When I look at how much I have changed in my life in the past 7 years, from the BIG stuff to the comparatively small, it’s a bit mind boggling.

I frequently get asked how I’ve done it – how I’ve taken my awareness of what needs to change and implemented it into change itself.

My honest answer is that I’ve been committed to making my desires come true, and to taking the steps to do that.

In some ways, it’s that simple.

In other ways, it’s honestly been a lot of hard work.

I’ve gone on solo rants with more four-letter words than most people are comfortable with (just keeping it real 😜).

I’ve gone through more tissue boxes than I’d care to count.

I’ve logged more Netflix hours in my times of needing to just take a break from the intensity of it all to self-soothe than most people might judge as appropriate.

Some parts of my transformation journey have felt so stressful that I honestly didn’t know if I was going to get through them.

Other parts of these last 7 years have felt like natural next steps, and have happened with incredible grace and ease.

But something else has also taken place throughout this steep growth curve.

As I’ve grown and evolved and shed a lot of old ways of being, I’ve raised my standards.

And as I’ve raised my standards, I’ve also created new boundaries to support those new standards.

I know you know this, but I want to be clear that boundaries aren’t for other people. They are for the person who is setting them.

My boundaries are for me.

They remind me what time I go to bed, what foods I eat to feel my best, the kinds of relationships I have in my life, and more.

My boundaries are like my very own built-in personal support system that I’ve put into place to ensure my life feels safe, beautiful, and utterly amazing to me.

My most recent boundary has been something I didn’t expect.

I’ve declared I don’t do overwhelm or exhaustion.

🙌 🙌 🙌

Feel the power in this statement for a moment: I don’t do overwhelm or exhaustion.

This is a clear declaration to myself that I will not entertain, be convinced I need to, let alone put myself through exhaustion and overwhelm, from this time forward.

I used to say, “I can’t”.

I can’t get overwhelmed. I can’t go into exhaustion. I just can’t.

But feel the difference between the words “I don’t”, and “I can’t”.

I don’t is definitive.

It means I make decisions that align with this crystal clear statement.

It means I set and maintain boundaries to steer clear of overwhelm and exhaustion. Because I don’t do them.

“I can’t…” has a very different energy around it. “I can’t” says, “It will still happen more often than I want it to, and then I’ll have to deal with it. But I really wish it would just go away…”

Without a definitive decision around something, we leave the door open a crack for the things we’re not interested in entertaining to take up space whenever and wherever they might choose to show up.

When I say, “I don’t do ______”, what I feel happening inside of myself is a necessary strengthening of my boundaries.

If I don’t do something, I must make certain I’m not accommodating that something in my life in any way, shape or form.

If I don’t do something, I must shift my relationship with it – from “Whoops! Here is it again! *sigh* I really should do something about that… “, to “This is a non-negotiable thing for me. I do not tolerate it in any shape or form. I live my life differently to ensure that for myself. Period.”

If I don’t do overwhelm and exhaustion, a whole shift must take place in my boundaries, my time and energy management, my delegation, my attitude, my relationship with that thing, my everything.

How I spend my time, where I spend my energy, and all that fills my life no longer takes me in the inevitable direction of overwhelm and exhaustion.

Instead, they get to contribute to my amazing life – all per my design, which is something I’m a resounding HELL YES to! 🎉

Here are a few other things I don’t do. I share these with you to inspire you to create some “I don’t” declarations for yourself, too

I don’t tolerate abuse in any form.

I don’t have mean friends.

I don’t eat late at night.

I don’t say I will do something if I can’t follow through.

I don’t grab my cell phone first thing in the morning.

I don’t suffer in silence.

I don’t tolerate racist, homophobic, or ableist comments, actions, attitudes, or talk.

I don’t do things that are harmful to my health, sanity, or well-being.

My list of “I don’ts” could go on and on. 😉

Now, over to you.

When it comes to you and your life, are there certain things or experiences that you really, really dislike, but they’re still happening in your world, seemingly by chance??

What if you made the decision to declare “I don’t do” those things anymore?

What would need to shift inside of you to ensure that?

What would need to shift in your outer world to ensure that?

What new boundaries would you need to put into place and honor for yourself?

I invite you to be with this for a few minutes and really feel into what is possible for you here.

This is deceptively simple, yet so profound.

And it’s all in the name of creating a life you love. Is there a better reason? 🌈

Isn’t it time you gave yourself some outrageous permission to live a life that truly serves and supports you?

Lots of love,

Alicia

PS: If you’re ready to raise your standards and truly live the life you know you’re meant to live…
 
Until December 1, 2022, I am offering 1-on-1 conversations with me to discover what’s holding you back, where to begin, and how working with me can make all the difference.

Email me at: Alicia[at]AliciaMorrow.com and we will find a time to connect. ❤