Releasing The Things That No Longer Serve My Growth || LOH Contest #271

Happy Thursday, beautiful ladies of Hive.🥰 It is a beautiful morning over here, and I am stepping into the day with purpose and the determination to pursue everything my heart desires.

This week, we were asked to answer one of two questions here, and I chose the first because it resonates deeply with my current reality.

As I often say, a new year is a great time to return to the drawing board, map out fresh plans, and begin again, or better still, build on existing ones. It is also a period that encourages reflection: A time to examine the kind of life you want to live, the kind of person you want to be, and the areas where growth is needed. So if you did not have the opportunity or motivation to do this earlier, January is still a perfect time to start. It is never too late.

Personally, I entered the new year with a positive mindset and high spirits, but in the way that seemed natural to me. I did not pressure myself to write down my resolutions on the first day of January, nor did I feel the need to publicly announce my goals. Instead, I gave myself time. With time came clarity of mind and purpose. In my quiet moments of reflection, I also assessed myself and realized there were certain things I needed to release for this year to be a better one.

One of those things is the need to perform for others. I have always spoken against this because I understand how this behavior can be closely linked to a low self-esteem. Yet, I found myself performing in certain situations and for certain people in the previous year. I did things because I wanted to be seen. I lived parts of my life to prove a point and to correct the poor impressions few people had of me. I sought validation to fully enjoy the things I loved.

What I failed to remember was that no matter how much you perform, those who choose not to see you still will not. And no matter how hard you try to fix a narrative, people will always judge you by their own standards. With this realization, I have now chosen to free myself from people pleasing and unnecessary performance. I have made the decision to live authentically, boldly, and more fiercely, without fixating on whether or not it is approved by the people around me.

The second thing I am releasing this year is the energy that pulls me into living a mediocre life. I have always known myself as someone who was created to shine. Still, I've had moments where I allowed the voice in my head to diminish my worth. Thankfully, I've been able to recognize and consistently remind myself of how much greatness lies within me and how much more I can achieve by simply choosing excellence over comfort.

Living a mediocre life limits my potential and denies me all the opportunities meant for growth. So I am letting go of every habit, lifestyle, situation, and relationship that encourages me to shrink myself and remain stagnant. I refuse to stay small when there is so much ahead of me and so much of me that the world deserves to see. This year, I am committing my heart, strength, and resources to giving my best in everything I do, and I trust that by the end of the first quarter of this year, I will look back with pride, knowing that I've made good progress in these areas of my life.

All images used in this post are mine. When they're not, I make sure to credit the source.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG!🤗