I was able to check in with April, her mom, and Iris this week. I had a long, deep discussion with her mom about life in general and what's been going on with her mom, as only her mom was home at first. After about two and a half hours of conversation, April and Iris returned home. Everyone loved the goodies I brought over; Iris was very excited about the bubble camera. She's getting so big, and she's such a smart cookie! She loves to pretend, and she keeps pretending to give people baths by throwing clovers/grass on them (or on Chloe, their cat), using a stick for soap, and scrubbing them down. She also alternated with the clovers/grass being sprinkles. At one point, she had been adding her sprinkles to a tunnel she dug outside; when I asked her about the sprinkles, she looked at me and declared, "This is water and soap; Chloe needs a bath!" She's full of such energy, creativity, imagination, and life; she's absolutely adorable. It was so good to see them again and catch up.
This unusual school year is finally completed! I've learned so much, and I had the opportunity to work with so many incredible people. I'm super grateful for this experience! The kids and families are super sweet, and I am so blessed for this opportunity. I wish them all the best! I know all those kiddos will go so far and accomplish so many incredible things!
I decided to watch the new Scooby Doo movie, Scoob!, because it looked funny. It was pretty humorous, but it also touched upon deep subject matter. Those with ill-intent hide behind fear--they recognize that people avoid what they fear, so such individuals use that as a cover for their misdeeds. For example, much like the bulk of the Scooby Doo series, at the beginning of Scoob! young Shaggy and Scooby are too afraid to enter a house because they are convinced it was haunted. Fred, Daphne, and Velma join forces with them and convince them to go inside to get their candy. What appears to be a ghost jumps out, flying around and chasing them. Lots of screaming, scrambling, and fleeing ensues, but upon closer inspection, they recognize the hoax for what it is and reveal the culprit fro who he truly is. This man had been stealing and hoarding heaps of pricey goods and gadgets at the "haunted" house for who knows how long, using people's fear to benefit as a natural deterrent that allows him and his misdeeds to hide in plain sight. It's only by finding courage to act, despite our fear, and take a deeper look that we uncover the truth. Scoob! may be a movie and a piece of "fiction," but fear is very much used as a cover up in the real world. Don't be afraid to dig deeper--don't let fear sell you a life. The real monsters often aren't what you first think. Maybe they don't wear the elaborate masks and costumes in the real world like in Scooby Doo, but that doesn't mean that they aren't there. Corliss pointed out that they reveal the REAL monsters--they aren't mythical creatures, ghosts, goblins, and the like; the real monsters are always humans furious for having their plans thwarted by "meddling kids."
This movie also deals with the concept of life changes and how it can impact relationships. Shaggy, acknowledges, "I let my own jealousy break me and Scooby up. I was afraid that with his new suit and his new team, things were gonna change. And they did change, but, like, that's okay. People can grow, but that doesn't mean that we're growing apart because the one thing that will never change is that Scooby Doo is my best friend." Fear messes with us; it sells us a story full of lies--it's False Evidence Appearing Real. Shaggy bought into the idea that Scooby would replace him with his new team. Life will provide plenty of change--it's the one thing that constant--but that doesn't mean change is a bad thing. Fear presents a multitude of falsities, but love is real. Shaggy realizes this and gets his act together to help his best friend. Scoob! also addresses this idea of stepping up to the plate and being your best self with Brian/Blue Falcon. Throughout the movie, the son of the original Blue Falcon, Brian, is in love with the label of being a hero without acting like a true hero. He'll talk the talk, but when it comes down to it, will he actually walk the walk? When things head south, Brian admits, "I'm calling my dad... I do [need my dad], alright? He's the hero. I'm not. I can't win this."
Dynomutt isn't having it and remarks, "So what? Look at Scooby and Shaggy! They're terrified, and they're taking on Cerberus! ... Well, in their own unique way."
Brian replies, "So, you're saying it's heroic to be scared, and even to lose sometimes? Dude, this is it! This is my hero moment--my real hero moment!"
Dynomutt encourages, "And it's my moment, too. So what do you say, Blue Falcon? ...It's time for you to spread your wings and fly."
Determined, Brian declares, "You're right. This suit just makes me a hero on the outside. It's time to tap into the hero in here... Let's do this!"
Again, fear gets in the way and convinces us to act differently with it's false evidence. It's once we acknowledge it and overcome it that we can step into our true power, achieving our "hero moment." The time is now. We can all have our hero moments. You have everything you need inside of you; it might be nice to have all the fancy gadgets and tools on the outside, but it's what's on the inside the truly counts. Believe in yourself; you're so much more than fear would have you believe.
Laura Eisenhower touches on the unhealthy nature of human behavior and choices in her recent video, "Time to Come Clean ~ Times A Tickin' ~ Powerful Eclipses Coming!" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crq6fMHE3Ro). She notes, "There's detrimental things that happen when we hang on to things that aren't healthy, and we see that in our own personal lives when we continue with a habit or a behavior or a partnership or a job or anything that isn't good for us, and we don't get the red flags or signals to, you know, move on... If anything's the root of disease--I wouldn't say that's the only root, but that's one of the roots." Why do we likely hang onto things even if it's not in our best interest? We're afraid of change. We're afraid of the unknown. Even if a part of us recognizes the need to change, fear waltzes in to convince us otherwise. Fear lures us into unconscious decision-making. Now more than ever is it important to be conscious and aware in our decision making. Our choices have consequences, good or bad. It's our choices that direct our lives. Laura Eisenhower stresses that with three eclipses coming up starting on June 5th, "The eclipse time is a really important time to make the conscious choices of where you want to see things go. The power of eclipses lasts for about six months so it's really important to prepare." We're laying the foundation for the rest of our lives; what we do now matters. Now is not the time to live cowering in fear; now is not the time to buy into fear's lies. Laura Eisenhower emphasizes, "We are so afraid of death that we are killing our ability to live." While fear has its purpose and place, it should not be allowed to run the show. Fear is not the one living; you are. Don't let fear interfere with your ability to live and thrive. You are capable of incredible things, regardless of what lies fear whispers or screams to you.
