!  I was so excited to go and instead of treating myself to all the great food I would treat myself to the company of so many women around me. I realized that this meant that I would have to talk to them!  I love small groups of people I know very well, like a group of 2 or 3, but large groups make me a little nervous, especially if there are people there I don't know well.  And that happened to be the case that night.  When I went, I talked to people I didn't really know and people I know very well.  I came home from that experience elated.  I had grown so much.  I had realized some of the power and beauty within me.

I think that part of the "scary" in talking to new people is fear that they won't like who we.  All those what ifs creep back in.  There is so much light and beauty in each of us.  When you share that light and beauty with others they can't help but love you!