We didn't come into this world knowing how to judge and criticize ourselves.
We came into it embodying the essence of love.
And while you may have had many experiences that showed you all the ways in which you are different,
I want you to know that being different doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you.
It is so possible to return to the love that has always been inside of you.
It is waiting to be remembered.
A really helpful way to remember this love is by connecting with your body,
And in particular your beautiful and radiant heart.
The heart is an endless well of energy and depth.
Its layers are countless,
And its ability to open,
Feel,
And radiate love is something that we can't fully conceptualize with our thinking minds.
But so often,
As we journey through life,
We learn to close our hearts down,
Or to put up walls around them,
All in the name of protection.
We build fortresses around ourselves,
And place iron gates at all of our entryways,
Because we think we are keeping out rejection and pain.
But in doing so,
We should take a moment and ask ourselves,
What am I not allowing in?
So many of us were never taught that to be with all parts of the human experience is a gift.
That feeling things like pain,
Sadness,
And vulnerability say nothing about our worthiness or our capacity to be loved.
Because to feel these things is to be alive.
And when we take the time to know and love ourselves,
The more difficult emotions that we were quite literally designed to feel don't pull us out of our center as easily.
Imagine that you have just come into this world.
You have experienced nothing yet.
You are simply present and here in your body.
You are in your heart,
Fresh and pure,
Knowing nothing about life.
How do you feel?
How easy is it for you to connect to love?
To be the love that you are?
To love yourself?
Inviting you to simply be with this beautiful energy for a moment.
Breathe it in,
Embody it,
Place a hand on your heart and allow yourself to feel the love that radiates so strongly from this space.
I want you to notice how you feel right now.
When you let go of everything that you've learned and experienced in life,
What becomes possible?
How do your body and heart open?
How much more can you allow in?
Keeping your heart open is a practice.
But once you experience that,
You will be able to let go of everything that you've learned.
But once you experience the incredible love,
Connection,
And emotional freedom that it brings forward,
It will be hard to stay in your fortress for too long.
You might find the need to visit from time to time and that's okay.
Just remember to be open to the love that is always available to you.
Unlock your iron gates and know that opening yourself up to life will allow in more magic and meaning than staying guarded and closed ever could.
Be brave.
Love is truly your birthright.
