“ God dwells within you as yourself, exactly the way you are.
God isn’t interested in watching you enact some performance of personality in order to comply with some crackpot notion you have about how a spiritual person looks or behaves. We all seem to get this idea that, in order to be sacred, we have to make some massive, dramatic change of character, that we have to renounce our individuality. …So what is my natural character? ….. my dream of finding divinity by gliding silently through the place with a gentle, ethereal smile –who is that person? That’s probably someone I saw on a TV show.” From Eat Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert*
The unique place from which each of us experiences life is truly that –unique. You have something to add to the whole, as exactly the person you are. You are a “hero” in your own possibly-quiet life, doing the best you can, learning to deal with negative circumstances, growing as a result of experience.
The true heroes are not the media-celebrated celebrities. Heroic behavior is not the adventure portrayed in films: it is dealing effectively and learning from challenges regular people like us face on a daily basis. Heroes are each of us, taking life, experience-by-experience, and being present for it as much as we can be (and that may feel “imperfect” at times).
It is not necessary for any one of us to try to change who we are. Experiencing life is about focus of attention and choice: we each have the capacity to choose negative energy and positive: within ourselves as well as externally in our lives. In behavior, in thought, in feelings. The hardest thing to do sometimes is to take responsibility for that. So we may feel it has been done imperfectly.
When we experience the “dark times” in our lives, we sometimes see the darkness in ourselves. That is self-awareness and that makes us whole. It does not mean we choose to exercise or even EXORCISE that darkness within us: it only means we are aware of it. It is who each of us is. And when we do exercise negativity; OK, we are human.
So why would we ever think we are unworthy, not qualified, unable to deal with anything life hands us? Why would we believe we need to be different than we are, whether that is in the midst of a career crisis, searching for a job, or any other experience in our lives, for that matter? Why would we listen to anyone but ourselves, and our own inner wisdom, which knows exactly we each want and need?
The key to successful growth and personal evolution in the career counseling process is awareness of and acceptance of self. Once we understand the extent of the true nature of our personal gifts, and why we DESERVE to spend our time sharing our unique gifts, why the world NEEDS that from us, we can better understand our hearts desire. That will be a relative thing to each of us: we are each unique.
Ultimately it will not be a better resume, building up your past, “who you know” or any external tool you think you have to use to get a better job. It will be YOU, your awareness, your belief in yourself and your deservability. That’s the real “heroes journey”! You think you are worthy –feel you are worthy—know you are.
There is no affirmation, there is no well-being program, there is no external teacher, and there is nothing but US to find that within.
We are each of us combinations of darkness and light. We are each “divine.” Our challenge is to know this and make choices in feeling, thinking, and behaving-- accordingly. There are no excuses. Now is the time to be open to learning it.
With warm regards, and right-there-with-you on your path!
"Words don't teach. You never get it done.(and you can't get it wrong) Well being wants you. Well being is the order of the day. You are not here as regurgitators... you are creators... All is well."
Jill
*Elizabeth Gilbert’s wonderful book EAT PRAY LOVE is an honest and inspiring read for those of us who look for spiritual connection and meaning in life, whatever your “spiritual persuasion”. She reaffirms over and over that becoming at peace with exactly who we are, is the secret to our finding ourselves in life.
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