Mirror, mirr
or on the wall, who is the most self-critical of them all? Me, me, me!!!
Recently I was asked if I would emcee a local event. What may be a frightening role to many, lands me well within my comfort zone. I really shine in this capacity, thank you to my high school teacher and acting coach Mr. Bashara. I have deeper fears than public speaking but that is whole nuther ball of wax!
Besides, this was an opportunity to dress up and talk to people– two of my favorite activities. My dance group was asked to perform a salsa number at the same event and it was my first time dancing with the team. I may have “Broadway in my blood” but a sparkle bra and choreography tends to knock me a few feet outside of my comfort zone! Oddly I am perfectly comfortable in a solo but group choreography is where the rubber hits the road. Turn the wrong way and everyone knows!
Now if you are going to dance in front of people, I highly recommend wearing a sparkle bra! I felt like my bra gave me “super powers”, which unfortunately did not translate to my feet but did help fuel my DD’s; my Diva-tude Demeanor”! This was part of our costume – to be worn under a sheer blouse. Ok, I admit that it was my idea to make it part of the costume! Go big or go home.
I have always loved acting and perhaps this is one of the reasons I can sell myself. Whoa people– not in the literal sense! I am strictly speaking in metaphors!! I appear super confident and charming and on the outside with Teflon coated nerves. WTF, I just realized I could be describing myself AND a sociopath! Rest assured I am not a sociopath. I care far too much for myself, I mean others, to be labeled this way.
My acting skills allowed me to play the part of a happy person for years. Even my closest friends had no idea that I was struggling with depression. Had they opened my chest, (again, metaphorically as my friends are not creepy like that!) they would have seen my broken heart covered with deep wounds and necrotic tissue. Today those scars have healed and they take up far less space than they did ten years ago. The necrosis has reversed and my heart shines with resilience. What may surprise you are the tiny tender bruises of new injuries; those that I inflict upon myself every time I believe what critical voice has to say.
Yes, my friends. Words are weapons, especially when they originate from your inner critic. So less than twelve hours after a spectacular success, I looked at my photos and felt run over by negative imagery. I laser focused toward the part of me I hate the most, my belly and thought, “You look like you are about to birth twenty two kittens. Who in the hell let me go out there without any Spanx????”
My Girlfriend Voice was silent. I knew...
It’s a Good Thing I Like You
“It’s a good thing I like you.” Have you ever caught yourself using that phrase? I have said it when a friend was late meeting me for dinner but she didn’t have any good reason for her tardiness. I thought, “It’s a good thing I like you.” I said the same thing when my dog ate my cinnamon roll as I turned my back to grab the phone. I said it to my son when he forgot to pick me up from the library. He is damn lucky I like him!
Have I ever applied, “it’s a good thing I like you” to myself? To my own actions? Easy answer. I have said it to myself only once and it just so happened last week.
Last Sunday I headed out to my Salsa practice. Since it was the weekend, I took extra time getting ready. I was feeling pretty damn sexy in a black lace outfit when I headed out the door. Well, it didn’t take long before I was snapped out of the sexy zone into an OMG zone. You see spinning around, my heel caught on the back hem of my skirt, pulling the whole thing down to mid-thigh in one smooth motion! Now, my first thought was, “Thank goodness you have on nice panties!” followed quickly by, “It’s a good thing I can laugh at myself!!!”. Who would have known that a wardrobe malfunction would have turned out to be such a positive thing?
I find that I’m a more forgiving of others foibles than I am of my own. What about life has conditioned this response? Rather than debate the origin, it is easier to focus on the benefits of applying “self-like”.
I find I am more present. I am less reactive and far more responsive. I am more confident.
Suggested thoughts—try it out and see how it fits!
- I like you and you are worthy of love and happiness.
- I like you just the way you are. You are beautiful.
- I like you. You are capable and compassionate.
“It’s a good thing I like you because you still haven’t put those Christmas decorations away!” said me to myself!
This is another way My Girlfriend Voice speaks to me. How does your Girlfriend Voice speak to you?
From the heart,
Cara
