2013 AUGUST GUIDANCE…
“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.”
Helen Keller, The Story of My Life
Be the light that you are.
“Be the light that you are,” was a simple channeled reason for being and core message for Harmony Compass. To me, this is what it means: don’t shut down your light. Don’t live without your colors flying big and bright. Shine your authentic truth; this world needs your light. Who you are is enough. Have courage and faith; show up, express, trust, be.
Do you squash your own light to fit into what is normal, acceptable, or appropriate? Do you worry about making others feel safe and comfortable? Are you changing who you are, or how you show up to the world to ensure that you are accepted and that you fit in? Have you ever found yourself in a conversation or meeting where you were intimidated, or where you saw the other party as more intelligent, creative, or powerful than you, so you swallowed that bubble of a beautiful idea or insight back down into your throat? You are not alone, and I wonder how many big, courageous, innovative ideas, are never shared because of this.
The dirty habit that can squash our spirits.
I am going to share with you what I feel is one of my very worst dirty habits: SELF-DEPRECATION. I have been a pleaser, a perfectionist, and I have defaulted to self-deprecation in way too many scenarios since I was little. My mind loves to tell me to keep my light down, to sit quietly, to wait, that nothing is safe, that there are big, bad things to be scared of, that I won’t survive criticism, that I should never put myself out there, never ask for help and never, never be different. As those of you who work with me already know, I am healing this! I am out there, I am freeing myself, learning to say no and to live out loud. I am getting more comfortable with being powerful and big and actually seeing my true nature. But often it helps to look at what we’re struggling with in order to make changes. So, in honor of the message, “Be the light that you are,” I share with you the examples of ways I have self-deprecated, in order for us to all take a look at these defensive little habits and move forward with awareness and healing:
- Making fun of myself before anyone else had the chance to point out my “obvious flaws”
- Shooting down my own ideas before they ever had a chance to be expressed
- Squashing my excitement to match the tone of those around me
- Lowering my vibration to feel included (particularly in a gossip situation)
- Pleasing others before I even checked in to see if I was okay
- Saying yes before I was ready to
- Keeping my creativity, spirituality, (insert beautiful aspect of yourself here) to myself for fear of ridicule or criticism
- Swallowing my truth rather than sharing it
- Pretending I was unsure when I knew with my whole heart
- Ignoring divine callings to reach out and connect for fear of rejection
- Closing my light because I didn’t want to be seen
- Denying my own power (this also includes handing power over, creating a story of blame and victimization)
Operating in highlighter.
Since I was a little girl I’ve had big ideas; I was a leader, and a change-maker who wanted to help. And in the times I have stood up for what I believed, gone against the grain, ruffled rigid feathers, honored my heart, and have shared the truth I felt called to share from a guided place, I am eternally grateful for the outcome. On the flip-side of that equation there have been a ridiculous number of times I have turned into a spiritual sea anemone, touched by the world and sucked back into my safe, tiny space. But my heart operates in highlighter. I am meant to shine. We all are meant to.
Our one requirement is to live our truest expression right now. We are love, here to love and be loved. Make that as unique as your authentic light calls you to make it. But don’t squash your spirit. Don’t sit in “stuck” energy. There may be times that call for meekness, to take the back seat, like true humility, but we should check into why we’re choosing to be a wallflower. Is it because we don’t feel worthy, or because we feel we are too strong? Is it because we fear ridicule and criticism, or is it because we are afraid of accolades? Let’s be conscientious about when we’re sucking our light back into the center of ourselves rather than sharing it with the world. Honor your own brilliance, so those around you can. Be the light that you are. Free yourself.
Thank you!