2022’s new year is officially upon us and in many ways I can’t remember a time when I have felt more clear and driven to succeed (and soar!) by Spirit. And while most days I do still feel like I’m in this constant “go-mode,” I feel very tapped into this new current of energy that is starting to emerge, and am loving what I am setting up with Spirit in that endless journey to be my best self.
This has been a time of me setting both attainable and ginormous (yes ginormous!) goals, pushing myself out of my own comfort zone, learning, and trying to step into this space of really surrendering to Spirit and not settling for anything less than what truly gives me joy. Of course, way easier said than done, but they are phenomenal plans and intentions, nonetheless. And when I’ve been sitting with or chatting with many of you recently, these seem to be many of the same intentions and desires you’re expressing and really hoping for, which is very exciting!
The greatest and most important adventure of our lives is discovering who we really are. Yet, so many of us walk around either not really knowing or listening to that awful inner critic that gives us all the wrong ideas about ourselves. I think that a lot of us mistakenly think of self-understanding as self-indulgence, and we carry on without asking the most important question we’ll ever ask: What do I need to be my best self?
Finding yourself may sound like an inherently self-centered goal, but it is actually an unselfish process that is at the root of everything we do in life. In order to be our “best self,” we have to first know who we are, what we value, and in effect, what we have to offer. It’s a process that involves breaking down and shedding the layers that do not serve us in our lives (think old wounds, traumas, toxic relationships, etc.), and simply do not reflect who we really are at our core. And at the same time, it also involves recognizing who we want to be and passionately going about fulfilling our unique destiny. So think of it as recognizing our personal power with the same curiosity and compassion we would have toward a fascinating new friend.
In order to uncover what it takes to be our best self, we have to know our own story. Being brave and willing to explore our past is an important stepping stone on the road to understanding ourselves and becoming who we want to be. It’s releasing the parts of us that have a fear of being seen, a fear of rejection and judgment -- and even those darn feelings of ridicule and shame. It’s our vulnerabilities that frighten us most. They cause us to shrink, hide, and sometimes pretend to be someone we’re not. And of course rather than trust our instincts, our true callings, and our truths, we look outside ourselves to the opinions of others to determine who we should be.
But here’s what you have to remind yourself: YOU have one chance to live this life and be fully present as yourself - YOUR BEST SELF. YOU are here to live YOUR life; to embody YOUR true self; to speak with YOUR unique voice; to share YOUR unique gifts. You are here to be fully YOU --- not your family’s idea of you; not your peers’ idea of you; not even your spouse’s idea of YOU. Becoming your best Self is why YOU are here -- it’s your soul’s true journey of learning and growth. Imagine what you could achieve if you stepped boldly toward becoming the person you truly want to be. And the obvious question of course -- how do you discover your best self?
In the quiet mornings while at my office, I often find myself asking Spirit to illuminate with ease my journey to become my best self. I always say a variation of, “I want to step boldly toward aligning with my soul’s purpose - illuminate how easily I can accomplish this.” Often the answers or insight are a culmination of Spirit giving me more questions to ask myself (gotta’ love Spirit homework!), which in the end I realize are just uncovering more of the answers that are already inside of me (and you!).
Sometimes those responses I receive through my own reflection are crystal clear and other times I really struggle with trusting the insight -- I’m human after all! I know, I know -- it might sound a little woo-woo, but trust me, Spirit always has wisdom for you -- it’s a matter of consciously asking for it and trusting that you’ll always get a response. Whether it comes from your higher self, journaling, self reflection, or perhaps the “person” behind you in the check-out line at Target -- Spirit has amazing ways to impart wisdom and guidance. It’s just remembering to be open to receiving those answers any way possible.
Working to become our best self is a process -- and not an overnight accomplishment, but I think a process that we start from the moment we are born. I consider myself a forever student, always evolving and growing, and embracing myself a beautiful work in progress! But what I do know for sure is that as I stepped into the current of 2022, my drive to be my best self has never been more clear and valued.