VLOG Series: 7 Poetry Videos [video 1]

Commentary and Discussion

You ever hear the phrase, you are your worst critic? Well this poem is a reflection of the negative self-talk and self-judgment I was experiencing in my life. I had taken criticism to a new level, a danger level in fact. It was not constructive, it was cruel. I was being unkind and impatient with myself. In my current reading,"Jesus, CEO" by Laurie Beth Jones, I came across something truly profound. The author writes,

"There is a proverb that says "A man's curses will fall and wrap themselves around him like a cloak." What powerful visual image that is. What if every word we said fell and wrapped itself around us like a garment? What kind of wardrobe would we have? Words have power. And Jesus always spoke loving, powerful, and confident words about himself?"

I would add that words also have weight and color. Positive language is light and freeing with beautiful colors. Negative language is heavy and burdensome with murky, dark and dismal colors. So when you take inventory of the language you speak over yourself and visualize the cloak of words that lay over your body, is it light and freeing or dark and heavy, weighing you down?

This poem also reveals self and the battle with the "shego." The lack of confidence because of self-judgement pushed me into the lone ranger syndrome. The last line says "You can't see me grow, can't I just be known AFTER I'm full grown?" In other words, I don't want to be seen through the moments of my growing pains. I'd rather grow in private, in secret, and then emerge fully grown. There's a huge problem with that and it is this...You don't know what you don't know, and you certainly can't teach yourself everything you need to be taught to get to your next level of greatness. You must risk the exposure of ignorance, face the pain of the past, and be vulnerable enough to ask for help, to admit that you cannot do it on your own. No one can! Growing alone is one of  the quickest way to stagnation and loss of passion. Then you can become even more frustrated with yourself!

So down below there are a couple discussion questions. Drop your comments below. And look here, don't you dare feel self-conscious about sharing your NAKED TRUTH. That's what this week is all about, getting you to experience the power of your vulnerability and transparency to yield to your transformation. We need your brilliance and we need to hear your story for our benefit and yours. Someone needs to know they are not alone.