Ashley Stahl also address this concept in her Ted Talk, "How to Figure Out What You Really Want | Ashley Stahl | TEDxLeidenUniversity" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRtBHF-WPpM). Ashley Stahl emphasizes, "Often we kidnap ourselves from the lives that we actually want because we think a different path is going to help us survive, get by, pay our bills, or meet our needs in the world." We end up kidnapping ourselves because we listen to fear; we believe the lies it feeds us. We buy the story of their being no other way. Ashley Stahl continues,
"I pulled out my journal, and I wrote at the top of it: I am my own kidnapper. I listed all of the ways over the years that I silenced the truth of what I actually want, all of the times that I took myself captive on soul-crushing journeys that I didn't even want to be on. I thought about how so many of us choose majors in college or career paths that we don't even want to be on because we think it's going to help us survive, get by, or meet our needs in the world, but it doesn't have to be that way. I encourage you to ask yourself: where am I kidnapping myself from the life that I really want? How am I giving away my power, giving into fear, just to meet my needs in the world? When we go into fear, we give away our power, and we disconnect from who we really are and what we really want."
We don't have to give away our power. We don't have to listen to fear. We don't have to kidnap ourselves because "there is no other way." Ashley Stahl points out,
"There are three key steps that you can take right now to make what I love to call a u-turn, which is the decision to get out of fear and come home to yourself. So the first step is to do a self audit. Really ask yourself: where am I holding myself captive? This means being honest about yourself about where you are, what's working for you, and what isn't. And if you think about it, we come into the world, our natural state is with so much love, creativity. Think about kids--they have inspiration. And yet over time we're taught to fear, and fear is a necessary inner alarm system that we all need to survive in the physical world... but over time we hurt. Life throws us curve balls. We learn to stop taking risks and start being afraid. We get afraid to put ourselves out there. We start calling ourselves practical or realistic for making choices that seem 'responsible' when really we're just so scared of criticism. And if we're being really honest with ourselves, people who call themselves realists are often just dreamers who got their hearts broken somewhere along the way... One of my favorite questions to ask people is: what do you know that you wish you didn't know? ... Maybe some of you know that you're hiding from the truth; deep down, you know you're hiding from the truth. Maybe you're hiding from the fact that you hate your job, but you don't want to admit because you're scared and you don't know where to go next. Or maybe you're hiding from the fact that you married the wrong person, but you're scared to admit it because it's going to unravel your life to get a divorce. Or maybe you know that something's going on with your health, but you're scared to go to the doctor because you don't want to hear the diagnosis. Whatever it is, tap into what's deeply true for you, seeing things as they are--not worse than they are, not better than they are, but as they actually are. In order to figure out what you really want, you need to see the truth of where you really are. And maybe right now you feel pain bubbling up inside of you as you look at what's true for you, but know this: pain is often a trampoline that will launch us into our next stage of life if we're willing to let it."
Life can be scary and painful, but it doesn't have to stay that way. Life doesn't have to happen to you. You can use the experiences that occur to have life work for you. As Ashley Stahl points out, you can use it as a trampoline to launch you into a new beginning, a new chapter. You probably listen to fear because it is what's familiar. There's a comfort in it--even if it isn't enjoyable, at least you know what to expect. You know, more or less, what to expect. Are you truly living this way, though? Fear shackles you down. It limits your opportunities and robs your joy. Is that what it means to feel alive? Change can set you free. Ashley Stahl emphasizes,
"The second step is to follow your freedom... This means paying attention to what feels good to you so you can finally set yourself free... In the United States alone 71% of the workforce is on the job hunt, and I believe, as a career expert, that that is because people don't like where they are. More than 70% of the United States is taking prescription drugs and more than half of marriages are ending in divorce... But when you learn to really follow what feels good to you, your purpose is often either right in front of you or on the periphery of that... Right now, scientists are calling our gut our second brain, and you've probably heard the research that there's more than 200 million neurons in our gut, which is equivalent to the size of a cat or dog's brain... that means if in your nervous system you're feeling some sort of anxiety or disconnect, some nerves, something feels off, to trust it because your body is a messenger, and it is constantly giving you feedback... In a world of climbing the corporate ladder, 5 year plans, and unnecessary degrees we are all striving for something that is so unrealistic, and it's perfection. But who you are at age 25 isn't going to be who you are at age 30, and it certainly isn't going to be who you are at age 40. And that's why I invite you to see your career as an experiment that really meets you where you are, a vehicle for your own self-expression. You can start with writing down all of your ideas and checking in with your body, seeing how they feel to you. Do you feel joy or do you feel fear? Do you feel expansion or do you feel contraction? Do you feel liberation or do you feel suffocation? ... Really ask yourself: what skill set am I using when I'm the most inspired? Because when you're in your inspiration, you're not being run or kidnapped by your fear."
Change is constant in life. What brings you joy now might not tomorrow or next year or in ten years. That doesn't mean you shouldn't follow your joy. Be true to yourself. Explore. Try new things. Why stay where you are unhappy? While you can find happiness wherever you are, as it is ultimately a choice and a perspective, that doesn't mean you should stay where you feel unhappiness. Express yourself. Tap into your power and what makes you unique. What talents, skills, and abilities do you have that you can share with the world and make something unique? Don't hesitate. Don't listen to fear because it is a liar. The time is now to act. Ashley Stahl concludes,
"And the third step is to engage... Action will [get you your love interest or your dream job], but perfectionism is the enemy of action... perfectionism is a mask that we all wear when we're afraid of failure. So ask yourself: am I a perfectionist? Because here's the truth of the matter: clarity comes from engagement; it does not come from thought. Limbo is powerless, so if you want to be powerful, look at your list, pick something that feels good, show up, see what feedback the universe gives you, make a commitment, and know that you can course correct along the way... We all have the opportunity to free ourselves, and it starts with really taking a look at who you are, doing a self audit, following what feels good, and taking action. No matter where you are in your life right now, you have the opportunity to make a u-turn; that means connecting to the truth, connecting to your body, connecting to your joy. Most of all, that means making your u-turn."
