How I’m Healing (2023)

Posted on December 2, 2023 by Sabrina Renee

This season’s focus is on paying attention to the character being played out in my life, to be the awareness behind the unfolding. It’s something I have committed to practicing again because I forgot. Each time I forget to be aware of the story it’s because I started to believe it as permanent.

And there’s even deeper layers than that.

So let’s tie everything with the theme of distraction, otherwise referred to as “you’re doing it again.”

So this season I’m paying attention to myself from thoughts and behaviors to habits and identity anchors, simply noticing. Noticing how I show up for myself, for others, places I’m shining, and places that I’m keeping dark, my responsibility is to become aware of the life I’m currently living.

My job is to practice paying attention.
It’s a practice which means I will keep coming back to it, over and over again.

The end game is when the game ends, the game of life, there’s no ultimate goal other than waking up.

The obstacle that’ll be faced for everyone is falling back to sleep, going from awareness to distraction, over and over again.
Rather than associating negative feelings with being distracted learning how to stop taking it personally and start taking responsibility for the change.

It’s my job to notice who I am and accept it, to decide who I will become, to forgive who I was.

Cultivating, manifesting, and deciding the details of the life I want to build is part of my day to day. Some seasons call for more action to be taken, others urge reflection, grounding, and gaining clarity, the last one is what I’m aligning with.

Simply because I’ve remembered to. I was jolted out of the story playing in my mind just long enough to become a witness as if the main character of your TV show broke the 4th wall.

Standing back far enough to see you’re in costume, dressed up as this personality that was founded on beliefs, some of which you’re not even aware of, that are deeply driving the vehicle (your body) through this life. Beliefs of fear and love are the seeds planted within blossoming or dying off from the amount of focus fed.

Making a cup of tea, looking at my apothecary, noticing it’s a bit more full with what is healing.

Connecting back to my relationship with healing, what it’s looked like, where it’s begging for the light of awareness to be pulled out of the darkness. A nudge back into alignment with the vision after becoming lighter from letting go of assumptions and expectations, moving higher, closer to my higher self.

Remembering it’s not about the details, the story, or the anchors in identity during this chapter of the character’s story. It’s about how it all feels and whether it’s bringing you closer or further from where you want to go.

So when you notice you’re distracted, you’re doing it again, come back to an anchor in the present moment. Unhook yourself from what’s pulling you in multiple directions and decide you’re going to stand tall, here and now.

Remember to stand back far enough where you are not your thoughts, your feelings, your experience. You are the awareness behind all of those things. Someone playing a character, stepping into a role that can be changed at any time.

Notice and come back, over and over again.

Healing

Before Inner Work (PT1)

Posted on September 11, 2023September 11, 2023 by Sabrina Renee

When people meet me or stumble across my teachings they have assumptions of who I am because I am a mindfulness teacher. They see that I lead meditations, or have attended my workshops and believe that I’ve got it all together.

Some people think I am calm and patient all the time.
Some people think meditation comes easy for me.
Some people think I have always been this way.

That’s the one that stops me in my tracks. Because it wasn’t too long ago that I was at my emotional rock bottom looking for the solutions I get to offer people today. When I think back on all of the inner work I’ve done to learn how to love myself, heal my suffering, and make personal growth a priority, it honestly feels like I’ve lived 100 lives already.

And while I am incredibly proud of who I have become as a result of the work I’ve put in, I never want to forget who I was, or where I was, or the crazy shit I used to do. It humbles me and I need that to stay grounded.

But also, I never EVER want someone to believe that I have ALWAYS been mindful, that I have ALWAYS treated myself with compassion, that I have ALWAYS had the answers to pain points like anxiety, stress, emotional regulation, or positive beliefs. Because not too long ago I was so lost and clinging to the belief that I didn’t deserve more than the shitty circumstances I found myself in time and time again.

So in honor of my Inner World program I’d like to share stories and lessons from who I was BEFORE I put the work in. Because my past self is the reason I am who I am today. She suffered alone in the dark for years before ever having the thought that things could possibly be better one day.

