I’ve been talking a lot lately about living a life in full spectrum of who we are, so it is not really a surprise to me that I pulled this card today.
Amaterasu represents the brilliance that we all carry. Her story tells us that as a sun goddess she was sent to Heaven to shine upon Earth and when her brother, a storm god, was destroying the planet she was overcome with grief and went to a cave to hide. During this time the Earth grew cold and grey. It was not until other gods held up a mirror at the cave opening to reflect her beauty and brilliance back to her that she came out.
The teaching that I take away from Amaterasu's story is that we all have magnificance within us and when we hide that from the world we crumble. We become weakened and not only do we suffer, but the world suffers. Living an authentic life can be easier said than done. Yet, I want so bad for us all to be living in our glory so that we can fulfill our work here on Earth. Below are 3 ACTIONS that you can take to start speaking your truth and live authentically.
1. Release your fear of offending others so you can speak your truth.
No, I’m not saying that we should begin being rude to others, on the contrary. I am however saying that by trying to not offend others (family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers) we are squashing our own personal truth. And when we are fully in that place then and only then can we have an honest, authentic, and dynamic relationship with others. If I was to hide the fact that I meditate as a connection to G-d and my guides as to not offend my friends that believe the only connection to G-d is through prayer (because meditation is only for Buddhists and that is not Christian-not accurate BTW) then I cannot possibly walk in my light. I cannot possibly be honest to others and I cannot possibly be as strong as I was made to be because I would be living in complete FEAR and not my person truth.
***We cannot release our fears if we do not know what they are. So make a first person list of your fears. For example, 'I fear that if people knew I meditated they would think I was ‘evil’ and not be my friend anymore.' 'I fear that if I shared my family’s view on vaccines I would get shun from the moms club I attend.'
Now that you are clear on your fears it is time to release them. My favorite way to do this is by watching them burn away, see them transmute before your eyes. All you have to do is take the paper that you listed your fears on and toss in it a fireplace or burn them over a candle. As you do this concentrate on the flame, watch those fears release from your life, and remember to breathe. Breathe in new life, new peace, and trust.
PLEASE DO NOT leave this list sitting around, by doing so you will have created a grounding for all your fear to reside. This is about letting them go!
2. Create an Authentic-Self Board
Craft in whatever art medium you like (painting, drawing, collage) an Authentic-Self Board. In this space place all the aspects of who you are being when are allowing yourself to be authentically you.
***Do you love moving your body, but are afraid of dancing in front of others? What if you trusted that it didn’t matter if you could keep to the beat and just danced? Live in your body and feel the flow.
Put that image on the board.
***Do you want to be a writer, but fear that the words will never come? Well, you are right, if you never start. Put on the board a first sentence, an outline, a title. Just start. Who cares what shape it takes right now. You just need to get the flow of the pen and believe in yourself.
3. Love Yourself
Is this one the scariest? To Love Yourself is the greatest gift you can bestow upon yourself. When you love who you are you don’t fear what others think, you actually have a greater capacity to give freely to others, and you are more capable of living at a higher vibration-to be living in your truth, authenticity, service, and strength.
***Get out the mirror and sit in front of it. Allow yourself to see you. This may take some time because for awhile you might be saying, 'I hate my hair.' You might feel, 'My nose is too big.' Let all those thoughts pass and wait until you can see YOU. The divine you. The heart and soul that sits in front of that mirror. And then ask yourself, 'If I trusted that I am made in the image of the divine what can I see?' From here look at your brilliance. Look at your radiance. And trust that YOU ARE ENOUGH, the real you…not the pieces that you put on for show.
How can you bring that piece of the divine you forward to live more authentically?
Where are you hiding your brilliance from not only the world, but yourself?
Let me tell you.. the world is a better place when you are living your truth. And we need you!
To a Confident, Sexy, Love filled life!
Kimberly Lindsay, BA, CPCC, ORSCC, IBCLC
Mental Fitness Coach for Spiritual & Creative Moms:
Who are ready to ditch their saboteurs so they can show up
as the partner, parent, and person they want to be - getting back to self and back to roots.