Articulation of Self

Articulation of Self

After listening to my girlfriend Alyssa’s podcast Saturday morning, it started an entirely new room of thought for me.  I ponder on my own legacy’s existence from time to time, especially dealing with my kids and grandsun, but before today I do not think that I ever dissected it.  The topic was “What Will Your Legacy Be?”  I think that my former perception of humility and its purpose stopped me from being purposeful about my own legacy.  The truth of the matter is whether you cultivate it or ignore it and let it grow like a weed, you will have a legacy.  I think the longevity of it depends a lot on whether you poured into it… That goes for both good and bad seeds.

Here are two of my favorite legacy quotes:

 It is interesting that I am turned-off by the quotes on legacy that discount leaving material things.  I think that is important as well.  Some people diminish the importance of that so much that go-fund-me fundraisers for funeral arrangements have become normal.  I believe they can both be important or at least placed in the same basket.

As I sat and listened to Alyssa and her sisterfriends, their transparency really made me introspective.  It made me dig deeper into the mindfulness of my own legacy.  Honestly, I have already identified the core thing that I want to be remembered for... my capacity to love.  I want the love that I give to permeate every interaction and leave a lingering effect.  Kind of a lofty thought but that is my mission. 

Once I followed along with their straightforward, meaningful, introspective words and comedy about the topic, I drove for a while in silence.  I wanted to think deeply about not only my legacy but also how I could make it more of a priority.  How can I ensure that my legacy will be manifested in the hearts of the people that I touch?  What steps could I take to make it unquestionable?  My first thoughts were actually about self-awareness and self-actualization. 

Oftentimes I go into what I call a “smell check” because people like me that are extreme optimists often struggle with delusion as well.  I thought about self-awareness for a bit.  As I stated, I have changed my perception of humility, not drastically but significantly enough.  I have been working actively on identifying the things I considered principles that were wrong.  I gained some of the ideologies through religiosity, some through influence and others from upbringing but my process of looking at each of them without those emotional pushes has been eye opening.  While in those thoughts the term Articulation of Self started ringing in my mind like a mental neon light.  😊

There are two definitions of articulation that I think fit.  This is how I want to exact my legacy.  

Articulation

1.     The formation of clear and distinct sounds in speech.   
The action of putting into words an idea or feeling of a specified type.

Expression.

2.    Clarity in the production of successive notes.

I know the second definition is in regards to music but it is so fitting.  I want my life and legacy to be and feel like music or poetry or dance. 

In the end, I realize that I cannot expect something to be unquestionable if I have not articulated it thoroughly.  I always feel like I might be a bit wordy but I despise being misunderstood. I have decided that I do not want my legacy misunderstood either.    So going forward, I want people to witness and feel the Articulation of Cat so that my legacy can be written on the hearts of anyone that I touch.  I do not want to leave my legacy in ambiguity or uncertainty.  I want to own the conveyance of what is being written about me.  I want my legacy of love to be known and unquestionable. 

Are you owning your legacy by being mindful of your articulation of self?

Reciprocity Thoughts

Reciprocity

Reciprocity is such a fluid thing.  I do not think it is a concept that we can completely sum up or give an unmoving margin to.  I believe that it is very situational and individualized to specific relationships and circumstances.  I wanted to share some of my thoughts and process on reciprocity.

• Reciprocity should be free flowing, organic, unrehearsed, not restricted, not compulsory.
  
  
• Our views and heart towards reciprocity should be selective.  We should use wisdom in our expectation of reciprocity.  There is an old adage that says “You cannot get blood from a turnip”.
  
  
• Do not let what you give be solely driven by what that person can give in return.  If your intention is to help, let that be the motive and what compels you. What you give can be fully self-propelled.  My preference is to isolate my motivation for giving to the simple fact that I wanted to give it.
• While eliminating it in all cases would be foolish, minimize your NEED for reciprocity in any situation that you can.
• Remember that eliminating the desire reciprocity in all cases would be a blatant disregard to you.  Shout out to all the empaths that share this problem.  If a person repeatedly disregards what you give them, in any way, stop giving it to them.  Do not deplete yourself to see that they do not deserve it.  They do not appreciate or value it.  
• Get in the habit of protecting yourself from consumers.  If you see that a person only takes or if you see that they are not at all mindful of how much they are taking… set the limits.  It is my experience that a consumer will not limit what they take from you.
  
• Do not overextend yourself or give what your life requires, i.e. bill money.  Give what you can, when you can, as freely and joyfully as you can.  When it is that simple, you are not hurt if the person cannot or will not give it back.
   
• Give and don’t remember – Receive and don’t forget
• Keep a clean pipeline to reduce bitterness.  Do not hold an account of what you think you deserve from people.  That hardens the heart.  Give because you want to… Call because you want to… Text because you want to.  Holding people to requirements could cause resentment.  Watch your expectations.
   
• Everyone’s system of reciprocity is different. 
   
• Do not hold on to unspoken requisites with your loved ones.  Be clear.

I hope this is helpful or interesting.  I am always looking for input and discussion!  Leave your comments any time.

-Catherine Elizabeth