“Today is the day to resolve to awaken in every moment…to commit, to live, to love…to serve our highest dream. If we wait for circumstances to align in the way we desire, we may wait forever. Regardless of what surrounds us, this is the day to begin.” Ann Mortifee
Have you ever looked at people who were showing up in powerful ways, doing amazing things, living their best life, and wondered what was their secret? People like Oprah Winfrey, Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill Gates, Michael Jordan, Warren Buffet, and the likes?
The truth is, they don’t actually have a secret but rather a realisation. A deep realisation of who they truly are and the recognition and embodiment of their brilliance, power, and abilities.
I believe that when we were kids, we knew exactly who we were, and we also knew that we could accomplish anything. This was evident by our fearless and bold approach to life, exploring, learning, and engaging with the things we were interested in.
However, as we grew older and became influenced by the norms, beliefs, ideals and expectations of our family, society, and personal experiences, who we were, and our genius were affected.
For some, the influence was positive, resulting in confident, strong, go-getters who harnessed their talents and abilities and showed up in their power. However, for others, the impact of their socialisation and life experiences dimmed their lights, creating a false, insecure self.
Six months ago, a client who I’ll call Karen, reached out to me lost, confused, miserable and desperate. She was in a very dark place, trapped by her false beliefs about herself and her abilities to do what her heart was calling her to do and live the life she knew she was being pulled to live. She felt like she was living a lie and was ready to make a drastic change but didn’t know how.
In our very first session we made a deep dive, exposing the false beliefs that were dictating her life, identifying the source of them, and began clearing them one by one. We soon discovered that many of the beliefs she held about herself and her abilities were not even hers, but the words spoken by her family, teachers and even childhood friends.
Over the next few months, the more clearing, healing, and truth affirming we did, the more she began to remember who she truly was. She began to remember her wildly creative, confident, unstoppable nature and began to feel the excitement and enthusiasm for life she once felt. Her true self was finally waking up.
Karen’s transformation journey was by no means a walk in the park. She was continuously met by her ego’s resistance to change, fear of the unknown, doubts about her worthiness and capabilities and her overwhelming thoughts of what other people might think.
The truth is, such deep transformation does take time, a deepened awareness, commitment and dedication to self and one’s goals, in spite of what comes up or comes at us. After all the false identity and beliefs did take time to develop and take root, so too does uncovering and re-establishing what’s true.
With determination and perseverance, Karen is now on the final leg of her programme and I am absolutely amazed by the woman she has become. It was only last week during one of our sessions, she shared with me the great news about her new business venture and her plans to move out of her marital home, after ending a marriage that has been dead for more than 10 years. I was moved to tears as I watched and listened to the confident, outspoken, bold, powerful woman on the screen in front of me, knowing how far she had come.
The thing is, we were all created whole and complete, possessing everything we will ever need to live an extraordinary and phenomenal life. We were all born secure and sure about who we are, having amazing talents and abilities, which were meant to be harnessed and shared with the world.
For some of us, along the journey, our true, authentic selves got covered up by our life experiences, conditioning, false beliefs, trauma and past wounds. These experiences caused us to forget just how exceptional we really are, resulting in a life of mediocrity.
Nonetheless, while you may have had a challenging start, right now, you have what it takes to begin to make a change towards remembering the truth of who you are, so that you can truly show up for your life.
And it all starts with an intention to do so.
As you read this, you may recognize areas of your life where your light has been dimmed, where you know deep within you that you have something meaningful and important to share with the world but you have allowed fear to stop you, where you look at others who are doing amazing things but think that you don’t have what it takes or could never attain such heights. If this resonates, then it’s time to stop hiding from yourself and the world.
As mentioned previously one of the main reasons why you may think you don’t have what it takes to live an extraordinary life, is as a result of your limiting beliefs about yourself and your abilities. In the famous words of Henry Ford, “If you think you can you are right and if you think you cannot you are also right.” And if you fall into the latter category of thinking that you cannot, then you are being limited by a false belief.
I encourage you to spend time evaluating and assessing your beliefs about yourself and your capacity to show up. If you identify any limiting beliefs which might be preventing you from living your highest dreams, take the time to clear them and replace them with more serving, positive ones.
Once you have done this, get clear on your vision and dream. When you become clear on what you want and how you want to show up, you can now channel your energies and focus in that direction.
Next, spend time researching the subject matter. This may include reading books and accessing relevant resources, doing a course or programme, following, or interviewing successful persons in the field to better understand the journey ahead of you.
The information gained from your research will provide you with the insight needed to get started. You can also consider working with a coach or mentor at this stage to help you strategically plan and implement your next steps.
The most important thing to note and always remember along your journey is that you are powerful and brilliant and can do absolutely anything you set your mind to.
Each and every person who you currently consider to be extraordinary started somewhere. Some started from ground zero including persons like Tyler Perry who was once homeless but knew he had a gift to share with the world and through an intention chose to show up for his life. Today he is a celebrated actor, writer, comedian and director.
Imagine for a moment if persons like Barak Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Rosalind Franklin for example, decided to subscribe to a limiting belief about themselves and their abilities and not show up to life; they would have essentially denied the world of their immense contribution and gifts.
The next time you catch yourself hiding from yourself and the world, remind yourself that you have a valuable contribution that only you can make, and you have more than what it takes to show up and to shine your light.
“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, 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 won’t 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’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson