This plaque in the hands of Nellie McClung, an important figure in the women’s suffrage movement in Canada, is a newspaper headline from 1929, declaring that “Women are Persons!” – a reminder of old beliefs.
The plaque is also a powerful reminder that declarations of truth can create a lot of positive change!
Not all declarations of truth have to be political. Personal truths, what we believe for ourselves and therefore for our businesses, are just as powerful. Really, they are at the heart of all change, political or otherwise.
One of the things that I work on with my clients in creating the how of their business is their awareness and understanding of what is important for them. Learning and knowing your own priorities on the level of what is deeply true for you is an important foundation for your business success.
Whether or not you want your truth to be a headline in the local newspaper, declaration doesn’t have to be that big. Sometimes a quiet declaration to yourself is all that is needed to start the process of positive change in your business.
Does stating your truth, what you want for your business and how you conduct it, sound a little scary?
It can be. If you’re used to meeting other people’s needs and putting other people first in your business, even recognizing your own truth can be a challenge.
If that’s you, be gentle with yourself. Listen for what keeps presenting itself to you. Even small wishes like finishing your day an hour earlier to keep your energy level high are part of your truth.
Declaring that it’s what you want, whatever it is, sets things in motion so that you find a way to make them happen.
How can we declare our truth in a positive way, and affirm what we want and need in our businesses?
Here are some ways to help you do that:
1. Say it out loud. There’s power in your voice and in your body. Stand tall, take a deep breath, and say out loud what you believe for yourself. (If you have clients in the office, you might want to close your door!) Saying, “I take time for myself” or “I conduct all aspects of my business with integrity” is a powerful way to connect to those truths on a deeper level. That connection will start the process of coming up with ways to manifest them in your business.
2. Don’t worry about what the neighbors think. Stating your truth isn’t necessarily popular. Some people, even someone close to you like a business partner, will not like it, and may try to get you to change your mind. After all, they liked things the way they were! Your clarity is important as you run into this resistance. Remember, you are the only one who really knows what is true for you.
3. Write about it. A powerful thing to do is to take your favorite pen in hand, and write about your truth. Use your journal if you have one. Start off by writing it at the top of the page: capitalize it, or highlight it in color. Write about why it’s important to you, and how it will change your business for the better. Also write about all the things that come up in your mind about why you shouldn’t have this truth. Then address each one with the reasons why you can and will. That’s an awesome way to speak to that part of your brain that tells you, no! And it’s a way to be ready for what may come up for you as you move into your truth. (This is also a great method to prepare you for dealing with the neighbors in #2!)
4. Let go of your old belief. You may find when you’re doing the writing exercise in #3 that you’ve got some old thoughts or beliefs that may keep you from manifesting your truth in your business. Those old thoughts and beliefs can hold us in their grip. They can even keep us from seeing our truth. Until we let go of them, nothing can change. Seeing an old belief, acknowledging it, and then releasing it is a powerful act. A great way to start is to visualize the belief and what that has meant for you, and then saying, “I release you.” Giving yourself permission to do that creates an opening for the belief to leave. And it frees you up for a new belief that truly supports and nurtures you and your business.
5. Spread the word. Truths always start within ourselves. And stating them to ourselves is a great first step. The next step is to start putting it out into the world by stating it to other people. It’s tempting, once you feel the liberation that comes with saying what is true for you, to start telling everybody. Don’t. Your confidence in your truth will grow and expand if you state it to the right people, people who love and support you. You don’t need to tell the most challenging client you have. Be selective about who you share it with, especially at first.
You have your own truths, beliefs about yourself and your business, that will energize you, change you, and free you to realize your potential. Give your truth a voice through your business, and see where it takes you – it’s a journey you won’t want to miss!
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What are some of your truths?
How could you make one of your truths show up in your business?
It would be great to hear from you!
Leave a comment below.