I believe the most important and powerful spiritual goal in today’s world is mastering the practice and implementation of loving the self. Not the self we’ve been trying to be, but the authentic and complex jumble of conflicting parts we all spend years wrestling.
The goal is amazingly simple to state and the process just as complex and full of adventure. To do this work honestly and deeply we all need help in the forms of healers, guides, space holders, collaborators, and friends. I’ve been called to this kind of work and I savor working with clients who have the courage and vulnerability to take the journey.
What’s so difficult about loving yourself, you ask? Let me count the ways :-0
First off, are you living in an authentic way currently? Do you truly know who you are? Not who you’ve become after trying to please others or be what you think you should be, but who you are at your core. The needy parts, the ugly parts, the broken parts, as well as the brilliant parts, amazing parts, and beautiful parts you feel arrogant for claiming…..and all the parts in between you haven’t taken the time to acknowledge or listen to.
It often takes time to excavate the true you. It’s not always easy to dig through years of subtlety or overtly trying to conform your inner being into a human that plays well with others, earns their keep, and excels at making themself indispensable. Or…..perhaps you tried the other side of the coin, and learned early that you can never please anyone. You instead went down the “fuck you” road and honed the I don’t care, I’ll show you, and it’s not worth it path.
All false and understandable coping devices for survival in a world that mostly doesn’t want you to know what makes your heart sing. After all, companies and others can make a lot of money from people who are unfulfilled and don’t use their internal compass to guide themselves.
Ok…. so you’ve figured out the full depth and wonderfulness of you. All your parts. The amazing, ugly, and surprising. Pat yourself on the back for this isn’t easy, and many never make it this far. Now that you’ve made it here, how do you communicate with all these facets of your being? How does one hold a successful committee meeting within the self? How do you harmonize and align your mind, body, and spirit? Starting to understand the challenges of this very rewarding adventure?
When you’ve connected with and discovered your essence, the truth of what makes you tick, and finally befriended all the different parts of yourself, you start to inhabit all of your authenticity in the world. Staying in your truth and learning how to advocate for yourself is a whole other muscle to build and maneuver. Implementation and integration anchors all of this work and discovery into a fully functional, flexible, and aligned version of yourself that inspires and empowers everyone you come in contact with.
Knowing that words never do the work of discovery and expansion justice, I will do my best with respect and honor to chronicle and share my experiences and understandings concerning this amazing and tranformative process. The process of becoming available to fully embody and connect to who you truly and soulfully are. Welcome to the jungle :-)