I think there comes a time in our lives when we need to take a full inventory of what is important to us and what is holding us back. This applies to family, friendship, work, and relationships.
I was asked a question this summer about "what do you want out of life Natalie?" I started talking about my girls, my job, my team and they stopped me. "No, I mean for you." At the time I said, I don't know. Because I really didn't. I think I was living for everyone else around me because I thought that was my purpose. What I was doing was filling up my days and calendar with a ton of things and I felt like I was in a daily rat race. "Me time" also felt selfish to me, but now I realize how important it is for growth. I have found time for me physically with working out and focusing on nutrition, spiritually through devotion and my church family, and emotionally by figuring out what I want in my life with friendships and family.
And with this process comes a detoxification. I have really had to sit back and think about what is holding me back or preventing balance in my life. The first thing I realized is how bad I am at saying no to things. I over-volunteered for everything because I wanted to be a super mom. But I am also a teacher to over 150 students a day and that is a big responsibility and calling. I also have a personal team of over 50 coaches now. They deserve the best of me and so do my girls when I come home. I was spreading myself too thin and not giving 100% to anything.
Second, relationships. When talking friendship and as we get older, we gravitate toward people who are like us and going through the same things. My Mom always told me friendships have phases, although true ones never leave. And we meet up again at times when our lives intersect, but sometimes we are just in different places. It's true. While I have a 10 year old & 4 year old, many of my friends are just getting started with their families. But I know we will all stay connected with the time we do have and treasure that. But I had to stop beating myself up about not having the same time I did before my responsibilities increased.
Love...not sure I have much clarity on this one yet. But I can tell you as you get older and more experienced, it's a lot easier to know what you want and settling isn't an option. It all has to be there physically, emotionally, and to me, the most important is spiritually connected. And life is too short for games, comparisons, or jealousy. As a mom of two girls, I want them to see healthy relationships and find the freedom to live and love freely, with nothing holding them back.
Third and lastly, detoxing involves change on our part. We have to look inward and outward and find what is holding us back. There also has to be a conscious effort to let certain things go. I have removed myself from environments that are not healthy for me, let go of people who are holding me back, and I'm working on giving my full trust to God and His plan for my emotional & spiritual growth. I say "working on it" because it's a lot easier said than done when we want to control every circumstance in our life.
I can honestly say everything I have been through over the last 2 years has given me more clarity on who I am and what I want out of life. But it is still a work in process. And I'm very blessed to be surrounded with such incredible family and friends.
My hope for you today is to let go of whatever is holding you back, detox those things that are keeping you from achieving the best you, and live each day to the fullest. It's not easy, but it's certainly worth it in the end.
Xo,
Natalie Rene
Sent from my iPhone
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