Live From The Indwelling Light
There is something intrinsically wrong with me…
I am a bad person…
All I ever do is hurt people or let them down…
I can’t do anything right…
I’m a failure…
I don’t deserve beauty, love or happiness…
My suffering is punishment for my iniquity.
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“It is your actions that define you.” Surely, at some point in our lives, we have all heard or considered this age-old adage in one form or another. Perhaps, it was only your inner monologue not-so-kindly reminding you that you missed the mark, yet again; your actions betrayed you. It may seem hard to argue as our own life experiences prove to us time and again that our actions do have influence on our self image, and the compilation of our actions over time reinforce patterns of thinking and behavior.
While I believe that our actions speak loudly—and we must be mindful of how we tread and what path we create with each decision—I also believe that this sentiment of ‘actions defining us’ can do more harm than good. Trying to define oneself in general is a tricky business and we can wind up setting our own limitations. But to say that one is defined by their actions and choices in life is to box them into their past, sealing them away in the darkness with no view of what bright future may lay ahead. Whether this idea stems from within (via judgment or self-criticism), or from without (via societal pressure), any definition we accept in lieu of our genuine actualized self risks becoming our path from there on out. The beliefs we hold of ourselves directly influence the decisions we make each day. They are what guide our feet in any given direction – be it forward or backward. Our self-concept may be so disparaging that we may not be moving at all, petrified to make any decision for fear of its outcome.
You may be wondering about the catalog of limiting beliefs listed at the top of this page. How did you feel when you read them? Did it strike a chord? Maybe it sounded familiar. At one time in my life this was a common diatribe in my mind. I believed it so fully that I developed a sincere hatred of myself. I acted out my hatred on my own body. I sabotaged my dreams and aspirations. I turned away from the people I loved. I turned my back to the light, ashamed to let it touch my face. I was imprisoned by my own mind for years.
When we hold a limiting belief such as, “I am a failure” or “I can’t do anything right,” every future action in which we become disappointed with ourselves is further proof that we are, indeed, a failure. We gather evidence and build a case against ourselves, condemning ourselves to misery. We may eventually begin to believe that there is not a single ounce of goodness within us—that we are incapable of right action and forward movement—and we relinquish hope.
Where these beliefs stem from is a question that I cannot answer. It is different for everyone. But we get to choose where they end. It is no easy task to change these beliefs as they often have strong emotions—such as guilt and shame—and/or patterns of behavior attached to them.
One way we can overcome these beliefs is by replacing them. We create new beliefs that restore our impaired self image. At Anasazi, we believe that within each individual is a seed of greatness. This is our indwelling light. It can never be lost or stolen. When we build our beliefs from the light that dwells within we can achieve greatness. When we build our beliefs from the seed of negativity we inhibit our growth.
We are meant to choose our actions from our hearts. If our hearts are angry, resentful, or self-deprecating, we are nearly incapable of making positive healthy decisions for ourselves. Change begins from within. We must learn to forgive ourselves and heal the past—and know that we are worthy of it—in order to turn our hearts in the right direction. Every moment is an opportunity, a calling, to begin anew.
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I challenge you to restore your thoughts. Take three beliefs you hold of yourself that limit your potential and for each one create a new belief that resonates with the light you feel deep inside. Free your heart to walk forward once again.
May You Walk In Beauty,
Healing Rain