Plans, ideas, vision boards, dreams, etc. are all well and good, but make it a reality. To quote Corliss, you are the captain of your ship. You're in charge. You get to choose. You can choose to stay, enslaved to fear and its lies. You can choose to jump and take the chance to try something new. You can choose to follow your heart, follow your joy, and follow love. You can choose to remain in the job, relationship, the lifestyle that you find miserable. It's your choice. You can continue down that path. You can make a u-turn. Do what feels right to you. Nobody else can tell you what's best or right for you; it's up to you to find out and decide.
You can go big or play small; it's all your choice. Even if others scoff at your dreams, they do not have to stay dreams. You can make it your reality if you choose. It might require work, but it is possible. First you need to be open to the idea--you need to accept that it is possible. If you are convinced it's impossible, you'll create a self-fulfilling prophecy as you will not put forth effort to make it a reality, to give yourself the chance--you'll give up before you have even begun. Amanda Ellis observes,
"Do you dare to dream, and if so, do you dare to dream big? ... [It's important to embrace] life as the adventure it is, bringing energetic color to our cheeks of exhilaration and encouraging us to try something new, create something different, travel to new places, embrace new concepts and ideas, and not allow past wounding or present difficulties to hold us back. Acknowledging that into every life a little rain shall fall... so too will the sun rise again and that each day we have is precious, and to make of it what we can despite what we may be faced with, to not lose sight of how it feels to be truly alive, to have life excite you once more, for passions to be reignited, and the energy of enchantment and miracles stirred within you. Don't think that is possible? You may feel as though life is passing you by, that duty, commitments, and work are preventing you from expressing who you really are in this incarnation, and yet it is never too late. There are always doorways of birth open to you in every moment, be it via new thought forms, activities, priorities, or goals... [This] is the birthplace of anything new... [inviting] you back to dance with life, to be at one with its rhythm that can bring new opportunity and experience into every day. It helps stimulate appetite for new things, new people, new tastes, new sounds whilst also deepening a connection to all that is good and still fertile in your life. It reminds you that the universe is bountiful and wishes to work with you not against you, helping to heal any trauma or memory held within... that blocks joy and the belief that you can do or be anything you set your mind to... It helps you focus on the day at hand, not where you once were, but what you can be now, and that today and that which can be built on tomorrow. You are not what happened to you, not your story, not the pain of the past; you are God's expression here on earth, and the world was meant to be your oyster. A youthful elixir that wakens up your dormant desires, rekindles lost dreams, and ignites the spark again to step into being the powerful manifestor that you actually are. Manifesting from a fifth dimensional place, Archangel Metatron helps you to brings towards you that which is desired, according to divine time, place, and need. In 5D we create not just for ourselves but our tribe. We know that the creation of happiness, satisfaction, and joy aids the frequency upon this planet that we call home. Never selfish or about greed... [it] helps dreams, plans, ideas, and goals to flourish when seated in love... this energy helped to uplift and bring a smile on the greatest of days, to not just see the beauty in the world but to feel it. Use... [it] to orchestrate the journey you seek, the energies you need, and to remember that life is the soul's great joy. Allow it to leap, have fun, and fly." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_V-Ui31_D8)
Life is an adventure, and life is what you make it. You can take yourself as far as you want if you allow it. You are a powerful co-creator of your life, the captain of your ship. You weren't meant to live in constant, crushing fear. That's no way to live. You were meant to thrive, find joy, love, dream, and achieve greatness. It's never to late to start a new chapter. Write your story, full of exciting journeys and incredible experiences. Find what makes you feel alive. Make the most of the moment, whether that's doing something incredible or taking the chance to relax and recharge. The only one who can determine what the next best thing for you is you.
In order to figure out the next best thing, you might need to take a step back to reflect and research. In another video, "Wanderlust? Gemini New Moon Chat & Cuppa" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21SlWFWkzVA), Amanda Ellis notes, "Deep diving for wisdom... I think many of us have been diving deep over the last couple of months, maybe as a result of lock down--maybe not, but there's been an enormous amount of reflection, diving deep for the wisdom, the answers, the truth of particular situations that we may be in. And it's as through having done that, having found the answer, whatever the answer is... where one door closes there is a gateway opening... As one door closes another door always will open, and that is the truth. The thing is: you have to have the trust and the faith to close the first door before the other gateway opens." We know when it's important to move on, but we need to trust ourselves and the journey in order to take it. Otherwise, we listen to fear and stand still, letting the opportunity to pass us by. The universe will always provide us opportunities to thrive, but we need to allow them in. It's up to our choices. Doors will open and close throughout our lives; will we walk through the open door or will we continue to try to pry open up the door that closed even if it's locked shut? There are times when it won't matter how much you try, that door will remain closed. It's in the past. It might have worked for you before, but it might not be an option any more. What's the best thing for you now? All you have is the present. If you are unsure, explore your feelings and the possibilities. You're smart, and you'll figure it out. Amanda recommends, "Letting the stars guide you... seeing where life wants to take you, accessing the energy within you that wants change, that is seeking freedom and adventure and new experiences, new tastes and textures and feelings... Now where's that going to take you? The ideas that you've had, where is it going to take you? ... Let yourself wander. Let your mind wander. Do something different. Break out of the box." Life and the universe will often leave you clues if you are open to listening to and seeing them. Savor your journey. Racing to the final destination won't earn you bonus points; why not make the most and enjoy the process along the way? If you aren't satisfied with the way your life is now, why not break out of the constraints and the box society has placed you in and start a new phase? You can always try something new. You can always create and write a new chapter. Amanda emphasizes, "Commitment: what are you signing up for in your next chapter of your life? Look at the bottom of the pack: status quo--status quo is on the way out... just doing the same old same old because it's always been done that way... Who are you committing to? What are you committing to? What projects are you committing to? What are you committing to within yourself? ... Are you going to sign up to be the best version of yourself that you can be in this next chapter of your life?" What do you want to do with your life? Why let fear or anything else stop you? You can make your dream a reality; you don't have to continue with the same old same old. Just because it's the way it used to be, the way it used to work, doesn't mean it has to remain that way. Now's the time to take that first step. Amanda Ellis continues,
"If you can really focus at this moment in time, you've done the work or you're diving deep to try and find the answers and then you're just having to make a decision and go for it--success is assured... You've made the decision. It's now time just to act on it and see it through. You've now just got to do it... When you've had that moment of clarity, you've made that decision, follow it through because what we've got here is success... Trust yourself to really be able to see the truth of a situation. Trust yourself to be able to see it because you can, and your heart certainly will also help steer you... Then commit to it, walk through that gateway, and success is assured."
