“Once you start to awaken, no one can ever claim you again for the old patterns. Now you realize how precious your time here is. You are no longer willing to squander your essence on undertakings that do not nourish your true self; your patience grows thin with tired talk and dead language. You see through the rosters of expectation, which promise you safety and the confirmation of your outer identity. Now you are impatient for growth, willing to put yourself in the way of change. You want your work to become an expression of your gift.” ~John O’Donohue
As I contemplate writing to you this morning, I am experiencing some despair over the shootings that happened in the U.S. over the weekend.
Despair is not bad or wrong. In fact, it’s important to feel. There is personal despair as well. The intense feelings of hopelessness, powerlessness, and shame share close proximity to despair.
If you avoid or resist the difficult feelings in your own life, it is impossible to awaken to your Essence.
But it’s just as important to not get stuck in the despair and hopelessness—the ‘shadow’.
“Out of our wounds, if we can get a sense of our power, that’s where our strength rises.” Cheryl Strayed
Signs you are WAKING UP:
YOU know you are committed to waking up when you find yourself somewhat obsessed with understanding the nature of your own mind and higher Self.
YOU know you are waking up when you can no longer tolerate old patterns that originated in your past because even though they are comfortable your deeper self knows they block your Light from shining in the world.
YOU know you are waking up when the joy you feel as you sit in silence listening to nothing but the ‘still small voice within’ is the most exciting feeling of your day.
YOU know you are waking up when you have the ability to embrace ALL of the parts of yourself without pushing them away or judging them and still not get stuck inside them. You feel the despair and return to the Light.
There is despair and there is Light. We have both as human Beings. The challenge is to learn how to navigate this sacred journey.
We are not meant to do this alone. We can’t do it alone.
