Limitations

Tonight we were talking about limitations. The limitations we put on ourselves. The limitations others put on us. And the limitations that society implies on a daily basis. This got me thinking of the limitations.excuses.justifications that I tell myself constantly. I think we all do this to some degree and by the time we figure out what we are doing (if we realize at all) it is too late to go back. Now, I did not come up with this logic on my own and I do not want to take credit for what is not mine, but I do believe it one hundred percent, which is why I am writing about it. My challenge was to think about what I would not be afraid to do.say.think if I were back in kindergarten. I changed this a bit and challenged myself to write down all the limitations I give myself and then go through them one by one to change the way I look at the situation. So here goes…

1. I graduated from college with a 4.0, but I am not that smart….it was easy for me so it doesn’t count.
2. I am not going to do ______ because I don’t do that sort of thing.
3. I am not a writer or good a writing because I didn’t go to school for it.
4. I can only be a teacher because changing my career would be too much work and schooling.
5. I am a good person, but not that good.
6. Why would people want to be friends with me?
7. I can’t do _______ because I will fail.
8. I can’t say _______ because people will judge me, hate me, criticize me.
9. I can’t wear ______ because it doesn’t fit my body the right way.

I am sure there are more, but of course when I sit down to write I can’t think of any. But you understand my point.

We are all constantly battling this voice that gives a “but” or “because” to every statement that could be affirming to ourselves. It makes me so angry to not only realize that I do this to myself, but that other people do it to themselves as well. Or that the world teaches us to do these things from a very young age.

I think back to all the messages I have received (verbally and non-verbally) that have taught me how to act.speak.think in the “right” way. Who’s to say what is right or wrong? Who makes all the rules? I can proudly stand up and be confident when saying that I make the rules of my own life. I have the right to say.do.think.feel what I want to. Yes, I may make some poor decisions, say something that might offend someone, use a tone in which people react negatively to, or come across like a snob. And I may do this frequently, but it’s okay. If someone doesn’t like me because I say something completely appropriate and they take it in the wrong way…that is on them. If someone thinks I am a liar because I say I am a writer, but they don’t approve…I don’t need their approval.

I am my own person and I deserve to be here. I deserve to have a voice. I deserve to make mistakes choices others don’t approve of. I deserve to be Kat with no strings attached. And you deserve to be you.

What limitations.excuses.justifications will you leave out of your life today?