And if this is you right now, suffering alone in the dark struggling to believe that you deserve a life of peace, happiness, health, and deep unconditional self-love, then I pray this finds you exactly where you are.

I pray you read these words and KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that you’re meant for more than the pain you carry.
I pray you know that you are worthy of love.
I pray you know that no one’s opinion of you matters more than your own.
And most importantly, I pray you know that you don’t need permission to be better or want differently for your life, you just need to believe it’s possible.

This isn’t an article about how to change your habits, how to think positive, or how to achieve your goals. Instead, I’m choosing to share the stories of who I was before I was able to think positive, believe in myself, or trust that anything could be better than it was. This is who I was before I learned to love myself, before I healed my suffering, before I learned how to grow through what was happening rather than shrinking because of it.

This is me before the inner work.

When I was 17 years old I got caught in a parking lot with a white powdery substance. And that wasn’t even the craziest part of my night.

At the time I was experiencing my very first season of depression, but I didn’t know that nor did I have the words to articulate the pain I was going through. I had a job, I was on the basketball team, I was showing up to all my classes. The bare minimum bar that’s set for a teenager was being met so I couldn’t see the problem. I was maintaining.

It was shortly after my very first heartbreak that I turned to drugs and partying as a means of escaping the pain that wouldn’t go away. Again, this isn’t the language I’d use back then because it was just me having a good time. I had no idea how much and how far I was running from the pain within me.

Blacking out on the weekends became so routine that I had gotten used to hearing stories the next day of the parts of the night I couldn’t recall. But in those stories I was such a good time so I rolled with it.

And if you would have tried to tell me I was depressed I’d surely call you crazy. Because I was going out with my “friends” and having what I’d classify back then as a good time, even if I was sickly thin, had more cigarettes than meals each day, and my heart would be racing nearly every moment of every day. Who cares, you’re only young once right?

Anyway, it was a Friday or Saturday evening which meant I definitely wanted to be knee deep in the strongest distraction possible for as long as possible. So I met up with people who didn’t genuinely care about me so we could connect over the one thing we all had in common, getting numb, I mean having a good time.

The thing about partying hard is you start to pay less and less attention to what’s going on around you, things get sloppy. That’s exactly what we did, we got sloppy enough to get comfortable doing illegal things out in the open and a cop car pulled right up next to ours. I remember this moment like it was yesterday: smoking my cigarette a little slower in the back seat, feeling my heart rate blaring in my ears, wondering if we would really get caught or he’d just drive away. He didn’t.

Within a few moments we were instructed to get out of the car and separate. It was 15 degrees in February and I had a basketball tournament next weekend, I remember thinking my coach is gonna murder me. My parents will be shattered.

But to me the craziest part of all of this is that I couldn’t have been more unfazed.

My purse was searched on the hood of the car while, my “friends” were being patted down, and I was waiting for a female cop to arrive for my pat down. While I stood there shivering, there was a moment where I had a very unique inner experience. Maybe it was an outer body, maybe I was just high, or maybe it was the first glimmer of self-awareness. All I remember thinking is “I should really care more about what’s happening but I really don’t.”

Imagine being a minor who got caught doing drugs outside, who may get arrested, have parents and coaches and teachers informed but just simply not caring.

That was my first realization of how good I had become at numbing myself to the world around me. There was no remorse or regret, I felt no guilt or anxiety about what happened next. In fact I was almost bothered by how my night was interrupted and my fix wasn’t satiated. BIG red flag.

In the end someone took the fall for the entire group and for the time being I was safe, lawfully. And while I didn’t suddenly cut ties with these people and cut out all of my toxic behaviors I couldn’t forget how much I didn’t care. I couldn’t escape the feeling that I should care more about my life, my self, my body, my emotions, and where the fuck I’ll end up if I don’t.

Making better choices didn’t happen overnight, it took a while because before changes happen awareness is a must. And becoming aware of the things you’ve invested ALL of your energy into running away from isn’t easy. It’s arguably the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do.

