I Am Not You

It’s nothing wrong with doing it my way. (Even as I wrote that I almost changed the words to “There’s nothing wrong” because of that one 🙄 person who’s going to read it and critique the wording. I find myself in my head editing for this imaginary critical person all the time. I constantly have to stop working because I can’t even hear my thoughts clearly over the “grammar rodeo” in my head…. 

Meme of magenta/purplish tulips in a field. Text states: "There’s something extremely freeing in deciding to stop comparing myself to others... in accepting that my way is the right way for me.” — Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist mdillondesigns.com/blog
Press play to listen to today’s podcast. FYI I cuss so wait ’til the kids and elders aren’t around. Blessings!

And that’s what today is all about. I realize earlier that I am constantly comparing myself to other people…feeling inadequate and as an underachiever and as someone who can’t get it right do it right do it appropriately do it like everybody else is doing it, just get in line… when I was never meant to be like them and to do it like them. 

Oh yesterday’s podcast that revealed that I received guidance from Source and how Chris so long I have tried to hide that and ignore that and just do what everybody else does and not follow intuition. To be honest, and I definitely didn’t see myself saying this today, I felt like I was cheating. 

You know how in school if a classmate gives you the answers, you’re cheating and if others find out and they’ve been doing the work they’ll be mad at you because it’s not fair for you to win by getting the answers when they had to do it the hard way. Well for a good portion of my life…I’ll say at least since high school…I was very aware that I was receiving guidance from some higher source about things other people did on their own. It might be something like I was about to grab a t-shirt and something within me let me put on a long sleeve sweater. The weather outside the day previously had been warm so there was no need for me to grab something long sleeve but something within me just said grab the sweater or the turtleneck and I did it. I didn’t check the weather just got dressed grab my bag headed to the door walked outside and realized it was a bit chilly. I’d look up say thanks and go on my way. 

Eventually I began to trust that Source to inform me on what to do and what to wear and things like that. I didn’t need to watch the weather I had the “inside scoop.” Then one day, I heard a minister that I really respected saying that some people are too spiritual. That you don’t need to pray and ask God what to wear. He made it seem utterly ridiculous. And since he was a minister that I really respected, it bothered me. 

By being in the youngest in a household full of folks, I had grown used to ignoring my own voice. I would speak up thinking I knew what I was talking about and have older siblings or others make me feel really stupid for being so off the mark. I don’t think they were actually trying to make me feel stupid, it’s just that they didn’t care about not hurting my feelings as they corrected me and dramatic fashion. Having that happen so many times, probably coupled with the many times I got the question wrong or the problem wrong in school, caused me to feel like everyone knew but me. I began to second guess my thoughts and my opinions and even my intuition. 

Long story shorter as much as I knew that I had this inside scoop, this inner voice that saved me time and effort, I stopped using it because it felt like I was doing it wrong. No one else needs that type of guidance so I can go through life like everybody else figuring things out and not using my inside scoop. 

Well, the last decade or more has been quite difficult. I abandoned that inner voice and began to only tap into it occasionally. It still felt a little wrong to use, because everybody else figured it out. I am a grown up now I’m not supposed to get help is the story I kept telling myself… the flawed affirmation that I began to repeat. 

Well, over the weekend I ended up tapping back into that inner voice. I was about to make a left turn onto a street where a really couldn’t see clearly and I just was too afraid to take that risk so I turned right. I figured I would just circle back around so I could be on my way but I realize that it was really hard to get back to where I was headed on any of the side streets after that right turn. Before I knew it I was way out of the way and I started to panic. (I shared the story on yesterday’s podcast.)

Anxious thoughts began to overwhelm me as I felt so out of sorts for being so out of the way I was supposed to be heading home and people were expecting me to be home soon and how is it going to affect my schedule and the plans for the day. Anxious thoughts were hitting me like rapid fire and I finally heard that in inner voice saying calm down I know the way. And I listened. 

I remembered that this month is all about shifting, ” I am.” And who I am no longer goes into these anxious bouts. I can simply calm down and listen to inner guidance. And that’s what I did and it led me to realize that I had access to a lot of the things that I needed for the next day if I went in that direction and headed to the grocery store then I could return to my plans for later. I reminder myself that I am in control and that I’m not answering to anybody. I reminded myself that I don’t have to rush and that I will get there when I get there is another statement of who I currently am. And when anxiety crept back up after I was on my way to that later event…as I braced myself for criticism about arriving late… I reminded myself that I am not a person who cares about that anymore. I am going to do what I need to do and then get there when I get there and I’m not going to stress about it. That’s who I was that would do that and I am not her anymore. 

