The Gift We Give Ourselves

What really fills the human being is 

  not the power and the money...it is 

  a full encounter with yourself...a 

  discovery of your own self...and a 

  strengthening of your energy and  

  your manner of life full of activities 

  and satisfactions.”

               Gerardo Moreno

It's Christmas morning and we are surrounded with wonderful presents... things we have really been wanting.  Ice skates, perhaps a Gucci bag, surround sound, tickets to a Nicks game, coffee shop gift cards, CD's, books to read, games to play...yadda, yadda, yadda.  And...Are we happy now?

Well, for sure, we're plenty excited...at first.  I mean we got exactly what we asked for.  Wrapped in a gorgeous box with a silvery ribbon...perfection!  

However, as wonderful as it is to receive exactly what we desire, the shelf life of this pleasure has an expiration date.  It's so nice to know we are loved and thought of and cared about, but as we reach deep inside ourselves, we find that there is something even more important and longer lasting than the affection and regard of others...and THAT something has infinite staying power...loving OURSELVES.  Having what Gerardo Moreno calls a "full encounter" with ourselves...the discovery of who we truly are.  A full on assessment of our hopes, dreams, feelings, reactions, responses, the dark and light of us, what our emotions are telling us, the messages of our body.  And then, after some deep, authentic soul-searching. an intention and commitment to keep ourselves evolving, to strengthen our energy, to grow into the Next, Grandest Version of Ourselves.  

To do this takes effort, activity, releasing, risk taking and, most important of all, giving ourselves a boatload of love and compassion for the many adventures we will navigate in life.

This very personal work IS the Christmas gift we give ourselves.  No price tag on it.  Can't buy it anywhere or have someone give it to us.  WE have to do the work.  We have to care about ourselves enough to look deeply into our hearts, to uncover and release the pockets of pain and satisfy the longing.  

And, beautifully, this challenging work is a very inspiring enterprise.  We are handsomely rewarded for this effort because it "fills our souls" and when we truly love ourselves, this beautiful, grace-filled Joy spills over onto everyone around us and reaches out to help change the world.

              

                       Marie Helena

Image from Watercolor Christmas cards, Christmas... pinterest.com