As the new year approaches, many people with whom I have recently spoken admit to feeling overwhelmed through this holiday season. My tip here is one I’ve recommended before, and is not worn out through reuse: to allow yourself to feel overwhelmed. Let the emotion(s) that are attached to that really come out- fear, sadness, despair, anxiety, loneliness, grief, etc.
Until you acknowledge what is, you will never be able to move to what could be.
Put another way, you can’t take a step until your feet are firmly planted on the ground on which you are standing.
Then, from that place, ask the Divine what qualities are being encouraged and developed in you through this experience? You may find that the challenges you are going through are actually a deep gift of love and mercy, helping to develop surprising strengths in yourself.
How can that be? Well, as an example from my own life, I had been struggling with anger and frustration with someone in a business situation for several weeks. “Just have more patience,” I told myself.
However, upon further reflection, and with some help from my own coach, I was able to see that my struggle helped to deepen a certain strength of voice and conviction about how I could serve this person. In fact, it showed me where I was holding back my full truth and passion in a way that didn’t serve anyone, and just created the frustration and anger I was feeling. It wasn’t their fault at all! And patience, in this one instance, was counterproductive to me and everyone.
Use these struggles as ways to develop the Divine within yourself, and you will see tremendous growth.
I wanted to share a poem by Hafiz, from The Gift, that touched me recently:
How did the rose
Ever open its heart
and give to this world
All its beauty?
It felt the encouragement of light
Against its Being,
Otherwise,
We all remain
Too
Frightened.
May each of you feel more Light against your Being in this coming year, and reveal for all of us more of your infinite beauty.
Those of you I know personally, I am deeply grateful to know you, and those of you I haven’t met yet in person, I look forward to the chance that our paths may cross.
Out of the challenges, struggles, and yes, the ashes of this past year, I anticipate a miraculous, heartful year.