If you try, you can succeed. If you never take that first step, you guaranteed to fail. Trust yourself. Trust the process. Trust the universe. See the decision, the dream, the goal through to the end. You can do it. Don't let fear convince you to get in your own way. You possess so much power and potential; you are the creator of your story--you're writing it as we speak. What kind of story do you want it to be? Amanda encourages,
"It's very important that you sign on the dotted line to this new life that you're trying to create or the decision that you've made with gusto, with enthusiasm, with happiness, with a smile on your face as much as you can. Even if you are having to walk away from something you do so with a thank you for what that taught me, thank you for that lesson; you do it honorably, you do it respectfully, you do it with as much love as you can, and you also open the door to the new with a sense of wonder and expecting the best... [Let] the fears go. They'll still be there, like the monkey on your shoulder, but... just acknowledge that they're there, but this time I'm not listening to you. This time I've listened to my higher self. This time I've looked with 20/20 vision. I've looked very deeply into my soul, into my being, and I know that even if this might be difficult, I know this is the right thing for me to do."
Don't life a lackluster life. Live a life with purpose, with enthusiasm, with happiness, with passion, with confidence, with vigor, with love. Everything happens for a reason. Even if a chapter ends, that doesn't mean it was worthless; that chapter taught you, helped you grow, and provided meaningful opportunities and experiences. Clinging onto the old chapter will not serve you, though. If we never let the chapter end, we'll always be on chapter one (and I'm sure we don't want that). Tap into your intuition, to who you really are, and listen to what your heart and soul have to say; they'll know what's best for you. Fear will still exist, but that doesn't mean you have to listen to it. You know what's best for you, so listen to you. Find your happiness and love.
Perspective matters. It sets the tone for your story. Michelle Patterson notes,
"Whatever is occurring for you, try to see the beauty in anything... The idea here is that you don't want to be hung up in resentment or aggravation or fear or, you know, all these things that could really get you stuck, and all these beautiful ideas, all these possibilities, all these opportunities are swirling around you, and if you're in a lower state where you don't feel like you deserve to have good things happen to you or if you're in a state where you're like, 'Yeah, well, I'll believe it when I see it 'cause nothing good ever happens'... We don't want that sense of bitterness. We don't want to be jaded. We don't want to bring that to our present moment. We've already learned those lessons, and everyone's on their path, so maybe you're still in that space, and that's okay... don't beat yourself up for that, but if we want serendipity to flow, we want that inspiration, if we want to see synchronistic events, giving us and lighting up the path... we have to be open to it... Sometimes you have to close your eyes to the outer world so that you can rediscover your inner worlds... The whole idea here is to find whatever is peaceful for you... Beautiful gifts are coming." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpWXZ90Of9E)
Life is full of possibilities. Don't limit yourself. Events, in reality, aren't good or bad (those are mind labels)--they just are. Even if something happening is perceived to be bad, it could end up working out for the best; it can work out in your favor. Maybe it might not be super enjoyable in the moment, but it could be a huge opportunity of growth and success. Even if things seem dark, you might have been planted, waiting to bloom. If you are convinced whatever experience is completely bad, horrible, wrong, etc., you are cutting yourself off from the possibilities. You're not allowing gifts from the experience to come in. Moreover, bitterness, resentment, fear, aggravation, hate, etc. do not serve you--holding on to these will only poison you on the inside. Release this toxic negativity and set yourself free. You deserve so much more than to be poisoned from emotions. You deserve love, light, and a wonderful life. Give yourself that chance by allowing the opportunities and possibilities in.
