The Shadow

 2017 promised to be a year of change, and it sure is delivering on its promise so far.  It feels like everywhere we turn we are barraged with events, experiences, and information that moves us from our place of comfort.  As all of this is coming at us, it is easy to lose our light and our way, becoming victims to what is happening.  I invite you to view what is happening as a way to show us those parts of ourselves that we haven’t healed or that we have been rejecting as belonging to us – our shadow side.  As I reflect on the events that are happening here locally, around the country, and the world, I am grateful that it has provided me an opportunity to become aware of where I still hold biases:  old thinking and behaviors that are holding me back from creating the future I desire.  It is so easy to project my thoughts and feelings to others, getting caught up in all the rhetoric and activities, but all that does is feed and energize all of that which I truly don’t desire.  If I am going to help others, the world, and be of service, then I have to first start with facing those things in me that come up – that shadow.  So rather than give in to the fear and anger as I see or read about something, I first give thanks for making that particular issue so visible.  No more hiding, pretending or rejecting.  Then I work on partnering with that issue.  How can I work with these feelings and emotions and make them into constructive forces in my life?  To embrace and move through this change, I invite you to consider mustering the courage to face this side and partner with it.  Otherwise it will just keep coming up over and over.