And so slowly, I became aware.
I became aware of the people I partied with, how they made me feel and what we had in common.
I became aware of the habits I’d gravitate toward when things got hard and how easy it was to forget.
I became aware of how I’d feel when the drugs wore off, how I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror anymore.
I became aware of the double life I had been living to keep up appearances while slowly and secretly hating myself on the inside.

The more I noticed what was happening the harder it became to keep it happening. There wasn’t some sudden blissful moment of clarity where I knew the type of person I wanted to be. Instead, for me, it was little moments or awareness building on top of one another to paint a picture of the road I was heading down. The clearer that road became the more I had to face the responsibility of walking that road without the blinders.

And I learned that everything is hard. It’s hard to run away and it’s hard to face what you’re running from. So really it all comes down to which hard you’re willing to choose but before that even happens, you have to accept that all of this is a choice. Whether you’ve been actively choosing or doing so unconsciously, the choice is still yours.

If you’re in a really dark place or running from the hard stuff and running toward the numbing “good time”, take a look around. Open your eyes to what you’re doing, who you’re doing it with, and how it really makes you feel. Start taking into account the long term effects on your mind, body, and spirit if you don’t start paying attention.

Wherever you are in life is a great place to start. You need nothing more or less in order for you to wake up to how things are going. Just look around, take your head out of the sand, stop numbing your way through and give yourself the chance to feel something because you matter.

Please, please start acting like you do.

Healing, MindBody

Understanding Emotions

Posted on June 5, 2020 by Sabrina Renee

The MindfullyBri Podcast

Exposure

The year 2020 has been painful, eye-opening, excruciating, exhausting, and expansive. The lesson I’ve learned the loudest this month was to embrace exposure in more ways than one. For the first half of the year my priority was to reach people by creating content for my community serving their highest self. Exposing myself into the world as a mindful entrepreneur who is passionate about helping people love, heal, and grow through their experiences. I think exposure has always been a fear of mine waiting to be conquered, but I never quite knew how. When you set your mind to seeking something in life it has a miraculous way of finding you.

In April I began leading live meditations on Instagram, creating communities founded on self-development and inner work, and making resources to help people handle the issues I’ve overcome. Vulnerably sharing my journey as a means of connecting to those who are going through something too. This year had truly been about stepping into the role of a conscious leader, taking a giant leap toward my purpose on this planet. And while this type of exposure had it’s own unique challenges, overall it’s been a rewarding. Walking into the idea of exposure head on led me to leveling up my awareness of self and ability to serve my community. It’s been an incredibly personal journey, a true blessing and a dream come true that I will never take for granted.

Which leads me to the second half of the year, the time we’re entering where I’m provided a different opportunity to be exposed. This time it’s a much more intense, fearful, painful, and life altering experience. Opening my eyes and my heart to those who suffer the violent reality of oppression, racism, and injustice. I’ve exposed myself to the system that has been created to oppress, demean, and disrespect the black community. In these last fews days I’ve done something I never do and dove deep into the painful reality in my country today. Reading articles, watching videos, interacting on social platforms, and tuned into news outlets that are showing in real time people fighting for basic human rights, only to be met with even more violence and physical force.

While my heart aches over this type of exposure it fuels a different part of me than the first type does. The first type of exposure is an example of alignment, overcoming a limit I set for myself, achieving something I had set out to even though it was scary at first. It’s about me, my goals, my dreams, my purpose. That type of exposure is of personal gain. However this second type cracked me open entirely because it came from outside myself. It’s bigger than me. What I’m experiencing through a screen people are living with in this moment. The words I’m hearing on the news are someone else’s life circumstances. There is no comparison between the types of exposure, but there is a significant difference in the lessons I choose to take from them. One helps me believe I can create change when it’s necessary, and the second one reminds me just how necessary it is to change.

Healing and Serving

Empathy can only be felt toward another person. By empathizing with someone you become connected to that person through your understanding and compassion. That understanding and compassion is the bridge between a personal gain and a collective experience. But until we are able to experience that understanding and compassion within ourselves, we can’t cross that bridge and help someone else discover it. While achievement on a personal level is something to be proud of, it pales in comparison to create change on a lager scale. The second type of exposure is what cracks you wide open, it causes you to become overwhelmed and inspired. Exposing yourself to different cultures, communities, and all of the chaos surrounding you is how you REALLY help others.