Humans tend to externalize their power and happiness, believing when X, Y, and Z happen, then they'll be happy. Even if they get those things, they might not be happy for long. Something else will happen. It always does. They'll want something else. People tend to. Michelle Patterson remarks in her video, "FINALLY! THIS IS DIFFERENT | Weekly May 18, 2020 Angelic Message" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmGhVjhwy9U),
"We as humans are always waiting for things outside of us to fall into place in the way that we think they should so we can be happy... You need to be happy with what is... Not looking around and seeing necessarily all the things that are out of place but how lucky you are to be where you are... If you have a roof over your head, you're doing better than some. If you're healthy, you're doing better than some people. If you can pay your bills, you know what I'm saying? And some of you out there, you're in that place where, you know, maybe you did lose your job. Maybe you are on a reduced income right now. The whole world is with you, alright, so you're not alone. So if you start to even kind of go into that space of "Oh no, what am I going to do?", remember that I'm not alone, and this is my opportunity to start exploring what might really make me happy, what might give me more security in my life, you know, whatever security is for you... we have to work on not letting our energy get suppressed so much that we start to fall apart because, remember, we are a collective energy... if you're feeling depressed, please reach out for help. There's no shame in getting help whatsoever, and there are tons of resources out there for you... but if we're in this place where we keep finding ourselves getting triggered, getting agitated, and then staying there, well then we're adding that to the collective... It is okay for us to enjoy our lives. It's time to get creative... It's time to get creative about how to find joy in what is right now, not putting your happiness on hold until the externals fall into place; they never will, and that whole time you're contributing this energy to the collective and you're kind of torturing yourself and you don't deserve that... There are ways to find happiness... There are things to do here, and it's not about distracting yourself in the sense that you're in denial, alright. That's not what we're doing, but we want you to do anything that you can to stay in a nicer energy, for your sake and everyone's sake. So, that could also mean doing creative projects, so if there's something that you have put off, maybe you should practice your music if that's what you do or sit and do some writing... But if you just give yourself that chance and even just treat it like journaling, just to get you going, that might be one approach. Or read a book, catch up on your reading. There are all these things that you could be doing. Find things around your home where you can do a project or... anything to get us out of that phase of 'Oh no, what's going happen to us next?' ... I'm not saying... don't be aware... but take care of yourselves... Take very good care of yourselves and giving yourself that time to meditate and to just take the pressure off... You need that now."
Make the most of the opportunity before you. So, you don't know what's going to happen next. So what? How many people actually know what is going to happen? Explore the possibilities. Experiment with opportunity. Find what makes you happy. You can find a reason to be grateful and happy in whatever situation you find yourself in. Don't torture yourself; don't stand still waiting for all the stars to align perfectly, for every last thing to fall precisely in place. It will never be 100% right. There will always be a reason fear can come up with to prevent you from taking action; that doesn't mean you should listen. Don't put off your life; enjoying your life and making the most of the time you have is the whole point to being alive. Loving yourself and sharing your love with others are most important. Don't stress the little things. They're little. Don't stress. Everything will be alright. Breathe and take care of yourself--regardless of what others may say, take the time to care for yourself and recharge your batteries. Michelle continues, "Don't listen to other people about what makes you happy or how you should do things... The message here is not to sidestep how you feel; it is try to find the happiness with where you are and stop beating yourself up for where you are and don't let other people beat you up either... We started giving in to this conditioned thinking, that this way of manifesting from the ego to get things that would feed into the egoic society. There's nothing wrong with wanting a nice house... [or] a nice car, but when you think that that is attached to your self-worth? Okay, we need to re-evaluate that. Coming into the heart space, this is where you can manifest things... [now] because you're coming from the place of feeling, what you manifest is more authentic, and it has a nicer intention behind it. And just because it doesn't look successful to other people, it doesn't mean that it's not bringing you happiness... Sometimes you need to flow with your soul's purpose. You have to flow with what is helping your soul grow... The secret is you can be happy right now, you can manifest from the heart and manifest what is truly meaningful to you, what would really make you happy, as opposed to what other people tell you will make you happy." "To get into that space of doing something that makes you happy, getting you in touch with your heart and soul, and... manifest something that is more meaningful, more in alignment with who you are... If it feels right to you... if you're in your heart... get back in touch with your heart, with you soul, let that be priority number one, enjoy your life. You're allowed to enjoy it, no matter what's happening outside of you."
Your well being is of the utmost importance. It's okay to be where you are; you won't be there forever. Tap into your heart, your soul, and find your true happiness. It's your happiness. Other people don't have to understand it completely or at all. It doesn't have to make sense to them or look like what they view as "success" as long as it makes sense to you, as long as you feel you are successful. What feels right to you is meaningful. We are all connected, but we are pieces of the whole, individual threads of the same magnificent tapestry. We may look different, enjoy different things, or experience different forms of success, but that doesn't make it any less valid. Find what works for you. It might not work for others, but we're talking about what works for you. If it feels right for you, if it is your version of success, that's all that matters. Live within your heart-space and find your path. Michelle notes, "This is about being creative; what do you want to have for your life? What do you want to draw in? If we get into this place of fear... I'm not saying pretend like things aren't happening, but if we get into that place of fear, now we're not creating; we're allowing some other power to create for us. How do you want to color your life? What do you want it to look like? ... It's okay [to] be in your feelings; have your moment. Just if you are feeling frustrated, make sure that you give yourself a chance to come on out of that." Emotions are visitors; don't let these visitors and guests to dictate the direction of your path. Don't giveaway your position as captain; what do you want? Uncover it, focus on it, and work on creating it. Michelle concludes, "If we're gonna find that light within us, there's a lot we need to let go of, and there's a lot of evaluating in how we have approached our lives, how we approach one another... It can be very easy to jump to conclusions because, again, we are all in that state right now where we're just a little on edge... and maybe being fearful of the future... What if you could have a vacation from all of that? ... Giving yourself a chance to revitalized... I'm just going to unplug for a minute. I'm just gonna do what makes me happy and not pressure myself to keep going, going, going, and making things happen... Strengthen your faith. Allow yourself to be in a calm state. See, we also get conditioned to think that if we take a moment for ourselves... if we're not panicking like everybody else, then you don't care... That is not it. If we do care, we need to make sure that we are taking care of our own energy, taking care of our physical vessels, making sure that we are finding happiness and keeping the faith. Keeping that faith--that's what's helping humanity... so strengthen your faith. Allow yourselves to take a little bit of a break here." Let go of what does not serve you. Take a break to rest. Unplug when necessary. Fill up your own cup. We're not the Energizer Bunny; if we live a life where where constantly going and going and going and going, sooner or later we will crash and burn. We're not meant to live such a life. That's not enjoyable. Take care of yourself so you can care for others, for the planet, and have the energy to do something about it. If you burn yourself out, what will you be able to accomplish? You won't have any energy to do anything. Society idolizes the busy life, but it's not a healthy lifestyle. This whole situation and shut down is a reminder for many people to take care of themselves and make time for what matters most.
