“There’s no need to wait for the bad things to be over. Change now. Love now. Live now. Don’t wait for people to give you permission to live, because they won’t.” —Kris Carr
I’m doing a lot of reading at the moment, I have almost a dozen books by my bedside – from spiritual and new age to novels, from classics to magazines, and of course my journal in which I write every morning before I start my day – it’s my form of meditation.
The one I can’t put down right now is a How to Find Your Own North Star by Martha Beck. She writes with great humour and with an irreverent style that suits me. I don’t think I’ve had quite so many ah ha moments in a book before or read so many passages out loud to anyone who will listen (apologies to my daughter!). She gives clear and very practical advice as she guides you on your journey of self discovery. If you are a fan of Julia Cameron, then you’ll also love Martha Beck.
The purpose of this short blog is to inspire you if you’re feeling less than brilliant right now. It’s to inspire you to do one of the exercises in the book.
Martha urges us to deal with all the false ‘everybodies’ that prevent us from being the best we can be……….you know the way it goes ‘everyone laughs behind my back, everyone will be delighted if I fail, everyone thinks I’m too big for my boots, everyone’s saying ‘who does she think she is or it’s alright for her’……………blah blah blah’……you fill in the blanks. These are the very souls preventing us from being great. Why is it that we hand over so much of our power and energy to people we most dislike?
So let’s put this into perspective.
She asks us to write down EVERY bit of positive feedback, comment, text, word, card, phone call, letter that ANYBODY has EVER said to us or sent us and to carry it with us always and at all times, in our purse, our desk, bedside table, as a bookmark………… This will remind us at all times how important we really are and to lessen the power and hold those we like the least seem to have over us.
So the other day I did just that; I got down the box in which I keep cards, notes, printed emails and texts that have been uplifting to my spirit. I created this box during the tough times when I needed all the reminders of love and support I could get. I knew that I could get down this box, pour myself a glass of wine, open it, read and cry my eyes out whilst I read words of support and big hearted love from those I cared about and who cared about me.
I copied all the words (and some of the words many times) into a word cloud maker and hey presto here it is. 
A word cloud of wonderfully inspiring, mood enhancing, soul lifting words. Words that have been said to me over the years. Words that have helped me rebuild my self esteem. Words that touch my heart. Words that resound in my head. Words that help me believe that whatever is happening right now, it will pass and all will be well in the end…..because I am loved and cared for as I too love and care for others.
My request to you is to do the same. Will you?
Leave a comment below or email me at info@rebperkins.com or post something on www.facebook.com/BestKnickersAlways
I really look forward to hearing from you.
Will you?
photo credit: Kelsey
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Lovely post and great book recommendation – thanks Rebecca! With my trusty Kindle on my desk I’d already downloaded Marthas book before I even finished reading your post. Now I just need to read it along with the other 200 books I have on there.
Thank you Jacqui! Let me know how you get on with her book. The other one I love right now is Julia Cameron’s Walking in this World.
Guess it’s already there but if not, you’re just GREAT! Lx
I still have the words written from my dinner party – thank YOU for that x
My job as full time mum is coming to an end, after 22 years, and one thing I’ve realised recently when I’ve been feeling a bit down about this, is that being away from the wider workplace may have restricted my personal growth, just a little. I’m ready to pick up that development again now, and as long as I don’t get into the mindset that I’m too old to learn, I think I’m going to enjoy this new journey, and your posts have really helped me express these feelings.
I now plan on picking up some of these books you’re recommending to see if I can relate to them too. Thank you again! I always look forward to reading your writings. Alison x
Thank you Alison for your lovely comment. I’m thrilled that what I write resonates with you. That has always been my intention. It’s a strange transition moving from full time mum to rediscovering the woman who is YOU – not simply mum, wife, daughter, sister, friend…..Go gently on your journey. Enjoy it too!
I have plenty of books to recommend, let me know if I can help guide you to the right one for you. It would be my pleasure 🙂