Weekly Insights: Growing Pains...

From birth to our last breath, life offers us challenges, blocks our pathways, ignites our traumas and activates fears in order to push us to the next level of consciousness. Marcus Aurelius once wrote, "What stands in the way becomes the way", meaning that our obstacles are actually allies that are here to guide us toward our highest destiny. Just like rocks in a river, our obstacles guide us forward by helping to pave new pathways along the way. Many truths are revealed along the way, which creates the platform for us to make better decisions for the future.

Our challenges arrive as gifts disguised as great hindrances. How many stories do we hear about someone who had a fear of speaking in public, only to become a communications major, or someone who heals from a life-threatening illness and decides to change the direction of their lives toward their passions and dreams? There are countless scenarios like these that define the life journey and serve as great catalysts into life-changing decisions. Even though we see these challenges as deterrents and try and avoid them at every corner, they can become the keys to unlocking the most Divine spiritual alchemy and soul course correction that we could ever imagine. This is why, although it may be difficult, we can learn how to embrace these heavier moments in life and eventually see the gifts that live deep inside them.

When something seems hard to deal with or a very painful situation unfolds in our lives, we develop resistance and try and fight it away. The soul seeks to help us find middle ground outside of extremes, and the body pushes away pain and trauma in order protect itself and avoid feeling badly. This discomfort acts like a guide who is veering us away from areas that are not in alignment with who we really are, and toward what strengthens and fortifies us on all levels. As we learn and grow, we develop personal virtues out of our challenges that help us with future problems. Strength, courage, trust, faith, self-Love, and resilience are just a few of those virtues that we can take with us after coming out of a transformational situation. Instead of escaping our challenges or suppressing our feelings, we can choose to stay present and feel into them. The breath is the greatest tool we have to ground into the present moment and align the mind to the here and now. We can receive the gifts of each moment by embracing the present in breath and conscious awareness.

Just like our birth into this world, we are born out of each wound, transformed out of every trauma, and illuminated with wisdom from all of our obstacles. We incarnated to learn, to grow, and to evolve as a soul. The only way we are pushed to change and transform is by living outside of the comfort zone. We have to leave the chrysalis where it is safe and secure in order to transform into the butterfly we were always destined to become. Instead of playing it safe, we can walk through the fire and become stronger than we ever thought we could be. If we should fall, the small cracks can start to reveal the true Light within. Eventually we will break open and radiate our truths fearlessly. We are here to share our gifts and express authentically, and this is an empowering week to work on ourselves and eliminate anything in the way of this goal. May this healing time help to lift up all beings and illuminate the road toward our personal dreams, goals, and destinies... or better!