Just yesterday I went to a seminar designed to help you live life to the fullest. While I did not like how they kept pushing me to register for a weekend (read pay lots of money), I could hear from people’s testimonies how grateful they were. Part of what this program does is get you to examine yourself. specifically looking at those areas in your life that aren’t going well, get to the root issue, and change it.
The area that came to mind was that of self-esteem. That area is a continual struggle for me. From what I have been told and read other blogs, I see it to be a very common issue for those who follow the Jedi path. So I kept thinking, turning it over in my head. When confronted by one of the moderators at the seminar, I was asked what would my life look like had I that confidence. My response was “I’d be awesome!” As I proclaimed that, I felt myself get lighter, be filled with energy, and much more focused.
So why can’t we see that awesomeness in ourselves? ….fear and frustration.
I have chosen to walk the path of a Jedi. That in itself sets a high standard. I am to be fully aware of myself, my surroundings, and how I can best serve. The fact that I chose that path already speaks to my ability to attain that goal. I know that I can be better — and that thought is terrifying. We are so used to living a certain way that we have become comfortable in our complacency. We hide that spark of divinity within us wanting to burst out, that part saying “I AM AWESOME!” For with that recognition comes the calling to live it out. It would mean that I am more outgoing, willing to speak my mind, and telling the world that “yes, I am someone of value.” We may think it takes an enoromous amount of energy to be that active. Yet, it requires more energy to contain that divinity then letting it flourish.
But then there are those who have recognized their importance in the world. The interesting thing about being “awesome” is that you are awesome in all areas. (I am an awesome writer, an awesome speaker, an awesome teacher, an awesome friend, etc……) So we become aggravated not knowing where to even begin that protrayal of ourselves. It would seem more efficient to focus on one aspect and neglect the others. But that thought too only adds to the irritation because we know that it would be a disservice to our identity.
Surprisingly, my mind wandered to an article I read where “willpower” is likened to a muscle that must be exercised. The more you practice it, the stronger it becomes. I had also just finished reading a chapter in a book my boss will soon have published on living into a role. The more we wear a mask, the more we identify with it – so we better put on one “better” than ourselves.
These two streams converged into my thinking the way to increase self-esteem, is to continue on the Jedi Path. It makes you strive to be better than you currently are. Eventually, you will reach a point where you will stop thinking about living as a Jedi and simply BE a Jedi. You will take down the obstacles of fear and frustration brick by brick until you realize that you are AWESOME.
