Personal Growth

  • 3 steps to take when you’re feeling lost and unfulfilled as a High Achiever

    Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut? Like you’ve achieved all of your goals, but yet you still don’t feel fulfilled or happy? If that sounds like you, then you’re not alone. Many High Achievers find themselves in this position. They have great careers and earn a lot of money, but they still feel lost and unfulfilled. So what do you do when you find yourself in this situation? Here are three steps that can help get you back on track!

    high achievers that feel lost and unfulfilled, even though they are high earners with great careers. They may have worked hard to get where they are, but they can’t help but feel like something is missing. They long for more meaning in their lives, but they don’t know how to find it. The high achiever may feel like they’re on a hamster wheel, running faster and faster but never getting anywhere. It can be a frustrating and isolating feeling. But it’s important to remember that there are others who feel the same way. You are not alone in your search for fulfillment. There are many resources available to help you find what you’re looking for. Talk to a counselor, join a support group, or read self-help books. With time and effort, you can find the fulfillment you’re searching for.

    The first step is to figure out what it is that you want in life. What do you want in life?

    It’s a big question, but it’s important to spend some time thinking about it. What are your passions? What makes you happy? When you take the time to really think about what you want, it can be easier to start setting realistic goals and working towards them. Maybe you want to travel the world, or start your own business. Maybe you want to find a cure for cancer, or write a best-selling novel. Whatever it is that you want, start by getting a clear understanding of what it is. Once you know what you want, you can begin taking steps to make it happen. Pursue your passions and work towards your goals, and with dedication and hard work, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

    You’ve decided that you want to make some changes in your life and you’re ready to take the first step. Congratulations! Taking that first step is often the hardest part, but it’s also the most important.

    The second step is to find a support group or mentor.

    Having someone to help keep you accountable and on track can be extremely helpful when trying to make changes in your life. There are many groups and programs available that can provide support and guidance. Do some research and find one that’s right for you. There are also online support groups and forums that can be a great resource. Once you’ve found a group or mentor, stay committed and listen to their advice. Making changes in your life is not always easy, but with the right support, it’s definitely possible.

    The third and final step is to take small steps every day to work towards your goals.

    Change doesn’t happen overnight, but by taking small steps each day, you can slowly start to make the changes you want to see in your life. These three steps will help you get back on track and start living a more fulfilling life. Figure out what it is that you want in life. Set realistic goals and start working towards them. Find a support group or mentor to help you stay on track high achievers that feel lost and unfulfilled, even though they are high earners with great careers

    So, if you’re feeling lost and unfulfilled as a high achiever, it’s time to take a step back and figure out what it is that will make you happy. Once you know what that is, set realistic goals and start working towards them. Find a support group or mentor to help you stay on track – someone who understands the challenges of being a high achiever and can offer guidance when needed. Finally, identify your passions and what makes you happy. From there, make a list of things you want to do or accomplish in your life. Take small steps every day to work towards your goals; don’t try to do everything at once!  

    Ready to get started? Schedule a call with me today.

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  • 4 Ways To Make Learning Self-Love & Discovery Not Be So Damn Awkward

    Not only is self-love a foreign concept for most, but the idea of self-love can also feel uncomfortable AF. I mean think about it; is there anything else more intimate than the idea of self-love? Going inward and giving your mind, your spirit and your body all the attention, care, and affection you would normally reserve for the others in your life isn’t a concept we’ve grown up becoming accustomed to.

    Self-Love isn’t a Fad Diet

    Once you’ve wrapped your mind around the idea that this intimacy with yourself is non-negotiable and necessary to live a fulfilled life, you need to start taking the (sometimes painfully) awkward steps that will get you there.

    We haven’t exactly been raised with a self-love guidebook to help us along. In fact, the entire idea of it hasn’t really been openly talked about until the last decade or so. Despite its newness, the self-love revolution that’s slowly taking hold in the world isn’t a fad. It’s a spiritual awakening to a very life-affirming necessity that has been stripped of us for centuries.

    When you think about the traditional school’s focus on high grades to “get a good job”, television commercials and ads with “must-have” messages voiced over utopic images of happy people doing happy things with their happy smiles, and iconic literature like the Great Gatsby that literally revolves around glorifying one man’s idea of greatness through material illusions, it’s easy to recognize we have been coerced to believe that only things of external value create true happiness. It’s a total fucking sham. And the lies are finally coming home to roost.

