How My Knee Taught Me That I’m Always Right. Yep, ALWAYS.

» Posted by Chantelle Baxter on Feb 13, 2012 in Blog, Bod Bod Love, Life Lessons | 0 comments

As much as I’d like to claim that I’m right about everything, all the time, I can’t do it. But, there is one thing that I’m ALWAYS right about. I’m ALWAYS right about what’s best for me.

But how often do we go against what we know is right for us? I do it all the time.

A few days ago, I decided it would be a brilliant idea to do a Yoga demonstration for our One Girl Sierra Leone team. We were discussing our favourite activities (outside of work).

Whilst rushing through my demonstration, I moved quickly into a low lunge, lost my balance, twisted awkwardly and heard an disturbing *pop* erupt from my left knee.

At first I thought it was my knee’s way of expressing how pleased it was with me.

“Chantelle, I was so inspired by your rushed Yoga demonstration, that I couldn’t help but POP with delight,” said my knee.

Actually that’s a lie. I know that most knees don’t pop with delight, but I didn’t feel much pain after the pop, so I figured everything would be okay. Sure, my knee felt a little loose after I sat back down, but hey – everything needs to loosen up every once in while, right?

I mentioned to some of my work buddies that my knee felt a little odd, “I think I might’ve injured it..”

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” they replied. “You’ll be fine.”

“Hmmm, yes I’m sure you’re right,” I said.

But I knew they weren’t right. I knew my knee was acting like a weirdo. But I ignored that little voice inside me and decided to trust the opinions of my work buddies instead.

How often do you ignore what you know to be true? How often do you ignore your body? How often do you trust the opinion of others over your own? How often do you give yourself up for the fear of what others will think?

I didn’t want to inconvenience my team – and I didn’t want to appear ‘weak’ by getting all sooky about my knee. There are more traumatic things to deal with in Sierra Leone – a knee injury just looks stupid. So I pushed on, despite my knee (and my little voice), telling me otherwise.

How often do you keep pushing yourself to participate in activities / careers / relationships that you know aren’t good for you?

Three days of misery ensued – my knee was nagging at me but I kept telling it to shut the hell up. Everyone else said my knee was fine, why couldn’t my knee just shut up and listen to their advice?

Ungrateful little knee, god dammit.

Four days later I was in a hospital with sharp pains shooting down my leg. X-rays, drugs and two days in bed have done little to improve the situation. But truth be told, I’m starting to feel a little better.

Why?

Because I finally started listening to myself and doing what I knew was best, for me.

The only truth worth listening to is your own. No one knows what’s best for you, better than YOU.

No one else could tell me whether or not my knee required medical attention. After all – it wasn’t their knee – it was mine. Same goes with your life. We’re all free to seek advice from other people, but take it with a grain of salt. Only YOU know what’s right.

We ALL know the truth about our own lives. We know when we’re living our highest purpose – just like we know when we’re bored out of our mind because our job sucks. We know when our body is screaming for rest, relaxation and love. We know whether or not we’re fulfilled in our relationships. We know when we’re suppressing emotions and trying to act like we’ve got it all together.

You’re always right about you. Trust yourself.

When I started to trust myself, it became okay to give my knee a bit of a rest. I stopped caring what people thought. My knee is pretty damn happy about that. That makes me pretty damn happy too.

So this begs the question. What truth have you been ignoring? What action will you take to prove that your listening now? Do you believe that you’re always right (about you)?