“Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.”
— Voltaire
By Ginny Kravitz, Deputy Editor
Speak the Truth
Madeline is a client and health care professional who is realizing the power of communicating more effectively with her patients, staff, and others. Recently she summed up the benefits of what she calls “communicating clearly while holding my peace”:
“I get to walk away unburdened and free in many ways. What I have found amazing is how the truth of a situation just kind of rises to the top like cream. I have also seen that some folks operate with smoke and mirrors quite a bit. My new way of communicating blows all that stuff away so there is really nothing to hide behind. Most things just lay bare and hopefully we can move on.”
Pick Up The Key
What is the truth of your situation or whatever is challenging you most at this time? Before any significant progress can
be made, it is essential to get real and tell the truth to yourself. For example, you may have some valid gripes about your work environment, but aside from those, you know deep down that you’ve wanted to make a change for years. Likewise, the truth about a relationship that irritates you may be that it’s time for you to no longer allow what you’ve previously tolerated.
The whole truth encompasses much more than the factors that constrain you; it includes what is within your power to change. What’s the part you can do something about? Is it an attitude, a new way of seeing yourself, a better way of communicating, or an action plan to formulate? The key is within your reach.
Exercise Your Freedom
We often perceive ourselves to be more limited in our choices than in fact we are. Do not dwell on where you feel constrained. Instead, realize how you are free.
This Week’s Call to Action:
Where in your life have you been operating as if imprisoned or unduly limited by your choices?Does it involve your job, a relationship, your time, having a voice?
Decide to do something you have been meaning to do or have just realized you are free to do. Whether on a large scale or a more subtle one, it does not matter. Do this because you can. Notice where you are free, realize what might be possible, and take action.
Exercise your freedom, demonstrate that you value it, and freedom flourishes.
“It is not the fact of liberty but the way in which liberty is exercised
that ultimately determines whether liberty itself survives.”
— Dorothy Thompson
I was just listening to something else today by Stephen Covey, and he was referring to moving out of a “victim” mindset, and ways to do this. I think your article is on the mark to that same end. If we can figure out we are at choice in every moment we are free to accept, move on from, choose our reaction to AND in Covey’s reference, be a ripple to change too….by moving out of “victim” and into proactivity, then we are empowered. He talks about having a voice, and empowering others to do the same, and you are reinforcing exactly that here. I will have to see what this means to me, as it came up in two places on the same day. Thanks for this!
I am just beginning the process of learning how to follow social media sites such as blogs and wow, stumbling upon yours really has made my day! I am in a discernment process of whether or not to leave a job. It has been a good place for me, I have enjoyed it for the most part, but I have a “gut wrenching” sense that it is time to move on. When I read the part about operating as if imprisoned or unduly limited, it is amazing how often I (people in general) tend to do that! Does the basis for that begin in childhood when we are taught labels of what it means to be “polite?” Is it a woman thing? Or is it people like me who have the opportunity of choice that worry about other’s perceptions or feel guilty about that freedom? All I know is “if the proof is in how you feel” I am feeling stronger and ready for the change…thank you for your blog – your message was my gift for the day!
Kathy,
Thanks for finding the blog and commenting. Your gut speaks volumes.
Listen to it.
And thank you for your kind words.
Laura