Argue with challenges or befriend them — the choice is yours

When we’re desperately trying to be somewhere other than where we are, we suffer.

When we’re arguing with our life exactly the way it is right now, we suffer.

We must understand — and take responsibility — that it is we, ourselves, creating our own suffering.

It makes no difference what the details of your circumstances are — how others may be involved in one way or another, the ways in which others react or behave towards you, variables that are in fact out of your personal control — none of that in and of itself has the power to influence how you choose to live your life, and how you choose to perceive the circumstances of your life unless you allow them to.

And you wanna know what’s so magnificent about all of this?

Your struggle, and your suffering, are your allies in that they have the potential to catalyze a greater awakening of consciousness within you, serving your expansion as spirit incarnate.

How does it feel in your body, in your cells, to consider what’s just been shared here?

If you’ve ever said, and truly believed in your heart and soul, that everything happens for a reason, then I invite you to live that. 

When you’re struggling — when you find yourself engulfed by the heaviness of your current hardships — pause, get yourself alone, and ask yourself:

1. What is being shown to me through my current circumstances?

Are you taking the time to observe what is happening — outside of yourself, how you’re being affected by what’s happening, how you’re either reacting or choosing to respond to what is happening — or are you complaining to anyone who will listen?

Remember, there’s a difference between expressing our pain with intention, and complaining; they are 2 entirely different frequencies.

Because did you know that complaining about the things in your life that feel hard is actually what feeds them, and gives them strength and power to grow bigger?

And did you also know, that when you focus on what is working, when you get curious about what Life is communicating to you, when you cultivate the perspective that your circumstances are happening for you, not to you, that that is what you give strength and power to, and then that is what grows?

Every moment is a choice point — that’s right, YOU GET TO CHOOSE what you grow in your life.

Ask yourself right now, what am I growing in my life? Am I growing what I deeply desire for myself, or am I growing more of what I don’t want?

2. What ways of being don’t feel good, or natural, or aligned like they once did?

Recognize that Life is inviting you to let go of these old ways of being (that for a time have served you, but no longer do) because you’re ready to e x p a n d, and you must first become empty in order to create room to let in the new NOW that wants to express through you.

3. In what areas of your life does it feel like you’re banging your head up against the wall — in other words, where are you forcing effort with unsuccessful results, over and over again?

This is an opportunity to reassess how you’re approaching this area of your life, get clear on what’s working about it and what’s not, and shift gears. Don’t just think it, live it. Take action.

May I kindly remind you, coming from the most loving place in my heart, that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results ( Einstein).

If you want to feel at peace…if you truly desire inner peace and to feel content and fulfilled in your life, you must train yourself to follow the energy of each moment, no matter what excuses your mind/ego/fears/past unpressed traumas may come up with not to.

You must be willing to try new things. Step out of your comfort zone. Take courageous imperfect action and detach yourself from specific outcomes so that Life can work its magic through you.

And this isn’t about blowing out your nervous system. It’s about betting on you in whatever-size ways you feel are just enough of an edge for you at each choice point.

It doesn’t have to be grandiose, though sometimes, it will be. But remember, it doesn’t have to be. Just give your best, each moment, each day, and know that that is always enough.

We want what we want, and we want it now.

Believe me, I get it. I too was raised in a culture that seeds an addiction to quick fixes and instant gratification.

But please, let me remind you, that your dreams have revealed themselves to you for a reason — they already belong to you. They are truly yours, if they weren’t then your attention would’ve never been brought to them in the first place. So you can know that, my friend.

And with this knowledge, surrender the when’s and the where’s and the how’s because there is a plan for you, and it may just be better than anything you could think up yourself.

You came here to live the journey — to experience the journey of becoming the version of yourself, time and time again, who can receive and hold the fullness of those dreams that are meant for you.

And how does that happen?

Well, it happens as you move through the journey of becoming more of who you truly are, and simultaneously unbecoming everything you’ve picked up along the way to survive in the world as you know it.

How easily, we forget, that every part of our paths — from the deeply beautiful, joyful, blissful experiences, to the most challenging or traumatic experiences, and everything in between — are molding us, and leading us, and stretching us, and expanding us in all of the ways that our soul signed up for in this lifetime.

It’s the journey, it’s who we become and unbecome along the way that delivers us to each doorstep where we have the opportunity to enter into new chapters, new experiences, new ways of being that truly resonate in the depths of our soul.

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” Sounds nice, like most popular quotes or expressions do. But have you ever paused to contemplate this notion, and how embracing this perspective could benefit you and your quality of life?

What if where you are right now is exactly where you’re meant to be, teaching you the lessons you’re ready to learn, so you can be who you came here to be and do what you came here to do?

How would your relationship with this moment change if you decided that your circumstances and current challenges were serving your highest good?

How would things shift and transform for you?

How would you feel in your life if you decided right now that you were simply open to being shown the ways in which your current circumstances are in service to you?

If you’ve never done this before, I invite you to do it now.

So I’ll give you a hug, and a kiss on the cheek, and leave you with this final question:

What will you choose to grow at this choice point, right here, right now?

Holding the vision of your inherent wholeness,

Rachel