    Step into Self-Love Consciousness

    Waking up to the fact that every value you’ve built your life around is a sham, designed to keep you an unconscious prisoner of life is often shocking and painful. It’s tough to recognize external validation for the steaming hot cup of bullshit it is, but it’s also empowering.

    I found that there is only one thing that heals every problem, and that is: to know how to love yourself. – Louise Hay

    Hyper-focusing on the external things you desire; people, money, business, etc., are reflections of the voids inside of yourself. Skipping over your internal voids keeps you unconscious to the internal turmoil that has you always searching, always longing, and always unfulfilled.

    How do you find self-love? You dig. You isolate and you ache from being lonely. You heal. You accept. You look in the mirror and see the Universe. – Danielle Aime

    Learning Self-Love is the Epicenter of a Fulfilled Life

    Your deep, internal self is where the magic happens. If your internal self is dark, full of shame, guilt, self-blame, or is in any way being rejected or ignored, nothing you do or have in your life will bring you peace.

    On the flip-side, if your internal self is connected to your consciousness, loved, honored, and nurtured, your whole life turns around. You are then able to not only create the external life that you want, but you can enjoy the external results that come from internal love and connection.

    How much you love yourself is what determines your fulfillment in life. -Danielle Aime

    Shine from Within Through Acceptance

    When you love yourself exactly as you are, you begin to shine from within. Your external environment becomes a beautiful life, adorned with all the things you thought you had to start with to make you happy. Ironically, it’s the internal acceptance that creates that visual of external results you’ve been looking for.

    If you aren’t familiar with HOW to love yourself, you’re not alone. Self-love is often simplified down to a hot bath or a relaxing massage. These are nice things to do for yourself, but they skip over the internal work that’s required to achieve self-love and put you back where you are most comfortable: external devices! It feels good at the moment, but when you get out of the tub, you go right back to a life with more pain, fear, and struggle than you want or is necessary.

    To achieve self-love, you’re going to have to dig deep and learn how to become fully present to yourself. This means the discomfort of exploring your truest-self, understanding who she really is, what she really needs, and then showering her with the attention and acceptance she needs. Only then can something like a hot bath be relevant to loving yourself.

    The Maverick Blueprint for Self-Love If you know me at all, then you’ll know I don’t do anything by-the-book. I am a self-professed Spiritual Maverick and I work with clients who have that burning desire to step outside the comfort zone of what society deems as normal. The blueprint below shows you how to start learning self-love through self-exploration, acceptance, and healing.

    Stop Comparing!

    Susie may manifest more in her life simply because her self-worth confidence love meter in that sector of her life is full – YOURS is not. Accept that you are not Susie, you are you. Find awareness inside of yourself and you will find the answers to your life that you desire deep within.

    Accept where you are at with loving yourself.

    It’s ok for it to feel weird about soulfully exploring yourself. Don’t make it worse by being hard on yourself for not feeling like a divine goddess through it all. No one learns self-love in a week.

    That hesitation that comes up is your ego-signal trying to keep you comfortable and in the same place. Push through that discomfort and see what’s on the other side. Allow for mistakes and don’t judge the feelings that will bubble up by going inward.

    Identify internal voids you may be trying to fill through external sources/validations.

    This can be effing hard to do on your own. My previous blog about Inner Work talks about my own struggles with it and outlines the ways I recommend exploring your inner-self.

    Take action to heal.

    You can start to implement some self-care routines as a part of self-love. But be certain you aren’t just doing something because someone says it’s a nice thing to do for yourself. You want to purposely and consciously move forward in such a way that serves you and nourishes your spirit.

    Honestly, this doesn’t have to be hard. Simple things like 15 minutes of guided meditation, taking a walk to clear your mind, or practicing mirror work are simple and cost-effective ideas. Play around with this, make it fun, and only do what feels good.

    Learning self-love is a continuous practice, be gentle, give grace and grow.

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  • How to Strengthen Your Intuition & Increase Your Spiritual Gifts

    How to Strengthen Your Intuition & Increase Your Spiritual Gifts

    You don’t need things to become more spiritual.