Both types of exposure are important to me and so I’ve begun to merge them as one giant realization that by expanding my own knowledge I’ll inevitably be expanding the knowledge of the people who choose to tune into me. All I want to do is teach you how to tune into yourself. Teaching mindfulness is how I serve my people. It’s my duty and obligation to share resources, tools, guidance, and support. It’s my duty as a human being to advocate for the rights of others. And there’s never been a more powerful time to be the lighthouse for those traveling through treacherous waters.

Like all powerful educators, I have to consciously choose to be a student first. The best way to do that is to allow myself to feel the powerful energy that’s surrounding us all and choose to be with it rather than run. It is only through fully experiencing the life of those I’m trying to connect with that I can serve them with intentional compassion. Tuning into emotions allows me to open up to learning by surrendering the notion that I know the answer. Because there is no answer to know, right now is a time to experience emotions authentically. There is no right way to do that. The more familiar I get with the feelings of anger, sadness, hopelessness, and fear the deeper I connect to everyone else experiencing these emotions. Because we are just an extension of those experiencing those emotions. And now more than ever it’s important to make the effort to focus on the ways we are connected and not divided.

Truthfully, I want to scream and shake the shoulders of the people who are actively creating division in the world. The disgust I feel is strong enough to blind me, keeping my attention focused on the horrific events happening to innocent humans. The pain that must be coursing through the veins of the loved ones who are grieving for their babies, fathers, and sons. When I turn the controls over to my emotions there is no telling where my brain will take me. It’s not uncommon to be overrun with emotion, I’d even argue that most people are walking through life this way all the time. But it’s times like these that make it even more dangerous for our emotions to get the best of us. Especially when there are groups of people who aren’t empathetic and who are stoking the fires of the crimes and injustices of the world.

My goal isn’t to stop you from pointing fingers at who’s right and who’s wrong. My goal is to introduce another way of approaching your emotions at this time. Giving you the tools to shift your perspective long enough to create space for another way of coping if your way is hurting, not helping. To teach you to pause long enough and ask yourself if you’re handling this the best way you can. My goal is to start the conversation about the ways humans are causing their own suffering because their personal narrative has hijacked their senses. This article is to help you navigate the emotions that are distracting you, while channeling their energy into what matters most.

Emotional Connectivity

Even if you’re not outraged particularly by police brutality, racial injustice, or the horrifying media that’s been surfacing all weekend, there is still something in your life that elicits negative emotions. There are things that bring darkness out of you, have led you into darkness, or have forced you to become consumed by it all. Humans are running wildly unaware of the power resting in their emotional state. There is a large disconnect from the body and an incredible attachment to the narrative part of the mind, the part of you that creates the persona of who you are. As the division of mind and body grows, the story playing inside the mind becomes your primary focus. You focus so intently on the story of who you are that you forget you are an extension of others. The narrative in your mind plays so loud you forget it’s created by thoughts flowing untamed, and you begin to accept this as truth. With each repeating thought pattern and every decision that aligns with them, you are further separating yourself from what is happening to your body. But the stronger that narrative inside your mind becomes the louder your suffering gets, and the harder it is to see your connection to other human beings at all.

See, each time you experience an emotion it appears in your body in the form of sensation. Negative feeling emotions tend to show up as constriction, tightness, heaviness, and pain. Positive feeling emotions tend to show up as an openness, pleasure, lightweight, and allowance. Tuning into the body while you’re experiencing an intense emotion can introduce the power of the mindbody connection. The more present you become with how your body is responding to your thoughts and emotions, the deeper you can meet yourself. And as you begin uncovering these layers of emotion you can become aware of your choices, rather than being imprisoned by emotion.