Society loves to tell people what to do, what to think, how to feel. People end up losing how to think, act, and feel for themselves. We need to remember how to do what we want, to do what feels right for us rather than doing something merely because someone else tells us to. Ralph Smart reminds us,
"You have to stop doing what they want you to do, what your parents want you to do... what your friends want you to do--no, you have to start living for you. They don't know what's best for you, deep divers. Only you know what's best for you. For a long time I thought I just have to get along and go along with what everyone else is doing. I was neglecting my own inner needs... Now I respect my emotions; I realized that my emotions are my inner guidance system. They will always tell me where I need to be and what's best for my mental health... Stop saying yest to other people when it's a no to yourself.. You have to learn how to protect your energy... If you are someone going through a massive breakdown right now, congratulations because your breakdown is only a breakthrough. Instead of focusing on what you are going through, focus on who you are becoming in the process. A diamond was just a large piece of charcoal... that handled pressure exceptionally well, and you are becoming a diamond, deep divers... You've gotta let go to grow. I let go of all of this, all of this expectations society put on me--I let it go. I said, 'You know what? We only live once; yes, we are immortal, but right now it's only one life to live. I'm gonna do whatever I want every single day without apologizing, without feeling guilty.' I'm loving life, deep divers, because I know the secret of life; it's all about your inner journey, not their journey. It's all about what you want to do, not what they want to do... Every single day only do what your heart agrees with. Make sure you are recharging your batteries... You need to put some fun back into your life... The only thing that matters, deep divers, at the end of the day is the love in your heart. Everything else is temporary, fleeting... Only the love in your heart will remain... Don't do it for them; do it for you. Make sure you are living for you every single day. I was too busy, deep divers, filling everyone else's cup... I had to learn how to fill my own cup first. Charity begins at home. A lot of people right now are overwhelmed, exasperated, tired, looking like a hot mess because you are trying to solve everyone else's problem, but you still can't solve your own... [tell yourself] I've got to put me first; I'm gonna take care of myself... An attitude of gratitude... Count your blessings... more than you count your problems... Making the best out of the worst and never allowing external events to govern your internal condition... You can rise above adversity. You can rise above any situation that's been getting you down... [Tell yourself] I'm not gonna allow this society to take away my smile; I'm not gonna allow this society to take away my peace of mind... Your peace of mind, deep divers, is your highest form of wealth. It's time to start investing in it. It's time to start protecting it. It's time to start putting some respect on it... Make sure you are taking care of yourself, deep divers. Make sure you realize that you don't have to die for this--you can live for this. Make sure you realize, deep divers, everybody falls, but not everybody rises; everybody dies, deep divers, but not everybody lives... Realize you're doing the best you can, and that's all that's needed." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu8qp_sJtuw
Fill your cup, live a life with a heart full of love. Choose to not only survive but to live and thrive. Choose fun. Choose gratitude. Choose peace. Choose love. Choose joy. Don't let others or fear rob your peace of mind. You may stumble, but you can always get back up again. You're doing the best you can with what you have. Don't sell yourself short. You may be experiencing great pressure, but it's a process--you can come out on the other side with a greater shine than ever before. Go where you feel you can be your true self and can freely shine your inner light.
Many people have chosen not to listen to their inner self, opting to listen to others and fear instead; they've become convinced that what makes them happy isn't important, that they can't do what they love as a career. Adam Leipzig notes in his video, "How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes | Adam Leipzig | TEDxMalibu" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVsXO9brK7M),
"As I talked with my friends, I made an astounding discovery: 80% of them were unhappy with their lives... the people I was speaking with were privileged and highly educated and financially well off and in positions of power... Who was happy, the 20%? ... We had studied classes for the joy of learning, not because we thought they were going to put direct us to a specific job. We still got jobs, we were living our lives expansively with life's ups and downs, and we did not feel that we had wasted a single minute... I discovered that each of them [the 20%] knew something about their life purpose because they knew five things: who they were, what they did, who they did it for, what those people wanted or needed, and what they got out of it, how they changed as a result... In fact it's so simple that you can learn your life purpose now... If you're like a lot of us, you have wondered and worried about your life purpose for a long time, and there are books and magazines and workshops and seminars about it... I know some people who have spent their entire lives trying to learn their life purpose. Look, we can all agree that the unexamined life is not worth living, but if all you're doing is examining, you're not living... What do you love to do? Do you love to write, cook, design, create iOS apps, write code, crunch numbers, talk, teach? ... And if there are a lot of things that come up for you, focus it down by asking yourselves this one question: what is the one thing that right now you feel supremely qualified to teach other people? ... What do all those people want or need? ... How do they change or transform as a result of what you give them? ... Why is that formulation so powerful? Because of all of those five things that you need to know to know what your life purpose is, only two are about yourself. The other three of them are about other people: who they are, what they want or need, and how they change as a result. That formulation forces you to be outward facing, and all the happier people I met... they were outward facing, they were not inward facing. They knew very clearly whom they served, what those people needed, and how those people changed as a result... The most successful people in any field always focus most on the people that they serve than on how they are served themselves. Happier people make it a point to make other people happy and do things that make them feel well taken care of and secure. If you make other people happy, life teaches us: we will be taken care of, too."
