6 Ways to Release the Tiny Dancer Inside of You

I was at the grocery store the other day and a mom and her daughter were in front of me. The daughter was about four and having the best time pretending to be a ballerina in the aisle. I stood and watched as she danced with glee, enjoying the music and not caring what anyone else thought. She made me giggle to myself, wishing I could dance in the aisles too.

It made me remember being a little girl. All the plans I had and all the exciting things I wanted to do. Those magical times, where it felt as if anything was possible. Unfortunately, time moves so quickly as we get older, that sometimes we forget that we are allowed to be those little magical girls we once were. We get bogged down in our day to day grind and forget that we are here for a larger purpose and it’s not just to pay the bills. So to all of us that work too hard and forget that there is magic inside of us, to those who are young and just beginning, or those that are starting anew, here are a few things that are important to remember (but we so often forget) on this magical journey we call life:

Never Settle. The first one is so easy, yet we always fail to remember it. As women, we should never settle. Let’s face it, our whole world is about settling. We’re busy and sometimes it’s just easier to settle for what we have than hold out for what we really want. Tell me this, would you tell your son or daughter to settle? Your best friend to settle? So why do you allow yourself to do it? Stand up and look in a mirror, look at that amazing woman you are and tell yourself that you are not going to settle. Tell that little magical girl inside of you to hold on with everything you have for what you truly want in your heart, and don’t go for less than you deserve.

Try. We should never be afraid to try. Fear is nothing more than letting our emotions rule us. If you truly want to do something then don’t let fear stand in your way.  There were so many things I wanted to try when I was little. Many I did do, but a few things I truly regret not doing. Looking back on it now, I wonder to myself why didn’t I give it a try? What is the worst thing that could have happened? Yes, I could have made a fool of myself, but who cares. That little magical girl inside of me wanted to try something and I let her down. Are you going to let yourself down too? So for the magical ones in us, don’t be afraid … go out and do it. No matter what it is. Face your fears and become the authentic self you were meant to be.  And remember it’s never too late to try something you’ve always wanted to do.

Love. Life is all about love. We are here to give and receive that love. We should never be fearful of falling in love. Don’t just give your heart away, rather when you find someone worthy of your love … give it with all you have. Love, real love is an amazing thing and the little magical girl inside you deserves that love. Don’t let anyone tell you different. You are the master of your own destiny and if he (or she) is the right one, then they’ll reciprocate that love and you will be happier than you have ever dreamed.

Also remember, love shouldn’t be painful. Sometimes we think that relationships are supposed to hurt, but a healthy relationship doesn’t hurt you … it heals you. If you are with the right person they should be putting as much into the relationship as you are; thus filling your heart with love as much as you are filling theirs. So if you are not feeling fulfilled then move on. Remember … this is your life … you’re amazing and special and deserve to be treated that way.

Know yourself. A big one for a lot of us is spending too much time worrying about what others think. The little girl dancing in the aisle, having the time of her life, wasn’t worried what I was thinking and neither should you. This is your life, you make the rules … you don’t need others to give you their stamp of approval.  You are your own person. Doing what your heart and mind tells you is right. Along the way, you will meet people that may like to stifle that, as a thriving individual. Ignore them. No matter how hard it might be or how much it might hurt, they are trying to keep you down so that you don’t succeed.  You are magical and can do anything you put your mind to. Don’t let others change your mind.

Learn. Learning is the key to growing and flourishing. Knowledge will change your world. Grasp and climb the ladder of life and as you climb learn everything you can. Read, take classes, go to seminars … do everything you are able to do. Keep that fascination alive. We grow stagnate when we stop learning, so always stay interested. Life is about love and growth. Growth comes from learning and changing. So keep the passion for learning alive and you will always find things fresh and interesting.

Live your dreams. And most of all don’t be afraid to live your dreams. As Auntie Mame would say, “Life is a banquet and some poor suckers are starving to death.” This is your life. I know I keep saying that but sometimes we all forget. We have kids, jobs, school, taxes, bills and so many other things that get in our way. Sometimes we are just treading water trying to get to the weekend. But days turn into weeks and weeks turn into years. Soon you’ll find that you’re running out of time. Don’t wait another minute, start now … take those steps and live your dreams. People will try to talk you out of it, misery loves company, you know. Don’t let them. Do what your heart tells you. Do what you have always wanted to do, and don’t look back. The little girl inside you knows this, yet the magical older version of ourselves sometimes seems to forget.

This life is not a dress rehearsal.

When all is said and done, you are the one that decides your life’s path. Live it magically and to the fullest, make it worth claiming. Make this life yours … start today.

Photo Credit: gabrielsaldana via Compfight cc