On today’s podcast, I added to this awesome growth the idea that I can do it my way. I am not wrong for doing things in the ways that work for me. I no longer have to make life harder for myself so that I can feel like I’m doing it the hard way, like everybody else. I’ve struggled enough trying to not feel like I am cheating my way through life. AND I now accept that receiving intuition and following intuition is not cheating. It’s the right way… at least for me. I was never meant to make it on my own and to do it all on my own. Most of my successes if not all of them were as a result of tapping into that guidance and following it. 

I don’t need everyone to agree with how I achieve my dreams. I’m done doing it the hard way. I’m going to rest when I feel guided to rest, I’m going to work when I feel guided to work, I’m going to do my own thing rather than be someone’s employee, I’m going to raise my child the way that makes sense for me, and I’m going to take those intuitive hints and allow my life to be so much easier. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s the way I’m wired. And I have absolutely no one to answer to but me. 

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist 

Check out today’s podcast above or via the links below!
Day 6 “I Am Not You” #IMAYBE Share & Let’s Live! #Podcast Series w/ Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

🎙 WordPress: mdillondesigns.com/blog
🎙 SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/marlenedillon
🎙 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Share-Lets-Live/B0D13JBSJ4
🎙 AmazonMusic: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/15f8ab40-b888-4068-bd05-15239f7eb5ae/share-let’s-live
🎙 Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/marlenedillon/

Want to learn more about Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist? Tap here.

Calm Down & Listen for Inner Guidance

I won’t say how long it’s been going on. I’ll just say that far too long my life has been run by anxiety and panic.

A great affirmation if you're prone to anxiety: "“I choose to feel at peace,  calm, capable, supported, and empowered.” Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist mdillondesigns.com/blog
Press play to listen to today’s podcast. FYI I cuss so wait ’til the kids and elders aren’t around. Blessings!

I know, it doesn’t necessarily fit with the whole #empowerment thing, but why do you think empowering others is so important to me? Living in a state of constant anxiety and panic will definitely make learning how to be empowered a major priority.

Today, I am so grateful for the work I’ve been doing to shift my “I am.” I am beginning to recognize when how I am thinking and behaving does not align with who I have now chosen to be.

On today’s podcast I share about my experiences today that showed me how much awareness is helping me shift AND I got to see that when I am not panicking and brewing anxiety I have clarity. I know what to do next.

It was such a powerful experience. I’d love to share it with you. Listen to today’s podcast.

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist


Use the links below (or press play on audio directly below meme image above) to check out today’s podcast! Available on SoundCloud, Amazon Music, & Audible!
Day 5 “Calm Down & Listen for Inner Guidance” #IMAYBE Share & Let’s Live! #Podcast Series w/ Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

🎙 WordPress: mdillondesigns.com/blog
🎙 SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/marlenedillon
🎙 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Share-Lets-Live/B0D13JBSJ4
🎙 AmazonMusic: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/15f8ab40-b888-4068-bd05-15239f7eb5ae/share-let’s-live
🎙 Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/marlenedillon/

Want to learn more about Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist? Tap here.

I Am Valuable

“If you don’t feel valuable and worthy, consider what you are using as your criteria. Is it based on your values or someone else’s?” — Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

“If you don’t feel valuable and worthy, consider what you are using as your criteria. Is it based on your values or someone else’s?” — Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist mdillondesigns.com/blog
Press play to listen to today’s podcast. FYI I cuss so wait ’til the kids and elders aren’t around. Blessings!

Check out today’s podcast. It’s a great one.

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

Use the links below (or press play on audio directly below meme image above) to check out today’s podcast! Available on SoundCloud, Amazon Music, & Audible!
Day 4 “I Am Valuable” #IMAYBE Share & Let’s Live! #Podcast Series w/ Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

🎙 WordPress: mdillondesigns.com/blog
🎙 SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/marlenedillon
🎙 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Share-Lets-Live/B0D13JBSJ4
🎙 AmazonMusic: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/15f8ab40-b888-4068-bd05-15239f7eb5ae/share-let’s-live
🎙 Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/marlenedillon/

Want to learn more about Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist? Tap here.

When Asking Is Hard

So on the podcast this month, I’m talking about shifting who I am… that is, shifting from who’ve I’ve been conditioned to be to who prefer to be/who I truly am.