    Tarot cards, crystals, sage—OH MY!

    Since the dawn of humanity, mystical tools have been used to enhance spiritual journeys. Moon rituals, yoni eggs, oils, and more are often seen as essentials for spiritual growth. However, relying too heavily on them can actually pull you into illusions rather than bringing you closer to the truth—especially when it comes to strengthening your intuition.

    But wait, Danielle, I love my crystal-oil-blue-room-meditation-while-sitting-on-my-sacred-pillow ritual! How can you expect me to believe that it’s not helping me be more spiritual?!?

    It’s okay, Betty. You can have your amethyst cave full of tools if they bring you joy and feel aligned with your path. But here’s the truth: You don’t need any of it to deepen your spirituality.

    You Are Already a Spiritual Being

    The key to strengthening your intuition and increasing your spiritual gifts is not found in material tools but in returning to your natural state. You are, and always have been, a spiritual being. The idea that we need something external to make us more spiritual often leads to frustration and disillusionment.

    Your soul chose to experience life in human form to grow through perspective and experience. While tools can inspire and help your human side connect with spiritual truths, they aren’t what make you more spiritual.

    If you’re looking to align more deeply with your intuition, remember that you already possess infinite potential. Trust and believe in your connection to Spirit. No crystal, card, or ritual will take you closer to Spirit than the connection you cultivate within.

    Want to dive deeper into how to connect spiritually? Check out our guide titled “How to Use Meditation for Spiritual Growth.”

    Why Tools Might Hold You Back

    It’s human nature to seek out external aids, and yes, tools can be fun and make you feel connected. But if you rely on spiritual accessories to bring you a sense of fulfillment, you’re likely to experience highs and lows in your journey. The real work lies in your inner connection, not in acquiring more things.

    Sound familiar?

    • “If I meditated an hour a day, I’d be WAY more spiritual!” (But secretly, you hate meditating.)
    • “She’s so good at reading tarot cards. I’ll never be that gifted.” (But you’re not even sure if you believe in tarot.)
    • “She manifested $100 holding a crystal! That never happens for me, and I own a thousand dollars’ worth of crystals!”

    These thought patterns come from comparing yourself to others and believing that spiritual growth is something external. In reality, spiritual growth comes from aligning with your own soul’s journey. To help you let go of the comparison trap, check out our blog titled “Reclaiming Personal Power in Your Spiritual Journey.”

    Strengthen Your Intuition Without All the “Things”

    Strengthening your intuition doesn’t require elaborate tools or rituals. It’s about trusting yourself and recognizing the divine within you. Your intuition is your soul’s guidance system, offering you everything you need to live a more connected and spiritually rich life.

    The more you trust yourself, the clearer your inner guidance becomes. This practice of listening to your intuition will help you differentiate between the messages of your higher self and the fear-based reactions of the ego.

    Ask and Listen to Strengthen Your Intuition

    A simple way to enhance your intuition is by asking yourself meaningful questions, listening to the answers, and trusting the insights you receive. Here are some powerful questions to consider:

    • What parts of myself have I not fully accepted?
    • Where do I still hold back my truth?
    • Where am I afraid of standing out or being different?

    These questions guide you back to your higher self and help you break free from societal norms or external pressures. Your intuition will lead you on a path of light and ease if you trust it. To explore this further, take a look at our post titled “Practicing Authenticity in Everyday Life.”

    The Ego vs. Intuition Struggle

    Free will allows us to either listen to our intuition or ignore it. It’s our human ego that muddies the waters and creates doubt. Fear, comparison, and societal pressures often push us to seek validation outside of ourselves, which leads us further from trusting our inner guidance.

    By learning to trust your intuition, you’ll open yourself to receiving

    the spiritual guidance that has always been there. Over time, you’ll become more attuned to the difference between ego-driven thoughts and the wisdom of your higher self.

    For a deeper look into aligning with your spiritual self, check out the post titled “5 Signs You’re Out of Alignment With Your Higher Self.”

    Final Thoughts on Spiritual Growth

    True spirituality is about oneness with the Creator and recognizing the divine power within you. There are no set beliefs or rules to follow to awaken this connection. Tools can be helpful, but they’re not required. What truly matters is your relationship with yourself and Spirit.

