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"What Matters Most Is How Well You Walk Through The Fire."~ Charles Bukowski
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Autumn is the season for going inward and reflecting on the lessons we have learned and acknowledging what we still have to work through during the season ahead. It is important during this time to be honest with ourselves and open our hearts to healing and growth. That honesty may not always be pretty; but there is beauty and healing in embracing the light and the darkness. Healing and growth cannot happen unless we are willing to dig deep, really get in there and face our dark places.
Some days the process of facing our darkness and uncovering old wounds, will feel painful. HARD. It is in those moments we get to choose to heal, to let those things go and to "CHOOSE HAPPINESS". And you're probably sitting there thinking, "Easier said than done!", am I right?! Well, sometimes happiness is not just a feeling, but an action. It doesn't always feel joyous at first. Choosing happiness is an act of seeing the light in the darkness, the wisdom in the wound, and to SEE the beauty in who we are becoming.
Look. Honestly, I lose my shit ALL THE TIME. I am not some super zen master or anything. (Although, that is the end goal, right? hehe) I have to practice choosing positivity like everyone else. When you get stuck in that tunnel of negativity, your practice of choosing happiness will help pull you out of the darkness. NO ONE has ALL their shit together, my loves. We must lift the veil of the illusion that we have it all together 100% of the time. I am an extremely emotional being; like my hubby says, "You are calm like a river and furious like an ocean." And that is the TRUTH! I am a woman on fire with life; I have moments of being in the flow and moments when I am a passionate, fiery force to be reckoned with and it's not always a good thing! ha! It's about balance. And it is OKAY to acknowledge all your emotional facets and embrace them; but for your well being, you can't stay in those fires that no longer serve you, or you'll burn to the ground. It is a constant practice of choosing, and it IS your choice. It is choosing to see the good that can come from the bad. The silver linings. And it is NOT always easy. But slowly over time, it will being to transform your outlook on life, and your practice will become second nature.
Think of all we have been through, and made it through in the past. Think about how far we have come. We don't have to face things the way we used to; kicking and screaming like a stubborn child. We are not weak. We have the choice, the strength and the ability to look at ourselves, our wounds and our situations with a peaceful and open heart and approach them with love to soften things even if just a bit. When shit gets tough, I repeat this little mantra I wrote to remind me of my strength and inner fire even in this vulnerable season. I hope it empowers you as well. (Warning: Curse words ahead, duh! ha)
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Mantra for Choosing Happiness...
I am Love.
I find peace within myself.
Because I choose happiness, happiness finds me.
I can make my inner flame burn away anger
and light a new fire within me.
When fields burn, forests grow in their place.
I get to choose how I react.
I get to choose what I am.
I am the fucking FOREST!
I am LOVE.
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Open your heart to all the love and full, empowering abundance and happiness that is your soul birthright. You deserve all the happiness in the world. May you find the peace, love and happiness you are searching for; but know that it comes only from within your own heart. No one can give it to you and no one can take it away from you, except for you. And there is so much power in that.
Choosing happiness does not mean everything is always going to be perfect. It means being able to see the good that can come from the struggles and growing because of it. It means going within your heart and using the flames to light the darkened corners and burn that shit down and rebirth. Choose happiness....it doesn't always mean the path will be easier, but it makes it worth it.
Love, Natasha
