Discernment is a tool in our spiritual arsenal – one of the Holy Spirit gifts to us. It guides us to the will of God, which is to say the best possible outcome for us.
This year I choose blossom as my Word because it represents my intention to grow from the roots I planted as a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5) and build back what was broken through the vehicle of relationship.
It was the morning of the most important interview of my career; with emotions running haywire and hormones adding a dizzying effect, I decided that I just couldn't go to my interview that afternoon. The fear shouted so loudly that I couldn't hear the voice of wisdom that knew to show up despite the very big feelings. This was my dream job, after all!
God recently revealed to me that I am holding onto the weight of my past. By holding onto my past, I’m not only carrying around a weight I was never meant to carry, but I am blocking the blessings of God’s plan for me in the future. So today I ask you: What weight are you carrying that is hindering your upward momentum?
Covid-19 caught nearly all of us by surprise, leaving us ripped of our routines, schedules and normal circumstances — everything we typically rely on for stability and consistency. If we weren’t already prone to or struggling with depression, COVID-19 certainly stirred up prime circumstances for depression to show up (many of us without any prior experience with mental illness or the coping skills to deal with it in healthy ways).
Resistance is a form of fear; it masquerades as something like procrastination. There are many forms of resistance but they all have one commonality: they stem from fear. Once we finally understand the root of our resistance, we can work toward facing the fears that have caused such resistance in our lives. With this new realization, we are empowered to work through our fears so they no longer remain the driving force behind our actions.
Our resistance in life is a surefire sign that God is trying to do a work in us and through us. Resistance is a form of fear; it masquerades as something like procrastination but at the core of your resistance is fear of something. Fear is always an indication of where (or what) God is asking us to step forward into.
As my journey continues to take me further off into the unknown, I have grappled with fear. We all deal with fear.
Without conscious practice and acknowledgement, fear can derail us from following our heart.
My spiritual awakening is paying off as I learn to work with fear rather than bury it (or worse—ignore it altogether).
It takes more energy to work against fear than it does to work with it.
Fear is not the enemy when we make friends with it.
It is a vital part of who we are, so invite fear along as if it were a wise friend; it is there for a reason.
Fear keeps us safe in times of danger and sustains us throughout perilous times of change.
When we make friends with fear and allow it to be heard, we can gently let it know our plans.
Be grateful for the role fear plays, but affirm you are choosing a different route—courageous love.
The development of a healthy ego alongside a courageous spirit ensures we have all we need to navigate this world.
-Sarah Varcas
Fear lands us right at the same intersection we left it, at the corner of been there and done that. Unless we choose a path to love by opening our heart to everything below the surface of fear, we will experience the same unfulfilling and predictable outcomes while hiding from our own emotions.
When fear becomes your lighthouse it will perpetually lead you to darkness.
-Kris Carr
Fear's number one job is to keep us safe and secure in the comfort of our current reality. It certainly doesn't want us to dig deep into the crevices of our heart and soul, because when we listen to our deepest calling and inner knowing we inevitably come to meet the complacency and unfulfilling path that our fears keep us traversing along.
There's no security in following love or dreams or desires, because those things offer zero certainty. They DO offer rewards that far exceed the risk we take to follow our heart—happiness, fulfillment, joy, purpose and self care.
Choosing love via adventures, self worth, soul searching, soul mates, dreams, fulfilling careers, or any multitude of things calling to your heart is the only way to live freely with empowerment, purpose and inner peace.
The next time fear starts to speak, go ahead, have a dialogue with it.
"Thank you, Ego, for doing your job; I want you to know that I am choosing to listen to my heart. I already know where you take me, and I'm ready to chart a new course this time. I sure hope you'll come along. I'm still going to need you."
Listen to your intuition to determine whether fear is playing a healthy role, or sabotaging your dreams by halting any momentum.
When fear is kindly put in its place, we make space for the whispers of our soul to be heard. The calling of our heart or the curiosity of our Higher Self begins to flourish.
It takes often might courage to honour the truth as we see it, especially when it sets us apart from others or challenges the status quo.
-Sarah Varcas
If life is providing you opportunities to grow or revealing experiences to test your heart's desires, say yes. Step outside of your comfort zone, and make one step at a time.
You may not know where the path to Love takes you, but I can guarantee you haven't been there yet. And don't forget to invite along courage, faith and trust. You're going to need them.
By staying present to both our fears and our hopes and dreams, we assertively take action that befits our current reality. Dreams are healthy so long as we take one curious step at a time.
As I lay under the stars and felt the crisp fall air hit my skin, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Even though my yoga class was canceled unexpectedly, there was a yoga teacher training retreat taking place that welcomed me with open arms (the yogi way).
I struggled through tight joints and muscles, and I breathed my way through the asanas. The intensity of the week off my mat jolted me while I bowed in deep gratitude for this special class. When the instructor, Mary Clare (MC), said it was no coincidence we were all here practicing together under the night sky, I knew synchronicity had been at the helm of this blessed meeting.
As we flowed through asanas, the slow, steady pace of the class mirrored my intention to slow way down the past few weeks. MC delivered a message straight from the cosmos that was shining exuberantly on us:
If a dream is placed on your heart, you are powerful enough to manifest it.
-Mary Clare “MC” Sweet
This struck a deep chord in my soul as a strong sense of purpose recently entered my heart, part of a truly divine path that led the way to this moment. My dream realization grew out of my life calling. This dream could only have come to me after the heart opening work I did this year. I opened up the depths of my authentic soul’s purpose and my dream was born out of my newly created space.
With great power comes great responsibly, or so they say, and I feel a deep calling to rely on the path I’ve been on for the last 30 years to fuel my next 30. I am grateful for the sense of purpose I now have, yet fear is always creeping in, taking up residence in my mind. Fear’s ugly stepsister, impatience, is always right there with it.
The universe doesn’t put anything on your heart that you aren’t strong enough to handle. I repeated this truth to myself during class, and granted it the space to sink in deeper. It wasn’t much longer before MC shared my all-time favorite quote from Marianne Williamson:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Fear is always going to be a player. You determine how much court time you give it. Whenever I get tangled up in fear and doubt how I will reach my dreams, I slow down, breathe and try to think of one small, attainable step. I choose to be in my power and boldly step toward my dream. Today, that step was coming to yoga, forcing myself to do the one thing I could take control of and feel empowered by. And thank God I did; the reward was nothing short of miraculous. As I allowed the waxing moon to fill me with its glorious light and love, I lay in awe of the day’s God nudge.
Synchronicity will always put you in the right place at the right time to further your true path. It is up to YOU to decide if you will step into your loving place of knowing or shudder to your shadow side of fear and belittle your heart with cowardice. It’s always your choice. You have the power to decide every single moment of every day. What will you decide to do today?
