When you hear the word “meme”, you probably think about the colorful and entertaining pictures you see on social media. Memes usually feature a joke, a message, or a thought-provoking statistic or question. These images get shared over and over because people find truth in them and they appeal to a big audience online.
But did you know that there are thousands of societal memes floating about in our world that can act as naysayers to our dreams?
These are stories and beliefs that get repeated so often in society we begin to believe them.
Here are some examples I’ve seen in my own life and with my clients:
- Eat everything on your plate.
- Money doesn’t grow on trees.
- You have to be married to have children.
- Only men can be CEOs.
- You have to work hard to make good money.
Forging your own path, step 5 of my system for building a meaningful business, is about taking a hard look at the beliefs that are holding you back and figuring out what belongs to you and what doesn’t.
Letting go of what doesn’t belong to you is important. Your identity is what will draw people to you. The more you know about who you really are and what you really believe about yourself, your life, and your business, the more you can call in the right clients, vendors and team members who are appropriate for you and will support your growth.
This step goes along with recognizing your power and listening to your true self. Once you identify the memes and the dogma that doesn’t belong to you, it’s easier to let go of the way we think things are supposed to be and get out of our own way. The more we hold on to things and hoard beliefs that don’t work for us, the harder it is to go with the flow of our vibrational energy.
Oprah is a wonderful example of someone who has broken the dogmas of life and ignored societal memes. Because she is so transparent and authentic, many of you know her remarkable story. She was raised on welfare as the daughter of a teenage mother. At 9 years old, she was raped by a cousin and endured several years of sexual abuse. She became pregnant at age 14 and the baby did not survive.
Oprah was fired from her first reporting job and told that she would never make it in the media business. By society’s standards, she should not have accomplished much with her life. Society would have written her story much differently from how it turned out, as a teenage mother who failed at her first job!
Oprah had many naysayers and critics in her ear, but she did not listen to them. Instead, she forged her own path and created a life that feeds her soul, helping and inspiring millions of people with her message and example.
Women need to be especially mindful of the memes and dogma that are active in our lives. We are seen as the nurturers of the world, the ones who are to be loving, supportive, and selfless. Women aren’t supposed to be aggressive and we risk being seen as a bitch or “not lady-like” if we don’t fall in line with that dogma. Can you see how that meme can hold many women back from living a meaningful life?
The more mindful we are to understand and release the memes and dogma that hold us back, the more we can grow to be a really great influencer – of our businesses, of the teams we build, of our community, and of the way we serve. Forge your own path, and don’t let someone else’s story of how you should live your life get in the way of your desires.
Do you need guidance on forging your own path and identifying harmful memes in your life? If you need some help with getting crystal clear on your priorities and outlining your next steps, schedule a complimentary call with me so you can finally get the business and lifestyle you’ve been searching for.