Loose Lips Sink Ships

During World War II a common saying was, "Loose lips might sink ships."  The slogan was created during a campaign reminding people how important it was to mind what we say.  Our words could result in unintended and dire consequences.  Lives could be lost.

Very serious indeed.  "Loose lips sink ships."

For me, this slogan serves as a reminder about my word choices today.  Words have power, regardless of the children's rhyme...sticks and stones hurt, but we can use words to hurt ourselves or use them as the scaffolding of our thoughts and ideas and then as the bricks with which we build our lives.  Words shape our perception.

I often catch myself saying things like how "good" I was today because I exercised, or how "bad" I was because I hit the vending machine instead of the apple sitting on my desk.  Oh, I'll be "better" tomorrow!  Of course, this "always" happens...

I call this failspeak. It's so pervasive, it's amazing how often I use it.

But wait!  I have good news!  I'm aware that I'm using these words.  I know, it might not seem like much, but just being aware of the way I speak means I can change the words I use...change the power I wield.  Change my perception.

Abracadabra! Magic words.

Instead I can say I "chose" a different path today, or I "listened" to myself when I made this choice.  I can ask questions instead of make pronouncements about my choices: why did I do this today?  How did it make me feel?  How does doing that instead make me feel? Instead of a mother scolding a sulky and defeated child (also me!) I become the compassionate mother, enfolding the hurt and disappointed child in my arms (oh yes! much better!).  

Instead of fearing what I might become I love what I am. No forgiveness needed. No secular sin committed.

Divine Mother, take me in your loving arms and sooth my hurts so that I might see my true desires within my wounded heart.  Hold my hand and guide me over the rough stones that fall in my path.  Gently direct me toward loving self-forgiveness and clear sight. Amen.

Majeeda Rosa

The Enemy of Good is Perfect

It's been a few weeks. I made a commitment to myself that I would post this blog weekly. The occasional delay...acceptable.

OMG. I've missed two weeks. I almost didn't write tonight; the gaping absence of postings was building into a blanket of undesirable "shoulds."

How hard it is to live up to my own expectations. I hold myself to a higher standard in ways I would never expect from someone else under the same conditions. I wind up practicing catastrophic thinking and use the "F" word:

FAILED

Thpppt! Get over it! Failure? Let's try a different F-word:

Forgiveness

I've had good reason to be distracted this month, illness and injury. Time to practice self-compassion. How do I practice it for others? I put myself in their shoes...since I'm already there, the next best thing is to step out of them! A little objectivity is good for this situation.

Majeeda, relax. Every commitment has an escape clause, it's called humanity. Sometimes you're going to fall down. In the falling we learn about ourselves. In the getting-back-up we learn about ourselves. In the doing of whatever we strive toward, we put the puzzle pieces of our destiny together until that destiny becomes clear. Every action, every moment, every thought counts. There is no failure, only striving. Do what you are meant to do.

Wow. Sometimes I give some really good advice to myself :)

Thank you Great Mother of us all. Your guidance is so needed and so appreciated. Thank you for opening my mind and heart so that I may listen carefully to your words and live them. Forgiveness. Compassion. Love. Destiny.

Majeeda Rosa