“It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
– Albus Dumbledore
Last night I finished rereading the final book in the Harry Potter series.
I’ve been losing myself in those pages, swooping through their magic and mystery like a vivifying wind, riding waves of adventure inside the wizarding world as an act of deep self-care.
My heart has been fortified in subtle ways by the joy and truth of these stories. How fun it’s been to cheer on a hero who knows and transcends his enemy. How effortless to celebrate wins against a character who acts as evil personified.
In our day-to-day lives, however, it’s not always so easy to identify the bad guy.
Right now, we have a rampant virus with no cure or vaccine. We have politicians posturing in ways that can literally kill people. We see senseless violence and deliberate hate mirrored across the news.
But when we slow down and look at the texture and fabric of our day-to-day lives, when we examine the challenges, roadblocks, and problems holding us back from soul-satisfaction, the narrative gets blurry.
Who do we blame for behavior inspired by fear?
Who do we fight when we discover we’ve sabotaged ourselves?
What war do we wage if we’re overwhelmed by the abundance, struggling to establish personal greatness in the crush of work and family and friends?
Typically, we turn on ourselves.
When we feel doubt, discomfort or uncertainty, we want an obvious enemy to blame. In the absence of an evil wizard, we tend to fight and flagellate ourselves.
Next time you notice your negative self-talk climbing up the Richter scale, get curious. Are you trying to cope with the physical experience of stress by making yourself the enemy?
Even if your inner critic isn’t going crazy, strengthening your ability to love yourself is general prevention.
The more you practice loving and trusting yourself, the less likely you are to suffer on the path to realizing your potential.
Here are 3 simple ways to strengthen your self-love:
- If you have 1 minute: Take three deep breaths, expanding your belly and lungs, and feel into your heart or higher self. Read this prayer for personal transformation out loud and with conviction.
- If you have 10 minutes: Grab a notebook, set your timer, and follow these journaling prompts. Each question questions will help you tune in and take care of yourself today.
- If you have 90 minutes: Join me for a Wild Woman Circle on Thursday, May 21st, to practice speaking your truth and expressing yourself in a safe and supported way. To connect with yourself and other compassionate women in circle, learn more and sign up here.
We live in strange times. My sincere hope is that you’ll use them to transform your life and world for the better.
Strengthen yourself with the healing balm of self-love so you can do the work you were put on this planet to do.