You, like every other human in existence, has been driven to experience negative and intense emotional states. And although people experience these emotions for different reasons and triggers, the similar nature of emotional beings cannot be denied. I won’t ask you to understand the people who don’t understand you, I won’t even ask you to expand your awareness to others. Instead, I want to lead you within yourself because this is where all change occurs. Because even though what is hurting you is coming from outside of you, these intense emotions are all happening inside you.

My mind brings me into thoughts of revenge and retaliation, my soul cries out for understanding and love, while my body is the vessel that carries either of these truths out. That’s what I recognize in every other human being right now, emotions flooding their minds, bodies, and souls. When an emotion surfaces with enough intensity it can overcome you, blinding you of any other way of thinking or being. An emotion that is so intense it’s power is intoxicating causing you to act on those thoughts of revenge or act on your soul’s cry for love.

But if people are being taken over by their emotional reactions to the world, they are disconnecting from themselves and from each other. Please, let’s reconnect.

Love. Heal. Grow.

Healing, Practices, Spirituality

Staying Well in Times of Uncertainty

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Sabrina Renee

There is a constant swirl of mixed emotions surfacing in all of us. For some, there are incredibly drastic transitions occurring. Changes in their work schedule, the amount of pay if any, the responsibility of payments weighing heavy, concerns of educating their children while trying to maintain their own sanity. Other people may be focused more on the virus that has struck globally, concerned bout flights back home, elderly loved ones receiving proper care, trying to keep their immune system functioning optimally, making trips to the grocery store only to find what they need is out of stock. Then there are people who are struggling with the transition of being busy to being alone with their thoughts, no longer making plans with friends and trying to find an outlet to distract themselves from all of the emotions that are forcing themself to the top. There is also the possibility that all of these things are being experienced by one person, a nasty cocktail of overwhelm, scarcity, and fear.

There is no doubt that this pandemic is to be taken seriously, it’s important that people are preparing their homes with the essentials to keep them healthy and safe. However, one thing that continues to be overlooked is how all of this is affecting your wellbeing. Health is not limited to the physical responsibilities of washing hands, disinfecting surfaces, eating healthier, and maintaining a safe distance from crowds. What also falls under the category of health and wellness is mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. I’ve created a workshop to help you navigate through these troublesome times.

Mental wellbeing

The wellbeing of your mind has a great deal to do with what it is you’re consuming on a daily basis. If you’re constantly watching the news, refreshing your social feed, surrounding yourself with people who are only sharing negative stories, you are aiding to a negative and low vibrational mental state. This way of thinking will begin to create deeply rooted beliefs about what is and what is not possible for you. As a result, you’ll begin to see a limited world where you lack control of everything, rendering you a victim to what happens to you.

This virus has absolutely taught the world there is an incredible amount of circumstance that will always be out of an individual’s control. However, what you always have control over is your perspective and the way in which you CHOOSE to respond to something. For instance, there is no changing the bad news of the world today, there are unfortunate things happening to people all over the world. What does not help is constantly reminding yourself of all the bad things being experienced, sharing more heartbreaking news than groundbreaking, bonding with people over what is wrong with the world rather than what is right with it. The mind needs you to set boundaries for what it consumes because what you consume shapes the person you become. It’s important to remain informed but not overwhelmed, prepared but not paralyzed with fear, connected with others but not through the energy exchange of worry and stress.

Your brain is an incredible tool that is constantly working to serve you, just as long as you know how to navigate it. A perfect example of this is if you ask yourself (your brain) a question it will search for the best answer or solution possible-based on the quality of your questions. Therefore, it’s important that you’re asking yourself proactive questions that are bringing you closer to a calm state and peace of mind. Instead of asking with a tone of fear, self-doubt, overwhelm “what can I do about what’s happening?”, try asking with the intention to create change in YOUR life, right now. What you can do is turn off the news and connect with the people around you, Skype with friends, step into your yard for some fresh air, read a book about self-improvement. Start creating healthy boundaries of what you allow your brain to think about, that’s how you prepare a mind for changes.