What we love to do can be our job. Figuring out what we love to do, who that would serve, what they need, and how they will change through this service will help us live a life worth living, a powerful one full of meaning. We'll be much happier. This is something anyone and everyone can do. We can all be successful and happy. This doesn't have to be an exclusive experience that only a small margin of people experience. It can be the reality for everyone.
Finding our life purpose can be scary, even if we know that our current job is not it. Society places a lot of pressure on finding that one thing that we can do, that this one thing is the one thing we will do for the rest of our lives. If we mess that one thing up, make a mistake, we're a failure. It's not true. Life is a journey. Terri Trespicio emphasizes in her video, "Stop searching for your passion | Terri Trespicio | TEDxKC" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MBaFL7sCb8),
"The day I got laid off from my job at Martha Stewart, I was relieved. I loved the job, I really did, but the relationship was over. And I didn't know how to end it, and then it broke up with me... And, honestly, I had no idea what I was going to do, and, quite frankly, no one was looking for me... I needed to get paid to do something, right? ... But this idea that I had to know what I was supposed to do now. I'm supposed to pursue this passion. It just bugged me. It always had, and that's because it's a dangerously limiting idea at the heart of everything we believe about success and life in general, and it's that you have one singular passion, and your job is to find it and to pursue it to the exclusion of all else. And if you do that, everything will fall into place, and if you don't, you failed. The pressure starts really young, and it goes your whole life, but it's, perhaps, most pronounced when you're graduating from school... It's so intimidating. It's like picking a major for life... and this compelling... this forceful cultural imperative to choose your passion, it's stressful to me, but it's not just me--everyone I talk to agrees with me... I'm leery about passion for a few reason, but one of them is that passion is not a plan--it's a feeling, and feelings change. They do... [Passion is] the fire that ignites when you start rubbing sticks together... I was turning away perfectly good full-time jobs... because I was afraid. I was sure that I would pick the wrong one and get on the wrong train headed to the wrong future... You don't create your life first and then live it; you create it by living it, not agonizing about it... But this idea that everything you're supposed to do should fit in this passion vertical is unrealistic. [Scott] Adams says that in his life success fueled passion more than passion fueled success... I was not setting the world on fire right away, really. I was so awkward and afraid of selling, and then I got better... I started making some money; I started getting really passionate about it. Not just because of the money but because what I realized was people wanted the stuff. They were happy to pay for it. I sold so much jewelry that year, I won a free trip to Saint Thomas... I eventually let my jewelry business go because my career path shifted, but I was so glad that I did that because it planted an entrepreneurial seed I didn't know was there, and that bears fruit to this day... I was really boring; I thought something was wrong with me, but that's the fear, isn't it? That when someone asks you at a party, on a date, at a job interview, 'What are you passionate about?' That you're not going to have this wow, compelling answer, and that means that you're not interesting, or ambitious, or that you don't have a singular obsession or scary talent that you're hiding and that your life isn't worth living. And it's not true. Passion is not a job, a sport, or a hobby. It is the full force of your attention and energy that you give to whatever is right in front of you, and if you're so busy looking for this passion, you could miss opportunities that change your life... that's what happens when you have tunnel vision... Sometimes you don't know what you're going to do next, right? ... It's okay not to know. You know why? Because the most fulfilling relationships, the most fulfilling careers, are those that still have the power to surprise you... If you're sitting around, waiting for passion to show up and take it, you're going to be waiting a long time. So don't wait. Instead, spend your time and attention solving your favorite problems. Look for problems that need solving. Be useful, generous. People will thank you and hug you and pay you for it, and that's where passion is--where your energy and effort meet someone else's need. That's when you realize: passion lives and realizing what you have to contribute... So don't wait... Just start doing because to live a life full of meaning and value, you don't follow your passion--your passion follows you."
Fear can spin a multitude of lies about a multitude of subjects. Fear can weave a story to get you to stand still, indecisive, too afraid to make any choice. You're afraid of the unknown, but you don't have to know how it will end. It's a journey. Having a plan is great and can get you quite far, but sometimes it's the unexpected twists, turns, and detours that are the most memorable, the most exciting, and the most impactful. Take the next step. Your courage may waiver, your voice may quiver, and your legs may shake. Choose to move forward still. Life can surprise you. More people regret not moving forward and taking the opportunity. Passion is important, but it is not everything. Keep an open mind and be open to the possibilities. Do what you can do; that can be enough.
Life is a series of chapters; even if one chapter ends on a "dark note," the next can provide a bright resurrection. We need to keep moving forward, one step at a time, or else we'll never get there. You might not know where exactly those steps will lead, but if you keep walking, it'll be worth it. Lauren Bowker asserts,
"There was the first two, three years of my company, which, really, when we think about it was my passion and my dream, which then became a business. It became really tough, and we lost a project... I had to sacrifice a lot of things, and I was very much ready to give it up this time last year. My team went from 6 to 1, and I just didn't want to do it anymore... but it was my roots and my family again that rallied around me... 'Fear of failure is good. Always remember that little girl who must have been afraid but still went down the dark lane into the unseen.' ... So I just did what I could do, which was create... If anybody sees me outside today, my hair and my hands always change color... I knew I could do it, and I just thought to myself: if I can do it, why should I not do it? I mean, color change hair isn't going to change the world, but little did I know... I launched it, and overnight it got 38 million views. And 60 million views later it's become the biggest project the Encinas ever have, and my team went from 1 to 10... growing every day... Although it's important to create things with meaning and with sort of deeper world-changing problems, it's also important to have fun with what you do and not let it become just a career." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VM-JWiFZDg
By moving forward we discover new, incredible things. Allow yourself to be authentic. Allow yourself to create. Allow yourself to try new things, even if society can come up with this lengthy list of all the reasons it "shouldn't" be done. Don't sell yourself short; you can change the world just by being yourself. Your ideas hold greater impact than you might first think. Have fun. Life's meant to include plenty of fun. You are worthy.
