Topic : Defining Your Authentic Self

Today, I'm kicking back and working on a puzzle that's been sitting on my fridge for a year now.  I just want to do something that a month ago I didn't have time for.  I'm finally working thru the last few threads of PUSHING ... the need to look for answers.  My goals are going at full strength and I feel excellent!!  well, we did free weights in gym yesterday and my legs are so stiff ... however, it's still a good feeling. 

I called about the Cleveland Parks job and journaled about it last night.  It's something so different and this morning, an email from a support group member bought up how I was told to work as a secretary because I wasn't good enough for college.  I remember being told I was never going to understand higher level math.  And I proved them liars years ago.  I've made A's in math (got as high as pre-calculus) and obtained my associate degree.   

I am going to the job fair on Tuesday -- there's all sorts of jobs ... like at the golf club, the emerald necklace, etc. etc.   It will pay minimum wage and I feel really good about me right now!  It's the exact opposite of my COMFORT ZONE ... cool isn't it!! 

Hello everyone, I really haven't taken the time to introduce myself.  Please excuse my mispelled words, it is a really bad weakness of mine.  OK, my name is Regina and I am new to this.  Some of you have read a message I sent and thank you, I was a bit nervous posting it.  But I am looking forward in reading all the messages and learning from ya'll.   

Myself and husband are both full time students.  We have three beautiful kids who are the world to us.  We both served in the Marines and well you can only imagine the stuff I and my husband has been threw.    

Right now, I am doing something for myself.  I have found me, in the mist of my life I lost me or never got to know the real me so I am working on me.   

Hmmmm....  hope that wasn't too bad.  Looken forward. 

Regina 

Thanks for that advice...I didnt think I could be thte only person to feel those emotions, but I can say it's been a long time that i've felt that my life had spun so out of control.....Im not even sure who "me" is anymore......I will take your advice, I actually picked up the soft cover version today along w/the companion book...(I was reading one from the library)....I have already found myself going back and rerading chapters to make sure thtat i understood what I read.... 

Thanks again.....I had a feeling this place was going to be the place for me.... 

there's no harm being done so i think it's a very good thing because it shows a very positive selfesteem that I can only dream of. 

I am new to this site but have been watching Dr Phil for year and have a lot of his books. 

My name is Donna and righ now I am a little frustated with life and I am trying to find me and do for me.  I have been married the second time for 15 years and for 7 of it I have be separated from my husband.  I have started to read is Self matters book but have not fotten very far with it as I do have a eye problem and want to get it on tape.  Some time I feel that i am lost in this life and want to give up( no tdo anything stupid).  I seem to do for other and forget about me.  I work a full time job and seem to forget about me. 

I  have to find out what my authentic self is and maybe by readign the book it will help me.  I have a lot of stress in my life and I don't know how to deal with it sometimes.  I do not know how to do for me as all my life Ihave done for another and when I do for me I feel guilty about it.   

If anyone can give me some suggestion that would help I would appreciate.   

Thanks for listening to me ramble on.   

Donna 

Shame and guilt keep us prisoners of our past and from future.  We all seem to share the same feelings when we first begin to openly acknowledge where we are .... it's the acknowledging that helps us work thru the many tasks that lay ahead of us. 

Teri & Erv are working together.   Teri is doing Self Matters, Erv is working thru Life Strategies.  

Today for me, is in some ways, the opposite.  I'm actually fixing up shelves and getting rid of things that are out of whack!  (like my parents book-shelf, cluttered high to the roof with old novels supposed to be read or recycled, I did this for my own unit) 

It is very good your doing well! 

Belinda 

The one thing I really like was when I realized I wasn't the only one. 

I remember crying and feeling so blue when I couldn't tell anyone who I was.  I still can't ... but I can tell you who I'm NOT!!!  I'm pretty damaged ... I've been a depressive for over 30 years ... I actually lived in terror that I was going to be one of those people with a million cats/dogs and found dead under a stack of newspapers that fell on me.   

I'm a whole lot better now and I'm excited to explore the world around me now. I'm 53 and it's really kinda cool.  I feel like a kid again .... the world is my oyster and I want to see the pearl! 

One of the first things I did when I started my sabbatical, I went thru my boxes and bags and closets and dressers.   It took me a long time because I did it in waves.   The 1st wave was the easiest.   I kept asking myself is this what I wanted in my life NOW.  The 2nd wave was done a few months later, the 3rd a few months after the 2nd.  In November, I created my 4th cleansing list. 

I can't remember how many articles & books talk about how when you clear clutter out of your life, you open your mind & life to new.  It was true for me and it seems like it's true for you as well. 

And your parents book unit sounds like my mom!  I can remember her having this stack of books that were just deteriorating over the years ... she was always going to read them.  When she moved, they were thrown out - she never got to them.   She didn't miss them either  :)