Emotional wellbeing

Honor the feelings that are surfacing for you at this time. If you’re feeling sad for the people around the world dealing with the loss of family, connection, and access to income-then feel it. If you’re feeling scared because you of YOUR loss of structure, connection, and access to income-then feel that too. The emotions that each of us experience are being triggered by an event. They may feel too intense, overwhelming, and maybe burdensome, but they deserve your attention more than the news or social media. Because each of these emotions is a gateway to get to know yourself on a deeper level. You are meant to feel all emotions, even if they aren’t pleasant or coming at a convenient time. Don’t shut out what you’re going through because it’s too hard to face, because the longer you push away the feelings the more challenging they become to face. An introspective perspective is a powerful tool that will help you navigate the brand new difficulties you’re facing. Instead of distracting yourself with substances, the latest news, food, video games, or any other stimuli, stop to ask “why am I running away from this?, how can facing my feelings help me heal?”

Sometimes it’s not about taking action but rather just being with what you’re experiencing. If you experience judgment arising about your feelings examine it. Try understanding why you’re not letting yourself feel authentically and what you can do to work through that belief. Get to know the activities that elevate your mood, help you relax, bring you peace, or make you feel a sense of safety. Learn the difference between when you need to feel connected to other people who understand what you’re going through and when it’s time to be alone with your thoughts.

Each of us is experiencing a unique awakening that is bringing to light our greatest feels and that which we are most grateful for. There is bound to be a mix of emotions, strategies to handle them, and community to share in this time of change. Express a little more self-compassion by tuning into what it is you need most. Whether it’s a really good cry, a self-soothing journal session, or a phone call with a friend, it’s just as important as stocking up your pantry. Take care of your emotions seriously, they’re here to help you.

Spiritual wellbeing

Your soul is the vessel in which Spirit/God/Universe/All-That-Is is communicating with you. In order for you to hear the messages meant for you, it’s your job to turn the noise down in your life. An important part of spiritual practice is removing the layers of junk that are not serving your highest good. Lot of these examples were mention in mental and emotional wellbeing such as distracting yourself with coping mechanisms to hide what it is you’re really feeling A great way to expand your connection with the source of life force is by strengthening your intuition and slowing down the chatter of the mind.

There are many different forms of meditation, but the one I am suggesting is Vipassana. The goal of Vipassana meditation is to become aware of the present moment. This means bringing yourself out of the thinking mind which is either meandering in the past or trying to create the future. Both of these places take you away from the only focus that really matters, this moment. The present moment is all that ever matters because it is the only moment that truly exists. Therefore, at this moment lies your control over how you can respond to life unfolding. Instead of worrying about what you have lost already, or stressing about what may never happen, you can rest your attention into what is right now.

Vipassana meditation is best when you wear loose-fitting close, make sure your waistband isn’t too tight and that you’re dressing appropriately for the temperature where ever you are. If you’ve never meditated before or practiced focusing your attention on anything for more than 10 minutes, I suggest starting in a chair preferrably without arms on the side. Rest the arms on your lap with palms facing down, keeping your back straight without being rigid, placing your feet firmly on the ground. One last and very important piece, bring an intention to your seat with you. A common one I like to use is to be patient with myself and with others because your thoughts are bound to take you away from the moment and into what is bothering you. Another one is to be kind to yourself and others. The intention you choose is not as important as the fact that you choose one. You’ll need something to anchor you back to the reason you sat down in the first place. This practice, done daily, will help increase your awareness and the level of calm in your life.

Let’s Review

Life will always be unpredictable, filled with circumstances and events out of your control. The way to navigate through tough times is by focusing on all that you can control. This pandemic has opened the eyes of the world to what truly matters, what never did, and how fragile life can be. It is not enough to prepare your pantry and refrigerator with foods that will give you a strong and healthy immune system. If you’re worrying, living in a fearful state, and not taking care of your soul’s needs, you’ll continue to lower your vibration every day.

Set boundaries for your mental health, create space to allow your emotions to surface, and cultivate a practice of awareness into your daily routine. Even after the chaos of the world begins to settle, and life proceeds to merge into a new normal, these 3 ways of improving your health will still be just as significant. Don’t ignore the relationship you have with yourself because it’s uncomfortable to face. Start by bringing your attention to the parts of you that need it the most. Be gentle as you adopt these practices into your daily routine and be kind to the person you are becoming. Life does not get easier, but you do get better, as long as you keep going consciously.

