So, we gave ourselves permission to live obligation free... One thing I noticed was the fact that I don't tend to "should" all over myself. Nor did could I get my mind around "getting to" do something. I did catch a few "have to's" in there, though. But what I did notice is that I tended to change those to "need to's". As if that is any better!
"I need to do this" and "I need to do that"... It was never as dire as that, but it still denotes obligation AND "need"... Well, to me that instills visions of one's life depending on it.
HOWEVER, I'm not going to beat myself up about it. That is, after all, what my IMG wants, right? No, we'll just mark this one up to progress made in awareness and go from here all the wiser and more vigilant.
One thing I did mention previously is that my IMG isn't as much of an Inner Mean Girl, as it is an Inner Mean GUY. It was something that I woke up thinking about one morning recently, and it was then that I realized... He's my dad!
I recall an argument that he and I got into when I was in my mid-teens. The last line I recall getting out was "well, I must be a really bad person because nothing I do is good enough for you!" Wow! And it is not as though I had ever forgotten about that, BUT it has been just since I have been doing this cleanse that I've realized how much I truly took that to heart. "Nothing I do is good enough..." What a WEIGHT that puts on a person's shoulders because one's always striving TO do "good enough" and always falls short, mentally.
Now, I am most certainly NOT blaming my dad for my tendency as an adult to mentally beat up on myself. I'm a believer that there is a lesson to learn from everything, and I'm way beyond trying to place blame on my past. After all, I'M the one that is responsible for where I go from "here". It does explain, though, why I see my Inner Mean Person as a guy.
So, on to this week's focus... Unrealistic Expectations... OH! This is a good one, especially in light of this past week's realization. Don't you agree?
The two antidotes that we're focusing on are:
1) Under promise. Over deliver. This is going to be a rather difficult one. There are times - though, not as often as previously - where I will promise the moon and deliver one of those little model solar systems. Well, not really, but you know what I mean, right? It goes back to being a recovering people pleaser, I think...
2) Go for the C. Give 80% instead of 100%. I have never been much of an achievement junkie. My grades from high school will attest to that fact. I will definitely keep it in mind, but focus more on under promising and over delivering... *wink*
Until next time... Have a fabulous week everyone!
I am participating in the Inner Mean Girl 40-day Cleanse as a Self-Love Ambassador.
To thank me for my participation, I will receive a self-love gift from the founders of
the Inner Mean Girl Reform School
To thank me for my participation, I will receive a self-love gift from the founders of
the Inner Mean Girl Reform School
