The COURAGE to Be Vulnerable Gives LOVE the Opportunity to HEAL Our Wounds.

Acknowledge | Embrace | Empower Your Future Lifein180

For me, Lifein180 is about the process of transformation and growth that comes through embracing change. We become aware of this opportunity in an unlimited number of ways. Through a job loss, a new addition to the family, memories resurfacing, something not working anymore or simply, a pull towards "more meaning".

Change that has truly transformed me in the past seems to always pull a chord from within. It takes me back to a past experience that holds space and energy within. If positive, this experience moves me forward and supports me. If the experience was negative, it contains some form of fear, loneliness or guilt. I find a whole story built around it and discover a mirror reflecting how I look at myself, my relationships and the choices I make.

When I can see this, acknowledge it for what it was I can embrace it for what it is in the moment. It’s very liberating to be able to re-frame a story that is no longer serving you. The process is ultimately about re-connecting back to Self and to Spirit before we were jaded by the “experience” and the interpretation of our “problems”. When we enter into this process of acknowledging the past just as it was, we can embrace our present as it really is. Then, we experience a wonderful synchronicity through support from the "angles" in our lives that empowers our future.

Like exercise, it’s hard to start and it can be intimidating to to be so vulnerable. We may have spent years covering up and protecting ourselves from the truth of the past. But, it is past and if it is still coming up in your life there is an opportunity to move forward and grow through it.

We were CREATED TO BE GREAT. Be KIND & LOVING to Yourself. Have patience and faith. THE UNIVERSE IS ALWAYS FOR YOU AND NEVER AGAINST YOU.

That's "Life In 180".

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THE POWER OF SPEAKING YOUR TRUTH

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It’s easy to be honest about things that don’t make me vulnerable but it takes courage to be honest when I believe, rightly or wrongly - that I am putting myself at risk. At risk of not be accepted, being judged, failing, exposing myself or hurting the people closest to me.

Sometimes I am afraid of saying the truth about how I am feeling out loud for fear of crossing an imaginary line of commitment. It’s OK to take time to figure things out but we can get so caught up in trying to do it right that we miss how much we are keeping in and doing wrong. When we don’t speak our truth, we begin harboring lies, trapped in an imaginary world of perfectionism with ourselves and those closest to us. We think we are being kind by not letting the other person know how we really feel for fear of hurting their feelings but in truth, what we are being is dishonest with them and ourselves. The people closest to us – our spouse, our friends, our family and the people who count on us, unknowingly become a part of a make believe world where everything is “OK”.

When I am not true to myself about how I feel, I perpetuate a silent tug of war inside at the center of who I am. These feelings can lead to even more basic lies as I try to cover up my “going against myself”. When not addressed, these actions lead to more actions until not speaking my truth becomes more accurately described as simply – lying.

I come from a broken family filled with emotional and physical abuse. The sexual abuse against myself and my sister at the hands of my father and others felt like the worst at one time. In hindsight and having worked through much of this however, it’s the emotional baggage that has been the most difficult to shake. I have my own issues as a result. I tend to shut down and flee the scene when things get too heavy. I struggle with wanting to be seen and feel heard. I have worked very hard to grow through these experiences. Taking the walls down brick by brick has been excruciating but the rewards of experiencing and sharing love that is not needy or dependent is amazing.

Speaking my truth, facing the truth, being OK with not being perfect, being willing to accept that my relationships may not always feel safe and will not be perfect has allowed me to face my darkest. I no longer believe that we are forced to face our fears because of some cruel joke life has decided to play on us. Tragedy does not strike to mock us. On the contrary, I now believe that Life is speaking to us and showing us that we are totally and wholly loved – just the way we are and that when we can let go of our pain, anger and shame, the lies we create to protect ourselves become unnecessary.

It is not an easy road but it is a worthy cause. Our personal relationships are not just about making us feel good, placating our need to be told how great we are. Handing off one set of baggage for our partners. No, I believe there is a much deeper purpose. If we do not allow the relationships in our life to challenge, sharpen and make us stronger, we become stagnant and stop evolving. There is a time to learn and a time to leave. Everything around us is evolving, so when we stop evolving and only resist moving forward – the problems begin.

Ultimately, Life and Love is calling us forward and through our pain. Life is bringing to the surface anything that is not like Itself which provides clarity for our confusion and peace for our lives and relationship.

We are meant to live boldly, to pursue our dreams, to fulfill our purpose and to simply know how it feels to love and be loved. That's "Life In 180".

Peace to you.

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LIFE TESTERS

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Do you ever set yourself up with little testers? These life testers, as I call them are reminders to me on how I will react or feel in certain situations.  They usually validate my feelings. After the fact, I am always filled with gratitude to where I am in my current stage of life.  I recently put myself through a life tester. It’s depleting my energy like nobody’s business however I’m on the tail end of it. There’s no gradual push on the accelerator with me, I have a tendency to go from 0 to 100. This is one of my greatest and worst asset. They say hindsight is 20/20.  I find it invaluable to reflect back when something is triggered within me.  I often realize there was a reason for my madness.  See I have gone through many transformations over the past year in half of my life.  My perspective and attitude towards people/situations have changed.  In this instance, I tested my theory and realized I am able to be me however I still have healing to do and that is alright.  We will never be perfect but I strive to be better on my life’s path of progress. The acceptance of my past allows me to embrace my present.  This empowers my future’s journey.  This is Life In 180. 

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