I just discovered this poem that I clearly wrote about my work at a time when someone somewhere was trying to persuade me to join a marketing bandwagon and turn my clients into profit. Yes I know it’s sensible, no I can’t think that way, first and foremost people matter.
I hold my beliefs in the heart of me
They go to my core
They are everything I am
Not a reflection of other peoples’ views
They’re not up for grabs to the highest bidder
For sale as some sort of bribe
Or made wishy-washy to be safe
Or make money
I don’t market what I feel to be popular
Or spread the words that people want to hear
So thinly so that they become transparent
And you can see through to a different truth beneath
My beliefs are my life and my heart and my soul
I am my beliefs
My words are as true as I can communicate
To the people who are tired of marketing pizzazz
And strap-lines taken from the nearest bandwagon
Because they’re what we ought to say
Not what we believe
People who feel will hear me
And they will know that I speak sincerely
And even if I’m wrong in their eyes
They will know that I’m honestly wrong
Not dishonestly popular
I’m not selling a life based on my ideas
I’m selling inspiration for individual ideas
I feel because I am
And what I feel is real to me
I want you to be real for you too
Let’s enjoy the difference
Together we can be the change
YOU want to see
Deb Hawken
2012
I'm a writer, public speaker, medium, and spiritual thinker. I suffered from acute anxiety from the age of 16 until I was well into my 50s, after fearlessly exploring many ideas, philosophies, and tools, I finally found methods that helped me return my mind to a better normal. One of the things I hated about anxiety was the way people treated me like a fool or a problem, I have two degrees and I'm a (much) retired black belt, my IQ is decent, but I constantly felt like a complete idiot, something that was exacerbated by never feeling like the real me. The girl who could laugh endlessly about the smallest things, and had a real excitement about what life had to offer her. I didn't need anyone else to tell me I wasn't 'right', I knew that better than anyone. My mission now is to support people suffering as I did with a message of support with what they're going through, tools and ideas that might help, and a strong message of hope for the future. At 63, which I am at the time of writing, many people I know are in a rut, yet having beaten anxiety I'm now doing more with my life than I ever did when I was struggling just to get up in the morning, let alone face the day. It's a wonderful feeling - so the main message is that it doesn't matter how long you've been struggling or what age you are, when you beat anxiety you will get an entirely new lease of life - and that's fantastic at any age. On a personal note I'm married to my soul mate, we have 5 cats, and I live in the middle of the UK. I follow a number of fantastic thinkers, as it's important to immerse yourself in healthy thinking as often as you can, I'm a Toastmaster and professional public speaker, and I keep life simple and encourage my clients to do the same, and my friends.
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Deb Hawken 