Love, light, and kindness my friends.

Healing, Practices

Transcending Darkness Into Light

Posted on March 15, 2020September 11, 2022 by Sabrina Renee

In what ways are you loving yourself?

A great way to find the answer to that question is to listen to the voice inside your head that responds to the question. Take a moment to be the awareness behind the answer that pops up for you.

Was the voice defensive?

How did it feel to answer that question?

Were you able to answer quickly or was it something to think about?

Are you happy or displeased with the answers?

Truthfully the answers that surface for you are neither right nor wrong. This exercise is simply expanding your awareness of how your thinking already works. As humans, we layer up our experiences with judgments that later turn into beliefs that ultimately decide the course of our growth. Either people are growing toward loving themself deeper or they are moving further away. Only by asking questions about your relationship with yourself can you begin to expand your awareness of self. Learn who you are, who you were, and start to create the visual of who it is you wish to become.

The dark is costing you the light

By remaining in the same spot, with the same knowledge, surrounded by the same energy all of which are holding you back from thriving, you are living in the dark. The dark is a great place to hide. Plenty of people turn the lights off to particular parts of their life because it hurts too much to face, or rocks the very foundation of who they’ve chosen to be. But just because something is placed in the dark doesn’t remove it from existence. It simply means it’s taking up more dark energy than light. You are feeding the energy of lack, resistance, negativity, and denial of your truth.

The light, however, is a place of creation and higher frequency. The light in your life shines to help illuminate the way ahead. In order to live in a world of light, all things must surface and be acknowledged. All things that have been pushed away in the deepest corners of your past have the capacity to transcend into the light. Once you allow the dark to surface, it can be seen for what it truly is and loved entirely, not in spite of anything.

Choosing light over darkness is the way to unconditional love. Therefore when you express love to the dark parts of who you are, love will embody that experience. The more you choose to love, the more you choose to feed the energy of abundance, allowance, growth, and acceptance of your true self.

When you choose love you choose to steer yourself toward a healthy relationship with yourself, first and foremost, and then with others. When you choose to see the light where there is darkness you slowly begin to build a peaceful resilience within yourself. Being able to forgive your past pain while simultaneously allowing it to create a more evolved version of self. Both light and love are principle foundations for a successful, compassionate, and strong relationship with who you are, as well as who you’re becoming. Which will, in turn, open the doors of opportunity to thrive in relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. Being at peace with yourself means not letting things outside of you define you because you are confident in the person you are. The power over your emotions and mindset will always reside within you.

So what is it costing you?

Now that you understand the power of bringing the darkness to light, it’s time to do just that. Take stock of the areas of life you haven’t been ready to face, handle, or deal with properly. There is a proper season for living in darkness, life gets hard and sometimes unexpectedly crippling, but it’s not meant to be a forever destination. At some point, you have to shine the light on your needs, your desires, and the inner healing it will take to get there.

Focus on the voice inside that answers your questions. Start asking yourself more proactive questions about how you’re treating yourself.

Are you neglecting your needs and desires for the benefit of others?

When you neglect your needs, what are you losing and gaining?

When pouring from an empty cup, how is it impacting the person you are becoming?

What values are you aligning with?

What are you losing as a result?

Shifting from a dark season of life into one of light and love will not be easy. It will challenge the parts of you that haven’t built up immunity yet. You’ll feel tired, weak, and possibly want to quit on yourself. Keep going. It’s in these moments of exhaustion that you’re building the next version of yourself. The result of loving yourself by transcending darkness into light is a glorious and peaceful place to live. The road to it, however, may not feel as such. Keep the end result in mind and honor the struggle that this journey brings. Each hard decision you make, each time you cut out negative behavior, each time you set a boundary to keep yourself safe, you teach yourself a lesson. If you’re being aware of these lessons you won’t make the same mistake twice.

There is so much to learn and so much to love about yourself. Turn the lights on to your true self.