    Start embracing your intuition today, and see how it transforms your spiritual journey.

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  • Mom guilt, it’s a real thing: Here Are 3 Ways To Help Overcome Guilt

    Why is mom guilt even a thing?

    We live in a society that is grossly obsessed with perfection. Perfect body, perfect hair, perfect career path, perfect kids – and most of all – perfect women. Women face extraordinary pressure to maintain all of the above and more….well….perfectly. This obsession with perfection isn’t conducive to trying to banish mom guilt, but rather, it perpetuates it. 

    The delightful kicker here is that despite society’s generalized idea of perfection, there are also endless double-standards and conflicting ideals that make it even harder for moms to live-up to everyone’s expectations of how they raise their children. 

    Expectations cause pressure. Pressure creates misalignment. Misalignment results in guilt. 

    Calling out the bullshit.

    I’m calling out these impossible standards right here and now, and I invite you to kick their ass to the curb with me. Unrealistic and decidedly boring expectations of ‘perfection’ are just one more way society is set up to keep you feeling small. 

    First things first: You are not just a mom, or a wife, or an employee or a business owner. You are an extraordinary Being with purpose. Those other things are labels to describe your physical circumstances. They do not represent the essence of your soul. They aren’t YOU.

    By being connected to your inner-self, you truly know yourself and the expectations of others begin to slide off you, reducing the feeling of pressure. As a mother, you can then start to make decisions for your kids and go through your day based on your true Being. This puts you closer to or in the space of alignment. Guilt does not exist within the alignment.

    How common is mom guilt?

    There’s a hella lotta guilty moms out there. 

    And guess what?? There are loads of ways that regular mom guilt can be supersized. Yayyyy…

    For example, single moms have extremely high rates of guilt. MAD props to you women – I don’t know how the eff you guys do it. I sometimes experience huge “I’m gonna lose it” stress when my husband leaves for over 24 hours at the firehouse. If that can get rough for me, I can’t imagine it day-in, day-out.

    Let’s not forget that shaming is still a real thing that exists for stay at home moms, which substantially increases feelings of guilt. Guilt over not contributing to household income and buying into the judgments of others that they somehow “have it easier” than working moms adds to feeling ‘not enough’.

    On the other hand, working moms are plagued with guilt, too. See, there’s extra guilt for everybody! No mom left behind! Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. It seems no matter what you do, it’s not good enough for anyone. 

    The prognosis for relieving mom guilt is bad here, I know. But I promise you, Linda, there is a way out of the shitty guilt spiral that society thrusts in your face at every turn.

    How To Banish Mom Guilt.

    As I’ve talked about before, self-love and honoring yourself comes from choosing yourself first. If you want to get off the mom guilt-train, you need to learn to love yourself from the inside and put that into practice especially as a mom.

    When you get deep into self-love, you connect with your truest, highest version of yourself and you become confident in the knowledge that you are enough. 

    “FFS, Danielle. I’m a mom. How the hell am I supposed to get all deep and self-lovey while dealing with a screaming toddler and baby barf all day long?”

    I’m glad you asked, Linda – I’ve got you covered. 

    • Practice self-compassion like your life depends on it (it kinda does). 

    This literally takes no extra time – it takes discipline. Self-compassion is described as the capacity to be kind and accepting toward yourself, and willing to forgive your fumbles and imperfections. You can achieve this by changing your internal dialogue as you go about your day. 

    From: “I am a total shit for yelling at him so much today.”

    To: “I know that’s not my normal. I did the best I could on a monumentally hard day.”

    From: “I’m failing. I can’t keep up with all this. I SUCK at momming.”

    To: “Today was tough. No wonder, I am running on 3 hours of sleep.”

    • Doing something just for YOU.

    As moms, there is a lot of pressure and guilt associated with whether we should do things for ourselves or not – because ya know Aunt Barbra has a big-ass mouth and will say you’re selfish if you take a weekend away for yourself. 

    Aunt Barbara be damned, be an amazing role model to your kids anyway by choosing yourself first sometimes and not being your own afterthought. Teach your daughter that society has created some major stigmas on mommas and show her how you’re rewriting those stories for yourself – and for her. 

