The dictionary definition of justification is “the action of showing something to be right or reasonable” or ‘the act or an instance of justifying something: Vindication.” This word has been popping into my head lately. 

Have you ever been in a conversation and feel like you are trying to justify your existence, your view, your job, your house … everything? I’m betting you probably have as I know I have been. Matter of fact I have been in many of those types of conversations. How did they make you feel? For me, I use to always come out of those feeling less than and I would make sure to maneuver my way around the conversation so I didn’t have to talk about certain topics. 

For me, I would shift things around as much as I could but sometimes it was just better to apologize for me being me and doing or having whatever was in question. This was another way my voice was silenced because I stopped talking about things so I didn’t have to justify myself. It was perceptively so much easier to live in the background and be quiet. But the reality is it wasn’t easier and it added a huge amount of stress for me and it made me dim my light. 

Anytime we shift who we are or feel we have to justify who we are our light dims a bit because we are in a situation that is not in alignment with us. I’ve been in conversations lately where I feel inside I’m justifying what I’m doing and I’m worthy of doing it but what I realized this morning is … my words are not being heard.

I say it that way because not everyone can hear the words we are using. Likely if you have read a number of my blogs you can hear my words as the language I’m using can be heard by your ears or taken in with your eyes. Not every message out there is for every person and that is exactly the way it is supposed to be so we can find our community, our tribe.

The next time you feel like you are justifying yourself maybe take a breath and see if you need to. Look to see if it is an old habit of feeling less than. Also if you are in a situation that makes you feel bad and you are shifting who you are maybe it’s time for that situation to change in some way. 

All I know for me is I’m tired of justification for any part of life as I want to live full-on and enjoy life. There is a song by Trooper and part of the lyrics go “We’re here for a good time, Not a long time, so have a good time, the sun can’t shine every day.” These words remind me that our journey through this life is meant to be enjoyed as much as absolutely possible and that means living full-on without justifying who we are. 

So today I challenge you, to be you, no justification, and have a good time!