April 30, 2022

“I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.” – Hafiz

You (yes you) you are astonishing

I am constantly in awe of the beauty and magic of human beings. In awe of the things we have all been through, the ways we have persisted, the evolutions we have all gone through.

The past two years have been so many things for so many people but I have been finding a pretty common theme as I talk to clients, friends, loved ones, and family:

‘Yeah, it’s been tough, but I hate to admit I kinda enjoyed it.’

Somehow, in the midst of the intensity we all managed to grow a little (an inevitable thing that happens in the span of 2 years regardless of external circumstances).

This got me thinking: if we’re all willing to admit this (when we are given permission) what else would we do if permitted?

Where does that permission come from?

Yes. It comes from inside. Allow yourself to shine and forget the judgments of others.

But? It also comes from community. From friends and loved ones. From the collective acknowledgment that we all make mistakes, some enormous and some tiny. We all feel lonely. We all sink into darkness.

Even when external circumstances seem ‘perfect’.

Sometimes especially then.

And so as spring continues to erupt so gloriously around us, a reminder: *you* are astonishing.

Consider this your ‘permission’ to do something today, this week, this year that might feel hard or sticky or even just so far away from the ‘norm’ you live in that you need permission to do it. Do that thing.

No one dies when you shine brighter.