Hello dear one! 🤍
Spring is right around the corner! The days are longer, tree buds are making their appearance, and the weather is starting to warm up. We are embarking on an opportunity to witness the season of blooming in nature once more. What a joy!
In the plants blooming, notice that it’s not perfect. All the flowers, leaves, trees… they all bloom at different times and in different ways. They don’t all look the same. Even the bark on the trees are like our fingerprints. They are all unique.
But they are all perfect in their own way.
They don’t struggle with thoughts such as: “Do I belong here?” “Am I pretty enough?” “Am I blooming as good as the others?”
They bloom where they’re planted. On their own, they rise in their unique beauty. As a whole, they create beautiful scenery.
And so, as I see each of you, beautiful souls, I see a beautiful blooming garden. Each of you belonging to where you’re planted, blooming beautifully, and perfect as you are.
But I ask you, how are YOU feeling? Are you struggling with feeling a sense of belonging? Or being enough?
Or both?
Belonging is a noun defined as: an affinity for a place or situation. We all want to feel that we belong. That we are worthy and enough to belong.
Maslow states that belonging and love are some of the 5 basic human needs. In a world where we have connection at our fingertips, we sometimes feel that we don’t belong. Or that there is something wrong with us.
I, too, can identify.
I have found, through my own inner soul care work and with working with other women, that this disconnection is deeply rooted in shame and guilt. Just as weeds penetrate gardens and hurt viable plants, guilt and shame will do the same.
We can choose to uproot those weeds.
One way we can uproot feelings of guilt and shame is to simply observe them.
There is a silent power that comes with acknowledging our feelings. In the practice of observing our feelings of guilt and shame, we can learn to release them quicker when they arise.
It is in acceptance, my dear friend, to accept ourselves as perfect as we are: imperfections and all. I encourage you to embrace your imperfections and let go of who you think you “should” be.
It’s ok to choose to be ok with being ok.
I offer you this journaling prompt to dig deeper:
Think of a time when you felt very connected. Where were you? What was happening? Who was around you? When you reflect on the times in your life when you’ve felt most connected, what contributed to that feeling? What interferes with feeling connected for you? What can you do today to feel more connected?
As you journal using this prompt, notice where guilt and shame didn’t play a role in the interaction(s). Notice what works best for your unique needs. Notice any intrusive thoughts that may have arisen.
If you’re comfortable with sharing, please do. Simply respond to this email or contact me here. If you’re interested in working with me to uncover more, let’s schedule a time to talk.
Let’s all choose to live imperfectly - on purpose.
Grace and Peace,
~Lea, xo
Comments