Lately, I’ve been really frustrated with some of the people I’m close to (relationship withheld to protect the innocent) and have been projecting on them my frustrations and resistance to their behavior. But I had a sort of epiphany that what I have been experiencing in these interactions is actually a reflection of what’s going on with me. In other words if I’m accusing someone of lying and being deceptive it’s really a reflection of me in some way and presents a mirror and opportunity for me to look at myself and to see how I am being deceptive and dishonest in my own life in some way. Such a reality check is like a huge slap in the face, saying wake up and look within because the external is just a reflection of what’s going on internally.
So what are you projecting onto others? What are you frustrated by these days? What are you resisting and not wanting to experience in others behavior? What and who are you judging?
The answers to these questions are all clues as to what you need to look at within yourself and to see how you may be projecting onto others the very thing you need to work on yourself. Just know that this work requires you to look deep within and to be really honest with yourself. You may not like what you see but knowing the truth is half the battle of evolving into your highest spiritual being. You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge and face with open eyes. So the next time you’re pointing fingers realize you’re pointing at yourself too and then be the change you want to see before you.
“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” – Khalil Gibran
“There is no coming to consciousness without pain.” – Carl Jung
I recently learned a powerful lesson regarding pain. Navigating life with ease doesn’t mean you don’t or won’t ever experience pain. But how we choose to respond to pain determines how quickly we move through it and know that you can still experience joy despite any momentary painful experience. Whether we choose to suffer and let it take our joy away and define us or whether we choose to rise above our pain and let it transform our lives and help us grow determines the ease in which we navigate life and live in our flow.
All pain is an opportunity to grow and evolve. In fact, pain is often one of our greatest teachers. It’s true that all pain has something to teach us and if we choose to learn from the pain and evolve and then let it go, life unfolds in a way that elevates and fulfills us. But if we try to numb our pain and ignore its teaching and message for us or hold onto it we will find life to be a painful struggle again and again.
Take a moment to tap into your inner soul energy and see if you are holding on to a painful experience past or present. Observe how it shows up for you. How have you been processing it and giving it life every time you dwell on it and give it meaning as something bad? How have you or are you letting it define you and give you “poor me” status? How have you let pain take away your joy and darken your magnificent spark and zeal for life? How have you given your power away to painful experiences and to people who have caused you pain?
It’s time to flip the switch and turn on the light of grace, love, forgiveness, and joy and that which has the power to dissolve any and all pain. It’s time to shine your light on any pain you have or are experiencing and rise above it, let it go, and use it as a reminder to be more conscious. Pain is just that, “a get your attention reminder” that you are not living in your light, that you are not conscious. It serves as a wake-up call to regain your awareness of your connection to Source, God, the Universe or whatever you call the higher power that is always at work in your life whether you are conscious of it or not.
It’s unfortunate but some of us have to go through huge tragedies or recurring or long-term painful experiences until we get it. But once you get it watch out world because then you become a shining example of what living in your divine light looks like and you have an opportunity to lead others out of their darkness. This is the purpose of pain – to wake you up to your light so that others can wake up to theirs.
“Freedom means you are unobstructed in living your life as you choose. Anything less is a form of slavery.” – Wayne Dyer
“Freedom is the right to live as we wish.” – Epictetus
We often talk about wanting more freedom in our lives. I personally have yearned for more freedom in my own life but realized that freedom looks like many things. You can want financial freedom, freedom to travel and see the world, freedom from fear, freedom to simply do what you want when you want, freedom to be yourself, freedom in a relationship, and freedom to be creative and expressive.
One of the ways I realize I want to be free is to be released from the shackles of all the shoulds that I buy into. Many of us are bound by this one in some way. I am constantly feeling angst over all the things I should be doing but am not either because I don’t feel like it, I don’t have the energy or time, or I’m simply resisting for some deeper, unknown reason. But that’s just it, our resistance is telling us something about what we should and shouldn’t do. But I say let’s take should out of the equation all together.
Our lives flow when we take inspired and authentic action based on our deepest desires and what we are drawn to or called to do versus what we should do out of obligation, guilt, or trying to prove something. Do those things that your soul says a resounding “YES” to and release yourself from the prison of your shoulds.
xoxo