    • Don’t be shy to ask for help.

    Need a hand? Cue the pride factor!! 

    Asking for help: It’s. So. Hard.

    Look, I get it. We have 4367 things to do in a day as mothers, but we must remember how important it is to have help bringing that number down. Now, don’t going asking for support from Aunt Barbara – or even your own mother – if you know it’s going to come with a side order of shame-bolstering judgments on your parenting style. 

    Seek support from friends and family who you know will help you without the side-eye. If you aren’t blessed with that currently in your life, find ways to connect to other mothers in community groups, join mom meet-ups or hire out help. 

    Even 2 hours of help a week can really make a difference. It’s not easy to build a village if you don’t already have one in place, but it’s worth it and necessary. 

    Be the best version of yourself so you can be the best version of mom to them.

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  • 6 Ways To Manifest What You Want: End the Frustration of Manifesting

    “You get what you think about.” Abraham Hicks

    It seems so simple, doesn’t it? Think about something and have it – or its energetic equivalent – manifest into your life. While the concept seems simple, the practice of active manifestation bears many more complications to getting what you want than you are likely able to work through.  

    A lot of the frustration of manifesting comes from the wide array of incorrect or misleading information that now exists on the topic. The truth is, the word ‘manifesting’ has been used and abused in recent years and has now become a money-making scam for many self-proclaimed “gurus” as a way to make a quick buck. 

    Getting what you want comes naturally.

    What most people don’t realize when it comes to “manifesting” is that they have been doing it their whole lives. Yep, even you. From the time we are children, we unconsciously (or consciously) bring experiences or things into our lives through the process of manifestation.  

    Don’t agree?  

    Just ask any parent who’s ever bent to the pressure of buying a toy for their child at the store. 

    The child is set on getting the object of their desire. It may take more than one trip to the store, it may take waiting until their birthday, or it may take getting a less expensive, but equally appealing toy.  

    The point is…they align with a desire, stay persistent with it and their vibrational frequency brings them the equivalent of their desire. Manifesting is the Law of Attraction, which simply means like attracts like. Your vibrational frequency plus human beliefs will equal said desires.  

    Like attracts like: Manifestation defined. 

    Our energy bodies and paths have a lot to do with what we call into our lives and we create vibrations when we create thoughts. The vibrations we create with our thoughts attract like vibrations, hence ‘like attracts like’. If you don’t like what you’re experiencing, all you need to do is change your vibration by changing your thoughts.  

    We live in a world of our own creation and we should speak only such words and think only such thoughts as we wish to see manifest in our lives. We must think only about what we wish to experience. 

    “You are a living magnet. What you attract into your life is in harmony with your dominant thoughts.” Brian Tracy

    Staying present is key. 

    So, what is it that makes manifestation so difficult for some? It’s learning to master your own mind by controlling what you allow it to focus on. Controlling our thoughts takes practice and unending discipline, which is where most people fall off the rails.  

    The best way to start mastering this skill is to remember to stay focused on the present moment. Don’t linger on lost opportunities or past mistakes – and don’t fixate on the worries of tomorrow, inturn helping to ease the frustration of manifesting. 

    Feeling good now is the key to success; living in the present moment. Don’t save your happiness until after the success.  

    Being in the present moment allows you to communicate to the universe that you are right where you need to be, and that you choose to feel good now. YOU create the emotions of satisfaction, happiness, and love, not the situations outside of your control.  

    If you struggle finding acceptance in the present and have trouble stating, “I am right where I need to be”, then you need to work on finding awareness, acceptance, and appreciation for your life.  

    You can do this by finding awareness, acceptance, and appreciation in the things that you feel have pained you or kept you from progressing in life. I like to call this Authentic Internal Response.  

    Authentic Internal Response occurs when the “lesson” has been learned by having met the criteria of awareness, acceptance, and appreciation.  

    Focus on what you do have. 

    What’s in the past is in the past. There’s nothing you can do to change it. You can “coulda, woulda, shoulda” all day long, but doing so won’t alter the outcome or change where you are now.  

    Learn what you need from past events and then let them go. And tomorrow isn’t here yet so why worry about it? Worrying or obsessing won’t prevent things from happening. It’s important to stay in the present because it’s the only part of the time that you have any control over. 

