More joy, less stress. This month, adjust your awareness.
Pictured here well-behaved in the early 90s with my grandparents.
When I was about 4 years old, I was throwing a fit at a restaurant with my parents and grandparents. My mother explained to me that there were a) no other children around and b) no one else was fussing. As my mom tells this story, I immediately shaped up, and from that point on, figured out how to mostly behave myself in public. I can’t confirm one way or the other, as I don’t actually remember this anecdote, but judging by the amount of time I spent around adults as a child – the perils of not having siblings – the story checks out.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been hyper aware of the world around me. So perhaps my mom’s story was the start of my awareness of society and social norms. I was painfully aware of my unpopularity in middle school (pure misery), and acutely aware of my ability to understand others’ feelings when I was reporting on difficult stories. A 10-month investigation into sexual assault in the military was one story in particular where my social awareness was crucial. I could empathize with the survivors, let them feel heard, and support them in sharing their experiences with the world.
Quintessential awkward middle school yearbook photo.
Being keenly socially aware served me well professionally, though not always personally. I was often focused on others in my formative years, worrying about what other people thought of me, or doing what was “expected” of me. It’s only in adulthood that I’ve begun to really turn that awareness internally. It’s extremely hard to look inside yourself and honor what you see there. I spent more of my adult life than I’d like to admit focused more on the people around me and what they would think of me than looking at the person inside me and what she thinks of me. Honoring her and what nourishes her is a daily practice that I still haven’t mastered, but I hope to someday.
This is not to say that I’m solely focused on myself these days, but I am where it matters. I’m on a quest to implement more of what fills my cup and less of what doesn’t. And yes, I’m still painfully aware of social pressures – not middle school ones now of course, but those that land particularly on mothers. I just try to ignore them, keep myself and my family in focus, and let everything else just be sprinkles on top.
This month, we’re bringing this awareness – this intention– to all things M.T. Deco. Founder Melissa Blum is sharing how she’s honoring herself and following her joy. We’ll also have some advice on finding your own “North Star” – or compass to align yourself so you can focus on what truly matters to you and your business/career. For all you entrepreneurs and small business owners out there, we’re sharing our top productivity devices to master your digital strategy so you have more time to fill your cup.
As always, our contributors are also bringing their A-games. Resident DJ Lissie Jacobson is serving up a summer BBQ playlist (because we’re well aware there’s nothing better than grilling and bopping as the temperatures continue to rise). Megan Collins of The Manicured Shelf is back with her book recommendation(s) that will prove to be your perfect summer read. And Rachel Givens, marketer extraordinaire and mom of two, is sharing how important finding her community has been both in mom life, and in her stellar career. She’s also sharing her best advice for you on how to find your people.
I hope you join us this month as we focus our attention on our collective awareness. Whether that means we’re more supportive of others, holding firm on our own boundaries, or mixing the two, we’re right here on this journey with you. More joy, more community, less stress, less pressure. Ready? Let’s go!