Happy Wednesday, folks.

Do you know what I really love about my life right now? The swirl of honesty that I am living in.

But I have a confession to make.

As I sat down to write this morning, I wanted to take you back to my post where I came clean about my struggle with the ugly truth.

So I searched for a few minutes + although I found some sugar-coated entries about accountability, and being clear, one important admission was missing – and it has to do with out-and-out lying.

Yup. I had a bad habit of making excuses, leaving out details, over-promising, embellishing, and out-right storytelling – lying. Of course I also told the truth, but I had sprinkled tidbits of fiction throughout more of my life than I care to admit.

{If you recognize yourself as someone who does, or did, this, we can probably agree that we do it for many different reasons, but that’s for another day.}

Since I came clean with myself about what I was doing, gifts of truth have been flowing my way.

I’ve been honest with my clients – about what I can accomplish, things I’d like to do [and things I’d like to task someone else to do], what’s important to me, and goals I have for myself.

And in return, I’ve received honesty – clearer expectations, a better understanding of their visions, and a daily dose of authenticity.

I’ve been honest with my sweetheart – about money I was spending, fears I was hiding, and things that I still want for my life.

And in return, I’ve received honesty – about his needs in a partner, his insecurities, and his big dreams.

I’ve been honest in my writing – specifically last week when I admitted needing to be my own soft place to land. Because I really did.

And in return, I’ve received honesty. I received comments from people who also needed to be a friend to themselves. Who needed to be honest that they were having a tough day. And it was an honor to hear how you were truly feeling {so, thank you for being brave}.

Heck, this week I even group emailed my weight to the mamas at the elementary school where my twins are in second grade.

We started a six-week fitness challenge this week, and although I weigh more today then on the day I gave birth to my sons [yes, that’s true], I don’t care who knows it. So if you fudge [no pun or temptation intended] your weight by 5 or 10 pounds, who are you really hurting? Why should it matter so much that you would opt to be someone other than who God created you to be in order to feel more comfortable with the number on the scale, or to impress your friends, or to feel entitled to the extra slice of cake?

141.8.

That’s what I weighed this week.

Pregnant with twins, the morning I entered the hospital, I was 138 lbs. – so 141.8 feels like a bit of a fail sometimes. But the good news is that I’m a picture of perfect health and my sweetheart likes the curve of my hips. And truth be told, it doesn’t get much better than that {grin}.

My Juicy Glad-I-Caught-That: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ~Oscar Wilde

You may have heard me say before that I want you to always mean your yeses and your nos. And that is at the apex of this issue. Because agreeing to tackle a task that you don’t want to is a lie. Just as saying no to something you really want for your life is a lie. Of course there are times that we simply need to make sacrifices, but it’s really important for those sacrifices to be made in earnest.

Example.

A client asked me recently to make phone calls to some of her previous clients on a Saturday.

What I would have done in the past is say, “Well, I’d really love to do that, but the phone company is putting a freeze on all calls this weekend. Plus, I’m going to the Amazon, so I probably won’t have cell service.”

I wanted to help her. I was available. I don’t like to work on the weekend. I was intimidated. All four of those statements were truthful.

I am not a fan of talking on the phone. To anyone.

So the thought of making 50 phone calls to people I didn’t know made me start to twitch.

Saturday morning came and I sat down at my desk – list in-hand. And I started my work. And then I completed my work. And through it all, I stood in integrity.

Sacrifice? Yes.

In earnest? Yes.

I’m a firm believer that your work – whatever it is – should be done every day in joy, pleasure, + service.

That Saturday was no exception for me.

The moment I genuinely agreed to take on the task presented, I simultaneously chose to work from a place of truth, and from that place came delight.

How about you? Is your life a work of fiction or non-fiction? Lying is such a stinky feeling, but the moment you choose to make that change, amazing things will start heading your way. Some of them you might not “like”, but a painful truth feels so much better than even the greatest lie.

See you on the flip-side.

In love,

Noelle
xoxox