    Choosing to feel good now by acknowledging what you do have signals Universe that you have what you want, and it strives then to deliver more of what you want. Again, like attracts like, ending the frustration of manifesting.   

    Many people believe if you were to feel good where you are now, then you would not go any further because your satisfaction would make you stuck in the current state. Au contraire, my friend! The simple thought of acceptance and appreciation for where you are has the power to manifest grander things into your life and catapult you to where you long to be.  

    When one is ok with where they are, that means they can find gratitude and appreciation in what lies around them, therefore signifying to the universe, ‘Wow, I love feeling this way. I love life; it’s beautiful. Bring me more please.’ The Universe loves to please you by delivering what you want. However, you need to make sure you are telling it what you want as opposed to telling it what you don’t want.  

    Think about this example: 

    You are in such a financial hole that you have no idea how you will pay your rent much less anything else that is due that month. Now instead of focusing on the lack and worry that most of us default to, try signifying to the Universe that you feel good where you are.  

    It is you saying, ‘I see how much I do have. I have a roof over my head at this present moment. I have life. I have the ability to see, to hear, to feel, to express myself, to desire more.’ You have endless amounts of things to be grateful for, all you need to do is change your focus to see them.   

    In this light you’re no longer telling the Universe, ‘Debt, debt, debt, please bring me more.’ You are instead sending out the vibration of “I have so much, please bring me more.’ If debt is your biggest struggle in life, then my Money Mindset course may help you.  

    Rewire your thoughts. 

    Read this statement or write it down 10 times or until the lightbulb goes off:  

    FOCUS ON WHAT IS GOING RIGHT IN YOUR LIFE BEFORE YOU FOCUS ON WHAT YOU WANT TO HAVE.  

    The present thought is so crucial and imperative if you’re tired of the frustration of manifesting not happening in your favor. It helps to be consciously aware of what you are saying to your brain so you can feed it the thoughts that amplify manifestation. Read or write down this next statement 20 times each day until you really feel it and believe it. 

    I am right where I need to be. 

    When you get yourself into this mindset, things around you become much easier and dare I say magical.  

    Detach from immediacy. 

    The counter-intuitive factor at play is what’s meant for you to have and when. Occasionally we can be quite hasty and very impatient beings; we like to see results yesterday. It can be hard to wait for the outcome, but again, don’t allow your impatient thoughts to take over and create resistance to your desires.   

    Think of it like this: If life was always one way and you got anything you wanted with a snap of a finger without any effort or desire, life would be so redundant and systematic with zero perspectives.  

    Life is full of contrasts and lessons, and if it weren’t so, it would be boring AF. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take a life of contrasts with all the painful downs so I can also experience the beautiful ups over redundant and boring any day.  

    Getting what you want in life shouldn’t be an almighty struggle. Focus on the good, consciously rewire your thought pattern and be patient. If you can do just this, you will capture the art of manifestation.  

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  • How Self-Forgiveness Can Heal and Bring Peace to You | 4 Step Process

    Ahhh, forgiveness. The elusive, seemingly impossible dream. This entire topic is a real bitch, isn’t it? Forgiveness is big area of exploration these days for my clients and a huge part of the equation to finding personal and spiritual freedom. I won’t lie, understanding self-forgiveness is even harder and is the work of a warrior.  

    1. What is forgiveness? Is it always necessary to forgive? Who do you forgive first? And how do you start forgiving yourself? These are just a few questions on this monumentally confusing topic that confront us as we move through personal transformation. 

    I know what a confusing mess forgiveness can seem like when you are starting down the road of spiritual awakening, so I’ve created this post as a roadmap to help get you started with understanding the basics of forgiveness and the process of starting where it matters most – yourself. 

    What is forgiveness? 

    The dictionary version of forgiveness is “to cease to feel resentment against”. It’s almost laughably simplistic, isn’t it? As simple as it sounds, there is usually no straight-line path to forgiveness. You don’t start at anger, resentment, and hurt and just walk on over to everything is awesome. If only it were that simple.   

