Finding Hope Through Connection

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I started my day by having tea with a wonderful friend; the connection was awe-inspiring. Feeling the bond and our sense of community (meeting at a local coffee house in a small town) is the essence of the human experience. It is how we can light the world we are in, especially when we are struggling. Where would we be without each other? We had a deep exchange where we unpacked our challenges as of late; the thought of suffering together most certainly involved a higher power.

As we departed from our morning of fellowship, we both said how we thought things looked pretty good, with a bit of dark humor sprinkled into the moment. Still, after our departure, things felt like they had improved. Our spirits hugged each other, which helped shed light on each of our paths. 

If your world feels dark right now, step into the light. Yes, it may seem out of reach. Still, with some concentrated effort, you can lean into some kind of connection (with an animal, child, friend, family, coworker, clergyperson, or through brief encounters with your community like at a coffee house, in the library, at the store or on public transportation). Sometimes just smiling at a stranger warms our hearts when we unexpectedly get a smile back.  

Where is the love in your life? I encourage you to go inward and sense your heart if you feel empty. Can you feel it beating? It beats for you; this is the wisdom of the body and self-love; allow the feeling to grow. With some grace for yourself, take some deep breaths, and remember you are alive and meant to connect with others; we can find hope through connection. Give it a try!

Living your full potential, continued...

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Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Examiner article

I learned about the Shadow self through Debbie Ford’s book, Dark Side of the Light Chasers. Her appearances on Oprah’s show over the years taught me about the importance of accepting the little girl that I used to despise that lives within me. Why did I despise her? Because of the unacceptable things she did that I was not able to change; this lives in my past. I have learned that this “misfit” within was just a product of my young and unhealthy environment. I justified unhealthy choices then but today I know better and because of this past I do better. This angry and savage like little girl taught me to survive and eventually, through this acceptance, to thrive in a healthy environment. Debbie taught me to hug this inner self instead of denying and shaming her. And, by doing this I was able to gain an inner peace that strengthened me and helped to align me with universal love instead of worldly turmoil, a turmoil that used to manifest from within me.

Denying your inner self, the darkest place within, causes struggle in your life and until you realize this, you will just exist in the world instead of thriving by living your full potential, which is in alignment with the universe. 

Do you love yourself? If you do not love all of you, how can you expect others to? How can you surface your best self?

How to Unleash Your Full Potential to Live Your UnlivedLife, which I referenced within my Examiner article, shared this reference, “Excerpt from Living Your Unlived Life by Robert A. Johnson and Jerry M. Ruhl, Ph.D. with permission from Tarcher/Penguin.”