I also watched season 5 of She-Ra on Netflix this week; it explored heavily the topic of worthiness. Scorpia struggles with worthiness and confidence, but Perfuma recognizes this struggle. When Scorpia remarks that she's not the leading lady kind of girl, Perfuma encourages, "Don't say that--that's just the old you talking, consumed with all that self-doubt the Horde instilled in you... That's nonsense. You're amazing. You have the biggest heart, and you could do whatever you put you mind to... Scorpia, you should do things not because you're good at them but because they make you happy... Repeat after me: I can do this." We are each the leading roles of our life. We can do it. We're amazing. We should do what we enjoy, regardless of if we're "good" at it; we can improve our skills with practice. Accept yourself and allow yourself to do what you love. Similarly, when Hordak remarks "Go, maybe then these memories, these imperfections, will leave me," Entrapta declares, "Remember: your imperfections are beautiful!" You are beautiful as you are. You don't need to change; if you want to change and feel that changing is the right thing to do, that's fine, but you don't have to. You are beautiful just by being you. You have so many strengths and gifts. You are a being of love.
She-Ra further addresses these concepts of the power of love and of self. Horde Prime, set of controlling the universe and creating it in his image, looks to eliminate those who oppose him, convinced they are of the "dark." He believes himself to be harbinger of light and peace.
Horde Prime scoffs, "As always, your childish fixation on saving your friends has distracted you. It has made you vulnerable, weak."
Perfuma asserts, "You're wrong! There's power, real power, in love, joy, and friendship!"
Horde Prime rebukes, "And what could you possibly know about real power?"
Perfuma attests, "Friendship isn't a weakness. It's my greatest strength, and it's Scorpia's, too."
Horde Prime admonishes, "I've heard enough. End this now."
Perfuma stresses, "Scorpia, you can break through this. I know you can."
Later back at their camp after Scorpia attacks the group, Catra remarks, "So I heard Scorpia dropped a beam on you."
Perfuma corrects, "Scorpia missed. She missed on purpose."
Catra questions, "How do you know?"
Perfuma remarks, "I know because I believe in Scorpia."
Catra admits, "I hope you're right. Scorpia's really lucky to have a friend like you."
Perfuma acknowledges, "It's hard keeping your heart open. It makes you vulnerable. But it doesn't make you weak, and I have to believe it's worth it. If you want, we can work through some guided meditation to begin to unblock your abandonment issues and your negativity."
When someone doesn't understand something, like Horde Prime, they might brush it off as "childish." Horde Prime is all about fear and control. He believes he is all-powerful and all-knowing, convinced that nothing and no one stands a chance against him. Friendship and love are rather powerful, though, and every individual holds great power. Even if others are exerting their will over you, you still have a choice; you still have willpower. Scorpia was supposed to kill the others, but she ended up hitting the surroundings instead, which allowed the group to escape. Love and friendship do not make you weak; there is a vulnerability with them, but that does not make you weak. Similarly, when Horde Prime captures Entrapta, she declares, "You can't control us! You don't understand what makes us strong, and that's why you'll never win!" The rebellion understands the power of the individual, of love, of friendship; they give the group strength. Not everyone understands this.
Many characters (much like people waking up now) recognize that what they thought they knew wasn't true. After Wrong Hordak's existential crisis of learning that Horde Prime has a weakness, that there was a time he fled in defeat, he cries out, "Brothers, Horde Prime lied to us! He is a false ruler! We must rise up against him and free the universe from his unjust reign!" Society can lie to us; people may be following along because they don't know any better. They may be spreading the lies unknowingly because the lie came from someone higher up. Wrong Hordak had been convinced that Horde Prime was essentially a God, willingly doing whatever he declared. Wrong Hordak discovered the truth, though. The reality is not the story Horde Prime painted. Wrong Hordak goes through a dramatic transformation; he now is willing to express emotions and facial expressions (honestly, he became one of my favorite characters after his transformation--he's so full of life, enthusiasm, and joy). He no longer allows the falsities of Horde Prime to dictate his behavior and control his life. Similarly, Shadow Weaver realizes, "Everything we were taught in the Sorcerers' Guild was wrong. The First Ones didn't enhance this planet's magic with their tech, they weakened it. Etheria isn't a weapon. It's a living creature, and its magic has been here the whole time, slumbering, waiting to be awakened. Prime has taken our strongest fighters, but he does not yet know what this planet really is. We can destroy the restraints the First Ones built, set the magic of Etheria free, and use it against him." Those in power might have hidden the truth away to keep the power for themselves. Guilds/schools/institutions may promote stories as "truth" to keep the real truth secret. Think about the word "history." If you break the word up, it's "his" "story." History is written by the victors--history is the victors' story. Stories aren't always true. Their story doesn't have to remain in power. Bow proclaims, "Prime's controlled the universe for a long time. Right now, we're the only thing standing in the way of him controlling it forever. You might be feeling hopeless. You might be thinking, 'We don't stand a chance.' And maybe we don't... But that's not gonna stop us. We need to show Prime we're not afraid of him because we have each other, and we have love. We can't give up, and if we go down, we go down together. We need you. All of you. It's time to take back our world. It's time to fight, for She-Ra, for our homes, and for each other!" Don't give up. Keep taking that next step. Don't let fear stop you. You hold the power inside. It's your life. It's your world. Work towards making it what you want. Don't hold yourself back. Don't silence your voice. "Realize that we don't remember the people who fit in; we remember the ones who stand out and who stood for something."--Ralph Smart (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AUOY8f7srMb). You are no fool, so don't let their tricks pull the wool over your eyes. Find your joy. Find love. Find gratitude. Stay blessed~
Here is some more food for thought if you're interested; take what resonates, leave the rest:
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