The Inner Work (2019)
And with that...2023 comes to an end.
2020 was the year I pressed the switch to find myself, unintentionally.
2021 was a blur, a black hole of deep pain and the loneliest I've ever been.
Looking back, 2020 and 2021 was filled with more negativity than positivity. You see, once I've rid myself of toxic habits and thoughts, only then can I get started on the road to recovery. This path led to independence, self sufficiency, fulfillment and ultimately...happiness.
2022 began with hopes of going back to normal but was quickly shown just how naive I was.
What I associate as normal no longer belonged to me anymore, yet I held on.
2023 was the year I finally let go and embraced myself in the present.
I learn to love me for who I am and what I am given and practice patience for what I cannot have.
Micheletti, M., & Cottrell, A. (2019). The Inner Work: An invitation to true freedom and lasting happiness.
Excerpts that hit home with me from the book:
"You are innately accepted, unconditionally loved, whole, and complete - despite what you've been through or what the external world is telling you.
I AM PURE.
I AM INNOCENT.
I AM ALREADY WORTHY.
I FORGIVE MYSELF AND OTHERS.
I AM WANTED AND NEEDED.
I AM SEEN.
I AM FREE FROM MY PAST.
I HAVE NO REGRETS.
I FACE MY FEARS WITH COURAGE.
I EXPECT THE BEST CAES SCENARIO.
I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED.
I AM FULL SATISFIED IN MY LIFE.
I EASILY CELEBRATE THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS.
I HAVE NO ENEMIES.
I AM HONEST.
I GO WITH THE FLOW.
I TRUST I WILL ALWAYS BE OKAY.
I AM UNIQUE AND GIFTED.
I AM TALENTED.
I AM INSPIRED AND INSPIRING.
I AM A SUCCESS. MY LIFE IS A SUCCESS.
I SEE ONLY OPPORTUNITIES.
MY LIFE HAS EXTRAORDINARY MEANING.
MY FUTURE IS POSITIVE AND BRIGHT.
EVERYTHING IS WORKING OUT FOR MY BENEFIT.
I AM BRILLIANT.
I HAVE ACCESS TO GENIUS IDEAS.
I AM INTELLIGENT.
I AM AT PEACE IN EVERY MOMENT.
I AM COMPLETELY LOVED.
I SEE THE GOODNESS IN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING.
I SEE DIVINE LOVE ALL AROUND.
We must be willing to let go of the life we planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
There is nothing actually to change, fix, or do "out there" in the world in order to actualize your happiness.
Accept that no one and no thing outside of yourself can ever steal your peace or your joy ever again.
It's not about what has happened to you, it is how you decide to respond that determines the quality of your life.
This is your life, and only you are in control of how it is experienced.
The world we live in is the world we choose to live in, whether consciously or unconsciously. If we choose bliss, that's what we get. If we choose misery, we get that too.
Have compassion for yourself as you explore your own resistance to being truly happy, and just know your resistances do not define you.
The best way to find compassion is to see that your experiences are impersonal and not actually about you, just what you're experiencing.
I am not my past. I am not my trauma.
I am not this fear. I am not this thought.
I am not this guilt. I am not this doubt.
I am not this story.
Although it is happiness and freedom you are seeking, it is crucial to recognize that even while you are yearning to elevate yourself, there is still a huge part of you, an ego, shadow identity stuck in a wounded theme of consciousness that actually does not want you to succeed.
Wounded themes of consciousness like rejection, judgement, overwhelm, loss, distrust, inadequacy, violation, and insecurity become so familiar to us that the mind strives to defend its belief systems through an incessant internal dialogue.
The internal dialogue even tries to convince us that we need to struggle and fight for our deserved happiness."
Stoic literature often said that we are the sum of our actions, which is so true. Therefore, I will:
- Eat well and workout
= lower inflammation
= more alert and higher energy
= sharper focus when needed
= lower water retention
= gorgeous body and face (from inside out) - Accountability
= no victim mindset
= make decision for myself only
= not reliant on anyone - Love for myself
= no expectations for returned love
= no disappointment from lack of expectations met
No one starts off on the same starting line and no one is forced to run the same race. I think what's important is having the understanding of who you are and trusting yourself.
My time is precious and not renewable.