Each and every one of us enters this world as a beautiful beacon of light radiating Love. Those around us  can’t help but express their feelings of joy, peace and fascination as they bask in the calm and nostalgia that an innocent child brings to their lives. Free of the burden of responsibilities, expectations and the trappings of personality, the baby brings Love to so many by simply being as they are.

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As we learn and grow, we begin to understand what it means to be part of a ‘tribe’ by trial and error in our actions and behaviours. We begin to understand our role within the tribal unit, and we make adjustments to our self-expression informed by the guidance of our caregivers.

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These concessions often come at the expense of our ability to see ourselves as inherently good – rather, we see our caregivers as omnipotent as we contort ourselves to win their favour. In many cases, these changes also serve to protect us from potential rejection, and allows us to operate within frameworks of boundaries, limitations, dogma and taboos.

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The criticism and disapproval that directs our way of being as we grow is echoed in our own inner narrative and remains long after our guardians and other influences remain to enforce them. Even in the absence of our critics, we seek validation from those outside of us. Our shame and unworthiness then becomes the subconscious driving force behind our intentions, actions and behaviours as we slip further into the denial of our true nature and inherent worth. Even our goals are informed by failures and false belief systems that previously allowed us to function within the environment of our upbringing despite the fact that the beliefs are no longer needed and no longer serving our betterment.

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Who could you be if you could express yourself freely and live a life free of lack, limitation and languish?

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Imagine yourself as a beautiful, glowing light set within a gift box (your physical body). Each time we compromise ourselves in service of what or how we think we should be, we wrap our box in another layer of gift wrap. We wrap ourselves in beautiful paper, layer upon layer dimming our light as we seek to impress and gain the approval of others. To us, perhaps neither the colour of the paper nor the patterning is representative of what we are, but with enough time we learn to adapt to the taste of others as we hide the light that is inside of us and begging to be seen. 

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Eventually, the effects of self-denial enter our lives as blocks in our progress, maladaptive behaviours in our interpersonal relationships and often despair in the form of anxiety, depression or hopelessness. We try in vain to live well and make decisions that support our betterment, but despite our efforts we are always left with a sense that something just isn’t working. 

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What if the pain was just Love calling you back to youself?