In the last week, I stepped away from two networking groups I was in. I enjoyed them both and they had some really wonderful people but I had this aching feeling that I couldn’t ignore that it was time to move on. There were many reasons that cropped up for me about why it might be time…why it might not feel right to me anymore but I knew that these reasons were coming up because I had a need to justify why I felt the way I did. Some might have been accurate. Some might not have but none mattered and here’s why.
I remember talking to one of my mentors, Sunny Dawn Johnston, about this a few years ago. I was asking her why it was so difficult to tell someone no when I didn’t want to do something. I was trying to figure out how to explain it without feeling like I was going to have someone counter-responding to all my reasons in an effort to get me to do something different. She said to me, “Isn’t the bottom line that it just doesn’t feel right?” I told her that was correct. She said, “Why can’t you just say that? No one can argue with how you feel. ”
BFO (Blinding Flash of Obvious) moment!
Some of us strive so hard to get in touch with those “gut feelings” we have, our intuition. Then, when it tries to help us out, we question…we ignore…we doubt. Life doesn’t have to be hard, especially when we check in with how things are feeling to us and trust it.
Today, I know I made the right decision about those groups because they didn’t feel right to me anymore. The great news is I listened and acted plus I know that when we want more of something in our life, we have to clear out things that are no longer serving us to make room. I am excited to see what will follow and I’ll be sure to share it with you.
Is there something you’ve been wanting more of? Or something new? What are you willing to clear out today to make room?
Teresa Thomas-Carroll says
March 14, 2011 at 2:39 pmYou are so smart to choose what is right for you and your goals. Our time is precious so when we have a choice, it makes sense to focus it on those things where it makes the most sense. That, in turn, serves everyone because we get the most fulfillment when sharing our experiences with others who are also wanting to be there.
Michele, we are honored to have you as an active member of WIN and are especially excited to have you starting and facilitating the Elk River group along with the North Metro WINners Circle.
Thank you!
Michele says
March 14, 2011 at 2:41 pmThank you for the kind words Teresa. I am so honored to be a part of WIN and in a community of such wonderful, authentic women. You have done such a great job of setting such a solid foundation for success!
Suzanne says
March 14, 2011 at 1:21 pmGreat article Michele and it’s funny how this is such a prominent theme for everyone suddenly. I think the whole awkwardness of “saying no” is only awkward because most people still don’t follow their inner voices and choose for themselves this way. Therefore they don’t truly understand why you do. To complicate things, a lot of folks still measure their self-worth based on the amount of attention they get from others, so when you choose to find alignment for yourself elsewhere, it’s perceived as rejection by them. I hope more light comes to this over the coming months. The more we all move toward this kind of dynamic method of alignment, the more we all realize everyone is fueled all the time and the illusion of acceptance and rejection dissolves.