During May and part of June I spent some time travelling to all the Croatian islands on a catamaran, and then ending it with a few days in Kynsna. Croatia is beautiful. There is nothing like the feeling of being on a boat with just the expansive blue sea all around you. It invokes a feeling of peace and freedom in me, as well as providing the space for deep reflection and an awe-inspiring sense of gratitude. I love travelling to different places and seeing how other’s live. It always gives me a fresh perspective on my life and the country I live in. Surprising to some, South Africa always ends up on the top of my list for places to live. I feel blessed to live in this beautiful country with such stunning people.

As many of you may know, I have a deep passion for helping kids and adults to feel empowered and to feel free to be oneself. We are constantly being challenged to be true to ourselves, to be able to express ourselves honestly, to do what our heart desires and to live life without having to pretend or to wear a mask. When we feel free to be who we are, in whatever way that is, it brings a deep sense of peace and fulfilment into one’s being. I have put together a series of insights and exercises which can help you to feel more free, the aim is to help you be more of who you are, to live your truth and to find more peace and fulfilment.

Liberating lesson 1:

Did you know that your body is like a barometer? It measures the amount of pressure or stress within and gives us regular signs. It speaks to us all the time, but often we don’t listen or don’t understand what it is trying to tell us. When we get sick or have ailments many people become frustrated with their bodies and their illness, and don’t look further. The common thing to do is to shove pills in and hope that “whatever you have” goes away. If you take some time out to understand, you will see that your body is trying to tell you something. It is trying to get you to see something which you need to acknowledge or to let go of. By letting go of past hurts or trauma thereby helps you to shift and grow, to be more of who you are. When you are able to move from this space of dis-ease, you will feel lighter, happier and be more connected to soul.

When one feels emotions which are uncomfortable, scary or negative in some way, it is common to push them aside quicker than they came in. The reality is that they do not go away. They get locked into the tissues of the body and only go away when dealt with. Some people aren’t even aware that they have any fear, anger or sadness which is sitting in the cells, and this is why the body develops symptoms – to show you. So how can one release negative emotions? In order to shift through anything, one needs to acknowledge, embrace and feel what you’re feeling. Once you have embraced and really felt what you are feeling, then you are naturally able to let it go.

Choosing a healing relationship with self is very empowering because you take control of your own relationship with self. You embrace your being and recognise what you need to do to make yourself more whole. You also bring more love to your whole being. Healing oneself is really connecting with the entirety of your being and getting to know who you are.

“Letting go of our suffering is the hardest work we will ever do. It is also the most fruitful. To heal means to meet ourselves in a new way – in the newness of each moment where all is possible and nothing is limited to the old.” Stephen Levine, Healing into Life and Death

Exercise:
Try this little meditation. Start by taking deep breaths in and out to relax your body. Focus on your breathe and then bring your awareness into your body. Notice how it feels, if there is any tension or tightness, perhaps heaviness over certain parts. Breathe into every part of your body, from the tip of your toes to the top of your head. At the end of this, ask your body what it needs. Wait for the answer and honour what you get. (And for those who are more used to being in their head, it’s ok to let your imagination go wild. Come down into your heart and you’ll be amazed at what you get!)

Everyday be more aware of your body, your emotions, your thoughts. This is the first step to liberation.

I would love to hear how this works for you.

Until the next liberating lesson…