Friday, February 3, 2012

Who's story is it?

I have a story I tell about why/what/when my life became what it is today. About how/what/who is keeping me back from living my best life yet. And, I have a story about the who's the why's, the what's and the ways it's just not possible for me to be/live/experience all I'm meant to.

It's my story and I'm sticking to it. I earned it!

At least, I know the story of my limitations. It fits. It's comfortable (in its discomfort) and it's mine.

Or is it?

Who's story am I living?

When I was a little girl I learned to protect myself from the pains and slings and arrows of life by embracing the lessons I was taught about the world by those around me. The lessons are not our human being's natural state of being, they are all learned, and in many instances, especially those stories that do not serve me well, they are about our limitations, not our possibilities. And in many instances, they were taught to me to keep me 'safe' by teaching me to limit my expectations, my experiences, my belief in all that I am capable of, and worthy of, doing/having/being.

Take my post yesterday about leading a horse to water. That belief translated itself into a limiting belief when I let the underlying message of my powerlessness direct me.

When I move from behind the shadows of that message into living fearlessly in the now of being me, knowing my light is the only light I've got to shine, limiting beliefs take a backseat to my courage to drive into the dark and shine a light on all that I see -- fearlessly, compassionately and lovingly.

It is one of my favourite questions to ask myself when I'm standing in the dark -- Who's story am I living?

And, once I fearlessly face the story-maker truth, I get to ask myself -- what's it going to take to live my own story?

It's the 'what's it going to take' that can be daunting. What will it take for me to move beyond feeling powerless to embracing my power?

What will it take to let go of fear to dance in the fires of fearlessness?

What will it take to write my own story?

It can be scary to let go of the perceived safety of the story we tell to move into living the story of our life lived fearlessly in the light of Love, truth, beauty and authenticity.

But when we do... World. Watch out!

There's no stopping us.

No keeping us down or up or sideways stuck on the wrong side of being our magnificent selves.

There's only us being our most amazing, magnificent, fearless and authentic beings we can be.

And in that truth, the story we tell is one of being perfectly human in all our human imperfections -- and loving ourselves every which way we can.

Once upon a time I had a story that held me down. Today my story holds me up to the scrutiny of my dreams, expressing my heart in everything I do. Today, I am committed to living my story, letting go of limiting beliefs that would have me keep myself down from leaping up for joy in the rapture of now.

10 comments:

Maureen said...

I am almost finished reading that story; it's astonishing what you have come through to reach the place you are now.

Kass said...

You offer such a great choice in your descriptions of holding down and holding up. I got my copy of The Dandelion Spirit in the mail yesterday. I'm learning a lot.

Louise Gallagher said...

Thank you Kass!

S. Etole said...

The story just keeps getting more joyful!

Unknown said...

Magnificent selves - I hear ya!

Jennifer Richardson said...

there you go being brave again,
asking the hard questions
that bring life
and light
and let in the Love
that brings such supply
to our stories.
Well done, you:)
And can I just say
how much your story has meant
to me?
I'm grateful over here!
-Jennifer

Louise Gallagher said...

I am glad Susan -- joy is good! :)

Louise Gallagher said...

Thank you Jennifer -- stories are meant to be shared when they illuminate the path with hope.

I am glad, and grateful it has touched you.

Louise Gallagher said...

And I see you Fi!

Louise Gallagher said...

Ahh Maureen.

What I've come through pales in comparison to what I'm capable of doing and being and achieving when I let go of believing, that was all I was worth :) Hugs.