With each wave that ebbed and flowed and tickled my toes, I was gradually reminded that, just like the enthusiastically bubbling surf that kept rushing into my little hideaway, all of my hopes and dreams would flow to me, too. The Universe is our biggest cheerleader, always eager to hand us infinite abundance and love. All we have to do is reach out and accept these gifts with an open mind and a grateful heart.
Sometimes, though, our own fears, doubts, and insecurities seem to stand in the way of our dreams. We grasp at our security nets, and we struggle to control things that we cannot. We think we know what want, but when we don't get exactly what we ask for, we become angry, bitter, and depressed. In time, some of us learn (sometimes the hard way) that when we let go of our need to control and simply surrender to a power greater than ourselves, the pieces of our lives fall together effortlessly. Suddenly, we realize that the Universe always gives us what we NEED, if not what we asked for or expected. Our battle-weary souls can then sigh in relief and relax into a space of ease and grace. It is in this space that we come to discover who we truly are, that we DO matter, and that each of us has a unique and valuable role to play in this world. Life becomes beautiful. Others become beautiful. WE become beautiful. We finally uncover the brilliance of our true selves.
"But," you ask, "what about all of my walls I've built to protect myself?" Many of us have learned to build imaginary walls around ourselves, complete with moats that add an extra layer of fortification between ourselves and our perceived threats, which can include fears of rejection, abandonment, failure, and sometimes even love. We wear different masks in order to feel "safe." We change our skins like chameleons, depending on our surroundings and who we're with at any given time. I know, I get it--trust me. Living an authentic life can be tough, especially if your authentic "YOU" is very different from those around you. The pressure to "fit in" and not rock the boat can be overwhelmingly tempting. But I can tell you from experience that the price for NOT living your truth is much too high--sometimes devastatingly so. For to deny ourselves is to eventually lose ourselves, doomed to walk around inside empty shells and to live our lives only to please others. After years and years of living inside just such a shell, I no longer knew what my own hopes and dreams were, let alone that they were within my reach. I felt like I was constantly seeking something without even the slightest inkling of what that was.
Lucky for us, there is no darkness without the light. Once we've uncovered even a glimmer of the joy that is felt whenever we let our true lights shine, there is no going back. Our confidence, our self-love, and our joy just grow and grow. Don't mourn the exodus of certain people from your lives (and, believe me, there will be some who will run like the wind), for they aren't meant for you, anyway. Once I realized that living authentically draws the right people to us like magnets, I was able to let the others go with a sense of peace and to wish them well, knowing that all was being made right in my world. Of course, you may have to actually go out and look for some like-minded stars to inhabit your new galaxy with you (YOU try being a free-spirited vegetarian with liberal views in Texas, and you'll know what I mean--haha!), but you WILL find them. :-)
Go within and discover who you really are, then go out there and let your light shine bright. Then go find other beautiful, strange, slightly dented--yet equally lovable--people, and let your lights shine even brighter together. Because you are special. You have worth. You are loved. And because you have hopes and dreams that are ready and waiting to come to you. Never forget that "what you seek is seeking you."
As always, sending you my love.
Tammy
