Cool From The Inside
This one particular memory continues to haunt me.
The seed to most of my posts grow from a childhood memory with some lesson embedded in its’ movie reel. It likes to play over and over again until I decide to grab it and take a closer look. Well, this motion picture isn’t so pretty and makes me want to crawl under the closest large rock when I think about it (Shoot. There are no large rocks near by).
As I sat with this one particular memory I couldn’t quite figure out why the universe kept dangling it in front of me. I asked the universe “What is the message here?” Like a snow globe, I shook this story and watched how the pieces fell. I examined the memory from all angles. I looked at it straight on, side to side and even from the back and then, it started to become clear. Crystal clear.
It was my sister’s 7th birthday party and my mother made me “Mother’s Helper.” CODE FOR… you’re kind of responsible Christine, but not quite there yet. Well, regardless, I took this job VERY seriously. I desperately wanted to be the cool older sister and so I made sure to DRESS the part.
The year was 1988. The 365 days where fashion chaos might have been at it’s peak. Therefore, in celebration of all things spiky, bright, bold and ruffly, I wore the “coolest” outfit I could piece together. And here is where I cringe. I proudly wore black JAM shorts with bold colored flowers, a royal blue tank top and a pair of fluorescent pink socks. Oh, and because I was 11, I may or may not have been wearing a training bra.
The party went off without a hitch. I fluttered this way and that using my best “mother’s voice” to escort my sisters and their friends from one activity to the next. Cringe moment number 2…. the fake voice I used to sound more grown-up.
Cool. I felt cool…because I LOOKED cool (in my preadolescent mind).
In our twisty and turny journey called life, we are often taught to reach outside of ourselves to make us feel ok or seen in this world. Don’t get me wrong, I do love a good pair of jeans or wearing some crazy pants just to spice things up. Yes, clothes can be an extraordinary way to celebrate who we are and feel cool.
However, what if in 2021 we vow to be cool from the inside out?
Like old clothes in our closet that don’t fit or have gone out of style, can we say good-bye to the parts of us that feel restricting, uncomfortable or simply make us say “Ugh!”? What emotions or behaviors do you store in your internal closet that are “so last year!”? For example, can you clean out that stripped blouse of judgement and replace with a gorgeous silk button down of empathy? Can you find that moth eaten sweater of worryand exchange for a cashmere sweater of patience? What about those old worn out boots of starvation? Can you trade them for a funky new pair called nourishment?
You see where I am going right? 2021 is asking us to dress from the inside out. 2021 begs us to express ourselves with less show and more simplicity.
Let’s put this energetic cleanse into action:
Close your eyes and visualize an outline of your body floating three feet in front of you.
Inside of this outline picture old clothes (or you might see these clothes as colors).
Label each piece of clothing a behavior or habit you wish to exchange.
Now for the fun…. take a deep breath and visualize that article of clothing leaving your body and floating away.
Next, picture a gorgeous new piece of clothing and label it with a new energy…compassion, love, freedom, truth, joy… whatever it may be. Bring this piece of clothing inside, perhaps placing it near your heart.
Please enjoy this practice over and over again. When you feel old behaviors wanting to return, breathe deep and say something like “you are so last year!” or “You don’t fit me anymore!” Have fun with this…create any mantra you want! And remember~ ALWAYS have a sense of humor. Laughter is a wonderful way to raise our vibration as well.
Happy shopping!
