I Busted My Booty over a Neglected Core Value!

Several years ago I went on a women’s weekend to Galveston.

The first night there, we went to Karaoke Night in a local restaurant where we had a blast whipping out our dance moves while singing cheesy songs. I got so carried away with the whole “letting my hair down” idea that I kicked up my leg like a young Rockette at Radio Music Hall as I belted out Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration.” 

Only I was neither “young” or a Rockette so the overly zealous kick happened to rip my hamstring right off my hip bone. Although painful, I kept on dancing, only I looked like the Karate Kid in the famous scene where he balances with his gimpy leg right before he unleashes the lethal crane kick. It wasn’t until days later that I realized the extent of the injury. I was mortified. 

I come from a clan of women who love to salsa dance and enjoy a few drinks and take a break from their hard-working lives. However, I had allowed myself to subscribe to a narrative that denounced this type of behavior.

 Wasn’t more expected of me as an upright Christian woman leading a well-respected, proper family? So then why did I act a fool the very few times I got out on the dance floor? I know now that I had neglected one of my Core Values of Creative Expression for fear that it was not appropriate. I had learned to switch masks depending on who I was with and chalked up that side of me as “sinful”. But you know how sin works, it sneaks out whenever it sees its chance and rips your leg from under you. 

I’ve come to learn that many of our sins stem from neglected needs that COULD have been met in healthy, life-giving ways. But the thing is, no one really teaches us about our needs or how to get them met. I can think of countless stories of people who ended up doing ugly things because they didn’t learn how to listen to their needs, much less find ways to address them. 

Here are a few Examples of Core Needs: 

Acceptance

Comfort 

Recognition

Touch 

Validation

Safety

Movement 

Self-Expression

God gave me a love for dancing and now that I honor that gift and see that it comes from Him, I find that I no longer need to go out and let my hair down so much that I bust my booty. I incorporate creative movement into my days, I dance with my girlfriends and with my husband. I dance in the kitchen ALOT and have learned to welcome light-heartedness and play into my days. 

Maybe you find yourself doing some things that make you feel bad about yourself. I want you to consider that it may be stemming from a hidden desire that is driving your behavior.

I invite you to come to my workshop on October 9th or even to schedule a Discovery Session so we can talk through it.

You are NOT alone, friend.