Meme: Image of a person sitting on some stairs, only visible from the waist down. next to their feet is a small green bowl, with a cardboard sign, with the word, "HELP" written in black marker, all capital letters. Text states, “Releasing deep messages we gained early in life often begins with awareness. We can’t shift what we don’t know exists.” — Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist mdillondesigns.com/blog
Press play to listen to today’s podcast. FYI I cuss so wait ’til the kids and elders aren’t around. Blessings!

Today, one of my “I am” statements came up and was making it hard for me to follow through on my intentions. Actually a few of them came up. But as I write this, I realize that the deeper message that I wasn’t hearing… the one that was really getting in the way today (and has been for a while) is, “I am good so I can’t get paid.” Because “good girls are nice just to be nice” not for a reward.

That in itself makes me really wonder about how my inner child has been impacted by that statement. Often on the podcast I have talked about inner child work, and I have even shard inner child conversations of mine. I really want to shift this belief so I’m gonna work through it.

First, of all I need to address it to my inner child and see if this is truly the core belief belief. So I will get out my paper and pen and have a conversation. I will pose the question to my inner child with my dominant hand and then wait for the answer.


Wow. Okay, that was really enlightening. I planned to do the whole conversation here but it didn’t feel natural so I stepped away, pulled out 3 large sheets of cardstock, and two colored markers, sat and my yoga mat and had the convo with my inner child. I locked my door to create a safe space and let my daughter know I’d be working so she wouldn’t interrupt. And I sat and went back and forth with my inner child.

The cool thing that came up is that my inner child wanted to be “naughty.” She said that naughty kids always got more than she did. And I can remember incidents and instances from childhood that validated her claims. I had a regularly “naughty” relative who was gifted voice lessons at the community college. They bought them for her because they thought she needed a creative outlet. They saw she liked to sing so they thought it would help her behave and redirect the energy. I actually deserved to go, but I didn’t get to, because I wasn’t “bad.”

Things like this often come up with inner child work. Things we don’t really think about as adults. But these little messages shape us in ways we don’t even see.

As the convo went on, I redirected her back to the original question about money. I asked, “What does it mean for a good girl to have money?” I thought that question would get us back on track, and it worked. Her (my inner child’s) response was, “That she doesn’t really care about the people.” And I responded, “She’s just doing it for the money?”

At this point, the conversation was clearer for me so I was able to put the paper to the side and hear the responses clearly in my mind. This is when I felt it was a good opportunity to teach, utilizing my adult knowledge, to help my inner child understand the flaws in her thinking. I asked questions that led her to her own conclusions about being able to receive money for doing nontraditional work. In this convo, one of the phrases I heard so many times throughout my childhood came up. To paraphrase, “if you don’t sweat, you don’t eat.” To this I questioned my inner child to think of jobs where people don’t have to sweat, but it’s a real job. After maybe twenty minutes of back and forth of loving communication, my inner child wrote the words, “Nice girls are nice to be nice and they get to be paid.”

I asked a few other questions to ensure that the message stuck and that a shift actually took place. And the answers aligned with the shift.

Sometimes, the beliefs we desire to change are deeper than we think. Sometimes we have to go back to the one who created them, or who is actually holding them and help that little one understand what we now understand as adults. We can’t just shift on one level. Sometimes we have to go deeper.

Thank you for going deeper with me. If you’d love to learn how to go deeper, a great first step would be to check out this book that helped me learn about inner child work. It’s called, “Recovery of Your Inner Child” by Lucia Capacchione.

Before I read it, I thought inner child work was complete nonsense. Now, I know better, and have used inner child work to develop a better, more loving relationship with myself, and to heal beliefs and past trauma. I have also taught others to use it and it’s helped them on their self-love journeys. I hope that this is helpful for you. I do highly recommend the book, if you are new to inner child work.

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist


Use the links below (or press play on audio directly below meme image above) to check out today’s podcast! Available on SoundCloud, Amazon Music, & Audible!
Day 3 “When Asking Is Hard” #IMAYBE Share & Let’s Live! #Podcast Series w/ Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

🎙 WordPress: mdillondesigns.com/blog
🎙 SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/marlenedillon
🎙 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Share-Lets-Live/B0D13JBSJ4
🎙 AmazonMusic: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/15f8ab40-b888-4068-bd05-15239f7eb5ae/share-let’s-live
🎙 Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/marlenedillon/when-asking-is-hard

Want to learn more about Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist? Tap here.