Be Honest With Yourself

‎"Our lives improve only when we take chances ... and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves."            Walter Anderson

One of the keys to living a life of joy and fulfillment is to be in a constant state of growth and healing.  We all have something to grow around and we are all healing from something.  This is our human way. When we deny those parts of us that need this attention we are not being nurturing and genuine to ourselves.  We are not taking care of the one person that we truly can take care of on every level.  Remember, to love oneself is the only way to truly show up for others in the best way possible.  It is the only way to be the best person you can be and live a full life of joy.

Many of us are afraid of looking inside.  Some even avoid it at all costs and resort to excessive drinking, drug abuse or other addictions to hide from this person whom they perceive to be so bad.  The truth is, we all are loving beings derived from Source.  We are human, we are fallible, but we are perfect in who each and every one of us are.  On some level we are deeply afraid of what we may see and subconsciously believe that if we do reveal this part of ourselves, a punishment will ensue.  Quite the contrary.  Anything brought up and to the light is healed.  True healing begins when we shine the light upon this part of us that is often called “our lower selves.”

I invite you, my friends, to look inside.  Listen to the little voice that tells you where you have strayed from your path of light.  Instead of hiding it and denying its existence, be willing to acknowledge it, send love to it, and release it to the universe to be healed.  Your life will change in beautiful and remarkable ways!

Namaste’

On Being Your Authentic Self

Definition:    
AUTHENTIC:  not false or copied; genuine; real

     Being authentic in your life means being bold enough to know who you are. It's about embracing every little nuance, quirk, talent, expression of love and sense of humor along with multitudes of other things that make you UNIQUELY YOU.  It's about showing who you are no matter what.  The honorable traits and sometimes the less than honorable traits!  :) It's about letting go of outcomes or trying to be something you are not for someone else. 
     When we love ourself enough to show our true selves, our life opens up in remarkable ways!  We start to attract people who genuinely love us for who we are and support our authenticity as being a beautiful thing!
     Have you ever been around someone who "sold" themselves to you as something they are/were not?  How did you feel when you discovered the true person?  Did you feel betrayed?  Did you still feel the same way about them?
     The truth is, sometimes we don't even know we are not portraying our authenticity.  Would you be willing to look within today and ask yourself...  Is this truly what I believe/feel/want?  Am I being true to myself and allowing the whole of me to show?  Am I worried that I won't be liked if I show this part of me to someone?
     Take a risk! Take a chance!  Who you are is wonderful, amazing, unique and beautiful from the top of your head to the tip of your toes and everything in between!
     Go there.  Hold you up!  Celebrate your personality, opinions and quirks!

     Namaste'
    

  

Owning What is Yours

         Relationships are an amazing union between two beautifully unique individuals that gives us the opportunity to grow, to evolve and to love. When someone we love and trust holds a “mirror” to us exposing our weaknesses, consider it a great gift! It is an opportunity to bring us in touch with who we really are and who we truly want to be. It shows us places in us that need to be healed.  It takes courage to look within and it takes vulnerability to admit where we are weak. Be grateful when someone who loves you shines a light on a weak spot.   Be willing to say, “Thank you for that, now I must do some work in that area.”  You will learn that it will assist your personal growth. It will keep your relationships authentic and your vulnerability will help to open that same door for another. It is a win/win deal!
          We are all human beings. We are imperfect and fallible.  We are here to learn, to grow and to evolve.  The power here lies in trusting yourself to know what is yours and what is not.   It’s about taking responsibility for your behaviors and habits.  Having the courage to look inside and admit your wrongs and be gentle and forgiving of yourself for you are only human.

This is a great way to start believing in oneself.  It’s about self-reflection and knowing inside who you truly are.  We all know on some level when we have behaved poorly or have acted out of pride or self-righteousness.  (The key word there is “on some level”).  Usually, our immediate response is, “Well, you did ____ or _____!”  From that point forward it becomes a power play.  Ego versus Ego.  When that happens, everyone stops listening and it’s almost impossible to move forward.  Sometimes it takes that mirror of love to reflect back our actions. Be willing to own what is yours.

          The danger here lies in taking all the responsibility.  It takes two to make a relationship and it takes two to break one.  We only have responsibility for our half.  Be willing to admit what is yours, but be careful of owning something that is not yours only because your partner is a good convincer.  When in doubt, go within.  Ask for some time to ponder the situation.  Take some time to deep breathe and get clarity on your thoughts and feelings.      

    It took me many years to figure all of this out, but eventually… I did! I use to take responsibility for the whole relationship, not just what was mine.  I would allow myself to be blamed for everything and be talked out of my legitimate thoughts, concerns, feelings or upsets.  I now walk through life trusting my feelings are real, valid and deserve some study.  I am willing to be wrong. I am willing to compromise. But I will not allow my feelings to be insignificant.  

We only have power over ourselves and no one else.  It’s a beautiful thing when we start to own our “stuff”.  Within a loving relationship, this usually softens the situation by 75%.  When we make ourselves vulnerable, our loved ones are most likely to soften and come down to that same level and they too are more willing to be vulnerable as well.  This is where true communication really begins. This is where things get solved.  This is where divine Love steps in and Ego stops fighting Ego.

Be willing to be wrong.  Be willing to compromise. But please remember, your thoughts and feelings are not insignificant. You are important and you are valuable.  Believe in yourself!  Trusting and loving oneself is essential in the harmony of a relationship.

And so it is... :)