Your armor of protection has served you well.
It's done its best to keep you safe as a child,
Safeguarding your most vulnerable places,
Your innocence.
It has done its best shielding you from unwelcome intruders,
Bringing pain,
Anger,
Disappointment,
Blocking attacks to your spirit,
And guarding your tender heart.
You've built walls to keep you emotionally safe from those who haven't been given permission to pass.
But this armor and these walls,
As much as they have protected you from harm,
Now keeps the world out,
Leaving you disconnected from the very thing we long for most.
Love,
Connection,
Warmth,
Deep authentic relationships built on honesty,
Vulnerability,
And acceptance,
Being truly seen for who you really are.
Internal scars of longing now form underneath the cold,
Heavy armor you still so desperately try to hold.
Unscathed yet unfulfilled,
Safe yet lonely.
The armor wasn't meant to be worn your whole life,
My love.
This hard shell keeps the same shape and size,
Stunting your growth from happening beneath its immovable frame.
Keeping it on now only prevents your growth and transformation.
Are you afraid to take it off?
Are you hiding parts of you in fear of judgment?
Fear of getting hurt?
Fear of not being accepted and loved for who you truly are?
Do you reveal only the parts you think others will accept and hide the rest?
Do you keep a wall between you and those that so desperately want to love you?
Are you in a relationship you know you're not sharing your true self?
They can't love a cold metal frame.
They can't love someone fully who's standing behind a wall.
Honor the armor,
It's done its job but it's grown heavy now.
Close your eyes and breathe.
It's time to take it off.
Lower your sword.
Lower your shield.
Lower the walls.
Lay it down now.
It's served you well.
Breathe and place your palms up,
Feeling yourself surrender.
Experience what it feels like to be open,
Weightless,
Exposed to the warmth of the sun,
Ready for the beauty,
The love,
The joy this world has to offer,
Open to true tenderness.
Say to yourself,
Here's all of me,
Unguarded,
Transparent,
Nothing to hide.
It's okay my dear,
You're going to be okay.
Hold the hands of the other brave warriors who have laid their armor down.
Be gentle with yourself.
It's not easy,
But it's one of the most courageous things you'll ever do.
