Have you seen the new documentary movie, Young At Heart,
yet? (If not, don't worry, I won't spoil it). The film is
about a chorus group ("Young At Heart") of men and women
between the ages of 70 and 92 who sing and perform rock and
roll, with great success, all over the world.
Essentially, though, this movie is about passion,
connection, and living life to the fullest despite
obstacles and setbacks. In spite of fears of how they
might sound, or making mistakes, or what others may think,
these incredible people get out there, show up fully, and
allow themselves to engage in doing what they love. The
experience of being part of this group and living so
authentically is truly fulfilling and life-enhancing for
them.
During one powerful scene, the group performs for a group
of male prisoners. I was in tears while watching this,
struck by the stark difference between the internal freedom
of the chorus members compared to the imprisonment of the
inmates.
It struck me then that so many people - clients, friends,
acquaintances, and myself more often than I like to admit -
live their lives more like the inmates than the chorus
members. We are not imprisoned behind bars, but by our own
minds, our negative thoughts, our fears, our self-limiting
beliefs, our self-consciousness and our worries.
I know I'd like to live as free as the members of "Young At
Heart." However my psyche is not always so sure that it's
safe to get out there and play "big."
What about you? Are you holding back, hiding out, or
playing it small? Do you long for fulfillment or to be
"out there" playing and living in a more expressive way?
Would you like to feel the excitement and passion that
comes from authentically expressing who you are?
Let me ask you: where in your life are you holding back,
perhaps waiting for some imaginary future time to fully
engage with yourself and with your life?
What are you waiting for? Like many of my clients, perhaps
you're waiting until you're thinner or until you feel more
comfortable in your body.Or perhaps you're like one of my
insightful readers who recently told me that her extra 20
pounds has been her "suit of armor," protecting her from
recognizing what she REALLY hungered for.
Or maybe you are waiting until you get married, or have
kids, or until your kids are older, or until you have more
time or make more money, or until you retire. . . many of
us spend a long, long time waiting for that magical moment,
mistakenly thinking that when that moment arrives, we will
suddenly be able to do what we need to do to be free, happy
and fulfilled.
The truth is, we are all starving for fulfillment, freedom
and the joy that comes from living authentically true to
ourselves. And that fulfillment does not come from the
outside, as most of us have been led to believe. As author
Laura Whitworth defined in her book, Co-Active Coaching,
"fulfillment is about being fully alive. . .the state of
fully expressing who we are and doing what is right for
us." Believe it or not, that fulfillment is available right
now, in the present, before that elusive time in the future.
Rather than being imprisoned by our negative thoughts, our
fears, our hopes for the future, or our ideas of how we
"should" be, we must recognize that we are the only ones
who have the keys to our freedom and fulfillment. We must
take the risk to shed the "suits of armor" that keep us
hidden and separate from ourselves and our lives. I
challenge you to join me as I live a little bit larger and
let my dreams, rather than my fears, be my guide.
I would love to hear from you: What things hold you back?
What is it you'd REALLY love to be doing? What is that
hunger that keeps gnawing at you really trying to tell you?
----------------------------------------------------
Karen Schachter is a licensed clinical social worker &
certified nutrition counselor who works with women who want
to have a healthier relationship with food & in turn,
improve their nutrition, improve their mood & energy,
decrease their cravings and just generally enjoy life more
fully. She helps parents figure out what to feed their
children & how to feed their children. Sign up for her FREE
newsletter @ http://www.healthybodieshappyminds.com/
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