Recently I have become increasingly aware of how amazing, brilliant, and beautiful women abandon themselves without realizing that they are, in fact, abandoning themselves the way they currently are. So many of us live in a world of potential; thinking that because we plan to change ourselves, we don’t have to love who we are today!
If you ask me, this is backward thinking.
You have to love who you are today to become someone who you will authentically desire to be tomorrow.
There is no shortcut, loophole, or VIP ticket to being someone who can shine the light of a person who embodies wholeness and all-around, inside-and-outside awesomeness. (more…) read more →
We are always hardest on ourselves.
When asked if we would treat our best friend the way we treat ourselves, we shake our heads incredulously. But the way we treat ourselves has an impact on our health, happiness and overall well-being. It’s a radical idea, but it’s a known truth when applied: Our thoughts affect our energy, which then affects our experience, whether it’s our physical health, our relationships or even our capacity to attract abundance. When we think of health, we don’t usually connect it to what’s going on in our minds. We’ve also made one assumption that is not accurate–we have perceived health as the absence of disease. The problem with this assumption is that we fail to recognize the cumulative process in which disease manifests and where it comes from. In other words, disease does not just happen over night, nor does healing; and it is our thoughts and beliefs that have the capacity to prevent, heal or manifest disease.
Judge nothing, you will be happy. Forgive everything, you will be happier. Love everything, you will be happiest. Words to live by, from Indian spiritual guru, Sri Chinmoy. Easier said than done, but when we do notice the subtle ways in which we place judgment on ourselves, others and situations, we’ll begin to notice how much it’s truly blocking us from allowing our best selves to shine. Applying non-judgment is one of the most powerful tools to creating more freedom in our lives and playing a bigger game.
Commitment.
What do you feel when you read that word?
Let’s be clear about what commitment is. According to Merriam-Webster, commitment is defined as a pledge or promise. For some, commitment has become somewhat of a dirty word. Often times it implies obligation filled with “shoulds,” “have to,” and “musts.” I’m inviting you to take on a new attitude about commitment. Consider, for a moment, that the problem, or the angst that you may feel isn’t a result of the word itself but rather, what you are committed to. For example, if what you are committed to is peace, happiness, contribution, and kindness, the word takes on a completely different perspective.
Peaceful breakup sounds like an oxymoron, right? Breaking up is hard to do. But it doesn’t have to be a challenging experience without lessons learned and an understanding that gets us to the next level. It’s in the raw moments of pain and suffering, uncertainty and change that hold the biggest opportunity for growth and expansion. Our work is to show up for the assignment. Many times we don’t because we’re too distracted by feeling like we’re at the mercy of everything that is happening to us. Challenging or painful situations are happening for us–not to us. We have the choice to be willing to process what we need to learn through the experience, rather than feel like a victim of it which is the spiraling down into blame, attack, hurt and pain. Forgiveness, compassion, learning to love and honor ourselves are some themes that we could be needing to learn. When we choose to learn and grow instead of go into the old ways of being, we break the cycle of suffering. A lesson will appear however many times it needs to until we learn it. Hint: Lessons look like themes and patterns in relationships or any area of your life like not speaking up for yourself, fear of being alone, or not trusting others. We want to take these divine opportunities to grow because as we do so, we slowly begin to align with who we truly are and what we truly desire.