"Energy is a more efficient means of affecting matter than chemicals." -- Bruce Lipton
Photo Credit: The Coveteur
When you honor your word, you send a signal to your brain that you love yourself. That you are worthy and you deserve to not be lied to. This signal reinforces a sense of self-care, a sense of "I am worth it," which then creates more opportunities and inclinations to honor oneself.
It is cyclical in nature, and goes in an upward spiral. The reverse is also true, which is why you see those who honor themselves become stronger in their word and grounding in who they are. Those who practice self-compromise often lie in a pool of delusion and indecisions. I've been in both and have spent far more time in the latter -- more than I'd like to admit.
Honoring your word begins with honoring yourself. As simple as it sounds, and as much of it is a human birthright, it often is forgotten in the midst of competing demands and obligations. Here are three elements to remembering to honor yourself in those crazy moments of life.
1. Have a daily grounding exercise.
This could be prayer, meditation, exercise, connecting with your partner or all of the above. I personally practice yoga daily. If I can't make it to the studio, I do a breathing meditation from home. I also pray and meditate first thing in the morning. When I don't do this I feel the difference and the happenings of the day impact me more.
A simple grounding exercise that takes less than a minute and works a world of wonder: When you first wake up in the morning, experience the breath that moves through you. This is life-force. We cannot live without breath for more than three minutes. Nourish in it as it moves across your nostrils, through your lungs, and in your abdomen. As you get more acquainted with this you will begin to experience it in areas you wouldn't expect like your pelvis and back.
Take three deep breaths and just surrender to the sensuality that is you. The full body experience of being a woman. This will allow you to connect to your body and your power source.
2. Set an intention for the day.
As an entrepreneur I have many times gotten lost in the day or the week. Confusion can be the source of procrastination for many. Setting an intention and three clear, achievable goals for the day is a powerful practice. Keep it to just three, resist the temptation to do it all. If you get more done great, you probably will. Define the essential three so you can prioritize your day. Ideally you can get these done before noon, so the rest of the day feels lighter and even "extra".
I have a friend that I send my daily three to each morning. It is liberating because it isn't the burden of a to-do list. It is an intentional list that will move whatever I am working on forward that day. It's amazing how it works and the three and more always somehow seem to get done.
Set these three goals outside of regular status, check-in meetings or even wife and mommy duties. It could be a wife/mommy goal, a work goal or a personal goal. Just keep it outside of those things that have become routine. Though when beginning a new routine (e.g., writing daily for 30 minutes), be sure that it is on there the first few weeks.
3. Return to the breath throughout the day. Once you are grounded and clear on your intentions/goals for the day. Life happens. Always return to the practice of the first 30 seconds of your day. The Breath. It is amazing how one deep inhale and exhale can shift perspective in crazy moments. With time you will begin to rely on the breath consistently, almost like a constant meditation.
In those crazy moments when a coworker is raising her voice or saying something insane, or when it's 3:59 p.m. and there are four hours of work to get done and you must leave by 5:30 p.m. Just breathe, and be surprised at how much gets done, taken off your plate, and easily shifted to tomorrow. The magic is in your body, it is the source of creation. The breath takes you there.
When creating something new or beginning a new habit at times we can stumble. Remember that mastery comes with time and practice. Continue to begin again, and soon it will become second nature to you.
Exercise extreme self-compassion and always return to love and your word. You're more magnetic than you know.
In the Beginning there was The Word.