    Forgiveness rather is a container in which you choose to nurture or not. It’s a continuum of moving back and forth through emotions and choices. You know you are within a state of forgiveness when your feelings of anger, hate, or resentment become neutralized. This happens through acceptance of what it was that caused the feelings. 

    Marriage and Family Therapist Andrea Brant says that “by forgiving, you are accepting the reality of what happened and finding a way to live in a state of resolution with it. This can be a gradual process…” 

    You don’t HAVE to feel happy or joyful when thinking about the person you are forgiving, or the parts of yourself you don’t enjoy looking at. But you don’t feel shame, guilt or resentment either. 

    Why is forgiveness important? 

    There is no doubt: forgiveness work can feel like a hot pile of steaming garbage to go through. So, it’s easy to wonder why–in–the–actual–hell you would ever put yourself through it. 

    The reason the work of self-forgiveness is transformative and worth it is because it elevates you to a place of peace in your life. This peace is the catalyst for self-love and allows space for you to begin forgiving others and enhancing your spiritual path. (Use this para as a sharable quote box within the blog to highlight.) 

    Besides inner-peace, the forgiveness of yourself and of others helps us on our spiritual path. It connects us more to ourselves and to others, therefore bringing us to closer alignment with source.  

    The way of the spirit is to embrace life – all of it….we often have the power to transform what is destructive in life. Forgiveness of others, and self, is an act of transformation and a high spiritual path.

    –Heather Seguin, Thymewood

    Where to start. 

    Within personal transformation comes a portion of deeper unveiling of one’s self. We hit certain milestones of release, awareness, and growth to then almost feel as if we are plateauing – or getting stuck at one point of growth. This, in fact, is a signal that you have gotten yourself very close to your core truth. The space just before core truth is where the lies you have about yourself – guilt and shame – reside.  

    This is the point of origin of the unwanted feelings. You are hitting the core of who you really are, and you freeze (plateau) because moving through those feelings is crazy-scary waters! Most people bail at this point and stay stuck in discontentment. This is where understanding self-forgiveness becomes essential to personal wellness and spiritual growth. 

    The anger, the sadness, the depression, the fear – those are the parts of yourself that need forgiveness and love. Forgive yourself for the things you may have done that you’re not proud of and for having so many negative feelings about yourself or your situation.  

    Often, the feelings we have when getting close to our truest self are extraordinarily complex and leave us unsure how to sort them out and process them.   

    How do you forgive feelings that you don’t understand? 

    Those yucky feelings that come up during self-forgiveness work that have you stuck, have embodied you on your journey. They have contributed to your sense of shame, hurt or worthlessness and by being there, have held you captive to staying the same.  

    They initiated to protect you – you have outgrown them once you are at the plateau of feeling stuck. It is here that you need to dawn your warrior attire and begin the work of forgiving yourself in order to move more towards your highest-self.  

    The most important person to forgive in life is YOU. 

    To release – to let go – we forgive.  Remember these things as you begin to heal: 

    Know that you have always done the best you could with what you knew, could handle, or were able to accept at the time of these events. Even in your worst moments, when you may have lost control – that was your truth then and that’s what you needed to experience.  

    Thank the experience, love it, forgive it, and let it go. We see these memories as the scars we carry, but they actually give us the ability to rise.  

    Feel those feelings. ALL feelings that arise are important to acknowledge and feel so they can be accepted and forgiven.  

    4 Step Exercise 

    If you are reading this article, you are likely ready to start healing and working on finding inner peace. Doing the exercise below is a great way to start and will help you learn about your feelings, release them and create the inner peace that only self-forgiveness can bring.  

    • Write a letter (or audio record) to the parts of you that you don’t know how to face.  
    • It’s important to really focus on and bring up all the emotions attached to these shadow parts. These emotions can range from anger to sadness to jealousy to remorse.  
    • Go deep to acknowledge that those feelings about yourself exist and let them go by writing: “I forgive myself for all the harm I have caused myself and to others in the past. I forgive myself for ever having had these ugly feelings towards myself, and for punishing myself through self-hatred, guilt, and shame. I now release myself from these feelings and hold myself and all around me to the highest good.” 
    • If possible, do an inner-child meditation and hug yourself deep within. We all have a little girl inside of us just wanting to know that she’s accepted as she is, mistakes and all. 

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