In order to grow larger, a snake periodically sheds its skin. What skin do you need to shed now in order to grow?
The skin of self-limitation
The most restricting skin we live in is how we perceive ourselves. Our self-esteem and our self-confidence both need to be examined for weakness. Look at the words you use to describe yourself. Toss the negative ones. Listen to the words of praise from those around you. Believe those. Discard the beliefs you hold about yourself that hold you back. Make room for you to fly higher.
The skin of fear and stuck-ness
Fear and helplessness can wrap around us like a too-small shirt. They can keep us from taking action. We feel we either don’t have the skill or information or simply don’t know what to do next.
What steps can you take to unwrap yourself from fear and helplessness and stuck-ness? Your positive energy is a perfect place to begin. Send your positive thought to wherever you feel needs to be balanced. Shed your skin of fear and step into the sunlight.
The skin of passion
The skin of passion is a driving force in our life. It is our “look”, our “style”, or our “way of being”. Because it is constantly evolving, our passion can slightly change direction and that means we can find ourselves on a new course.
Our passion skin may be too tight and restrictive. We may need to change its color or its texture. When you find it’s time to shed your skin, look to see if your passion has opened new doors for you to explore.
My skin is changing in both texture and color. I’m going in the general same direction but my search has deepened and an alternative path has opened up to explore. That means I abandon some things and focus on a more specific path. I shed my skin.
The skin of self-expression
As we develop new skills, we open new possibilities for self- expression. When you are ready to shed your skin, look to see what new doors have opened and which will feed your passion most effectively.
I’ve spent several years expanding my skills. I’ve been steadily discarding skins that either do not fit or that are less effective than the newer skin I’ve chosen. In the course of becoming aware of my continuing growth, I’ve become more self-aware. I know where my skin is too tight. I feel the freedom that awaits me so I poke a hole in my skin and explore a new direction.
As I go deeper, I leave things behind and sharpen my skills on the new direction I choose. That’s all part of the adjustment you make when shedding your skin. You discard what no longer serves you.
The skin of service
Stepping into a new place of service may be the catalyst for unexpected expansion and another reason to shed your too-tight skin. It may be a small shift that allows you to simply adjust your skin, or a big step that demands more space to expand.
Get rid of what no longer serves
Snakes also shed their skin to remove parasites that may have attached to their old skin. Now that’s an interesting concept — leech, bloodsucker, bottom feeder — no one wants those.
A parasite comes in various sizes, it can attach itself in dark corners of our awareness. It can grow so slowly that we barely notice how intrusive it has become. Part of shedding your skin is to get rid of the parasites in your mind and in your life. Hmm.
Shedding your skin is a gradual change
We’re talking about a metaphorical skin here, a skin of emotional barriers, of fear of trying, of lack of confidence. Life is a constant cycle of change and when we embrace that, our life becomes much smoother. Even better is when we regularly examine our lives to see where we have allowed it to become too tight, too small, too restrictive and simply take active steps to expand our inner space. We must shed our restrictive skin, our confining ideas, everything that’s holding us back.
Is your life too tight, too confining, too limiting? Close you eyes and picture what it would feel like to shed all that confines you, holds you down, pulls you back. Shake it off. Release it. Step beyond it and leave that confining, restrictive skin behind you on the path. Picture yourself standing on a clear path with no burdens, just your gifts and your passion and an expansive opportunity before you. Where will you go? What will you do?
That’s the freedom you’ll feel once you drop the skin that’s holding you back. Feel the expansiveness as you move into the new, bigger, more expanding you and explore the path that has now opened up before you.
To Sing a Deeper Song Consider
Fitting In Is Not What You Do To Be Extraordinary
How to Develop Your Distinctive Voice
Your Art Must Originate Within Yourself
What if You Broke the Mold?
How Being Different Makes You Special
Be the Story you Want to Tell
Where Do YouPlant our Stake?
