“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk
How are you feeling? We experienced the summer solstice on June 21st and many of you may have celebrated and welcomed it with gatherings and rituals. Others of you may have felt the shift energetically. The Solstice welcomed new beginnings and an opportunity to turn inward. You may be feeling like it’s time for that trip to your inner monastery as you reflect and make choices to continue forward on your journey of personal growth. One of the things that I continue to journey with is accepting myself more! No longer is it ok to be what others expect me to be or to rush to self-judgment and criticism for choices that I’ve made in the past. As I look back on those choices, some I’m not proud of, I realize that all of them have contributed to who I am today. I’ve learned from them. I’m accepting myself more and more. I continue to reflect and ask, “Who am I now?” I continue to grow and evolve!
I feel more peaceful with who I am and I know that my personal growth and self-acceptance will continue. It’s a choice that I’m making. Spiritual teacher and author Eckhart Tolle has said that “Acceptance looks like a passive state, but in reality it brings something entirely new into this world. That peace, a subtle energy vibration, is consciousness.” As I feel more peace the tapestry of life that I’m weaving intertwines with Oneness – with consciousness. How about you? Have you found it easy to accept YOU? Have you found that place of peace? I have to say that I’m still on the journey zigging and zagging a bit but more time is spent in acceptance!
For those of you who would like to sit in your inner world and reflect on acceptance I found a suggestion by the writer Margaret B. Moss. She has said “Imagine unconditional acceptance of your flaws, your past mistakes, your painful regrets. Now imagine your joys, your kindness, and all the things you have done well and right. No caveats, buts or disclaimers. Let that feeling sink in deep. Meditate on it, as if committing a picture to memory. Reclaim that feeling everyday.” This suggestion is a beautiful way to begin your inner exploration I feel. I hope you enjoy it.
I would love to hear how you feel when you imagine unconditional acceptance of yourself! I will hold space for you and send you lots of love! Enjoy your inner journey!
I’m available for private coaching and channeled information sessions at Storm Wisdom on Tuesdays from 1p – 6p by appointment. Please call Storm Wisdom, (602)334-1204 to schedule. I’m also available by phone or Zoom. To schedule please go to victoriabarna.com.