Too many of us suffer in silence.

Pretending it’s okay…pretending we’re okay.

We keep ourselves stuck by silencing our inner voice and not utilizing our outer voice. Out of shame and fear we don’t ask for help and we don’t share our stories. Instead we seek isolation in an effort to escape the hurt, memories, shame or pain.

What you fail to realize is that you are NEVER alone in your experiences. There have been a multitude of people who have felt the same way before you and there are countless people who are feeling the same way now. You may not know them or see them, but they have the same feelings of anger, sadness, heartache, despair… They feel what you feel. You share each other’s fear.

The new year has started and it’s time for a shift. Your intentions have been set and your resolutions made; you’re determined to finally make a change in your life. Making the decision is the first step – the hardest part – the wheels of change have been set in motion. Now comes the next challenge; being patient and giving yourself time.

One of the most challenging aspects of making a change in life is the time and space required for implementation. Things don’t happen overnight. All life changes take time.

After you take the first step to make a change the meantime period ensues. It’s the time between making the decision and it manifesting. During this time things may seem to move unbearably slow. It can be easy to get lost in time and turn back. This is the time when most people give up.

Life changes are a renovation process. You start a home renovation by first removing or tearing down the old stuff that no longer works with the new plans. There are pieces that need to be revised before the new pieces can be added and take shape. The same is true in life. When you disrupt the structure of your life it takes time for the changes to take shape. As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Perfectionism is a debilitating disease; a dangerous trap. It’s that internal voice telling you things are never good enough. The voice saying you’re never good enough.

It’s easy to get caught up in life striving for perfection. Striving to look perfect, act perfect and to carry out tasks perfectly. There becomes an incessant internal drive to get it right, do it right and to be right. When you’re caught in this state you’re failing to see that your uniqueness and true personality shines when you’re able to let go of the pursuit of perfection. Who you really are comes out when you’re able to fully accept yourself exactly how you are.

“Perfection is an unattainable illusion that taints reality.” ~C. Adia

Sometimes life gets hectic and things seem to pass by in a blur. Other times the weight of the things occurring may cause you to feel weary or down.

There are times life invites you to embrace uncomfortability, stretch your boundaries and reevaluate your limits. Sometimes in unpredictable, but pleasant new ways; other times in ways riddled with challenges.

You have a dream that used to mean everything to you, but now it's no longer aligned with who you are and where you're going.     

There are countless books on how to go after your dreams and bring them to reality, but there is far less material to help with letting a dream go. There may come a time where deep down you know it's time to let a dream you once cherished go. Despite your internal knowing, feelings of guilt may loom and you may feel like a failure for not 'hanging in there'. There's a high probability you'll have a hard time letting go. You'll have to learn how to move on.

In life there will be dreams that come to fruition and those that don't. Some dreams no longer resonate and therefore aren't designed to be realized.  All dreams occupy energetic space. You have to let go of dreams that no longer resonate to open space for bigger, better and more aligned dreams to come in. However, deciphering when to keep pursuing a dream and when to let go is not an easy task.

Sometimes hope is what you need.

If you’re human, you’re going to come across at least one period in your life when you’re down and out. A time when it feels like life is against you. A time when monetary funds are depleted, your friends are nonexistent or your direction is blurry.

During this period there will be times when the stars seem to align and out of the blue synchronicity happens. It seems like your prayers have been answered and the solution you were waiting for appears. Your outlook has brightened and you feel hopeful and inspired. You proceed accordingly; thinking there is no way that things can’t work out at this point, especially with the ideal solution right in front of you.

In life there will be rough days. Days that are stressful and discouraging externally and internally.  Days when you’re feeling apprehension, worry, doubt and fear. There will be days when external circumstances cause your mind to wreck internal havoc. There will be times you feel overwhelmed and unsure of what decisions to make; and times when you have no idea how things are going to work out. At times you’ll find yourself questioning the choices you’ve made, and wondering if you’ve made the ‘right’ decisions for your life.

When these days come; breathe. Remember you’re not alone. During this journey of life everyone has moments or days when life is challenging.

If you’ve embarked on a path towards increased internal awareness and spiritual enlightenment it can be easy to think something is wrong when you feel this way. Nothing is wrong; it’s normal. You’re alive and challenging times are a component of being human. Feeling is an occupational hazard of life that no one escapes.

The destination means nothing if you don’t appreciate the journey.

Life is a journey, not a destination. You’ve probably heard it before. But, what does it actually mean?

How many times were you asked as a child “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

From an early age you’re thrust into the mind frame of attaining, accomplishing or doing ‘something.’ Trying to be somebody. Wanting to go somewhere. Working hard to make something of your life. You get so focused on what you want to be, where you want to go, or what you want to do that you see where you are – right here, right now – as just a stepping stone; a necessary requirement for your desired result.

Back down memory lane. There are times you have to go back before you can go forward.

Childhood memories.

Jubilation, awkward times and growing pains; some memories fill your heart with warm contentment and others you’d rather forget.

A foundational period that molds and shapes your thoughts, behavior and contributes to who you become.

You are on the receiving end of your caregiver’s conditioning, thoughts and idiosyncrasies. Implanted in your impressionable mind are inherited beliefs and responses that can become both beneficial and detrimental throughout your life.        

Time passes, you get older, and you capitalize on opportunities to shape and form the person you want to be.