Working in Community
I had the absolute pleasure of attending The Athena Network women’s group this week and what an incredible experience it was. There is something so incredibly powerful and uplifting in coming together as a group of people headed in the same direction.
As individuals we are capable of so very much and can achieve amazing things, indeed we are wholly perfect just as we are and at the same time, when we form a community with those who share similar visions and intentions there is no end to what can be created.
I have come to understand that my worldview of old had meant that I believed I needed to ‘go it alone’ that I needed to ‘make things work’ by myself, that others do not care and would not want to be bothered and that actually, life was meant to be a struggle. And why would I have thought otherwise? This is what I had seen and heard growing up and I recognise that a number of unsupportive beliefs had been creating my own personal movie and running the show – ‘life is hard’,’ it’s every man for himself’, ‘you can’t trust anyone’, ‘people let you down’ and on and on and on. Do any of these sound familiar to you?
As a result, I struggled and pushed, prayed and pleaded to the powers that be, felt downhearted and lost and at some points in my life had been ready to throw in the towel and give up! What a tragedy that would have been! What incredible opportunities and experiences would have passed me by – I shudder at the thought.
The first port of call is an exploration inwards – what beliefs am I holding onto that are not supporting my highest visions? How do I feel in relationship with others? When I think about partnering with other people and sharing my ideas, gifts and talents, how does that make me feel? Do I feel threatened? Do I need to play my cards close to my chest? Can I trust others to journey with me in my endeavours and cheer me on with open hearts and an honest desire to see me flourish? Within this inward reflection, we are able to bring all these limiting beliefs to the surface and see them for what they are – just our beliefs! What a relief!
From this place we are able to question whether they are still serving us or whether they are now outdated. We are able to choose another, more positive way of thinking. We can question what we have been holding onto and ask ourselves, what really is true about this belief that others cannot be trusted? That it’s easier to go it alone? That… (insert your own – you may find there are many!). Dig deep and be willing to welcome in whatever comes up for you. In bringing what lies unconscious into the light these beliefs and ways of thinking can be challenged and transformed – they no longer hold power over us . What an amazing opportunity for change. Ask yourself, what new thoughts best serve me in my present as I hold a vision of where I want to move to? Choose beliefs that inspire, motivate and fully serve your aliveness and your happiness. Allow these new thoughts to take up residence and bump the old ones off the shelf! This is not an overnight exercise and changes do not happen immediately (although they can!) but as with everything, every journey begins with one step – are you willing to take yours now? You have the power to make this very real and fundamental shift – remember awareness is the key and from this place there is freedom.
Operating from a place of lack and scarcity (be it money or relationships) and aloneness, of having to do it all by yourself, of feeling ‘out of the picture’ no longer needs to be your reality – ditch the old story! You have the choice to make a difference – YES YOU! And when you choose this and move from these old ways of being into new ways of showing up, life really does start to transform. We move into a place that looks very different to what we have known – opportunities open up for us, we ‘just happen to’ attract the right people and situations into our life that best support where and who we are and where we are going. Trust in the goodness of life. We came here to build relationships with others, relationships are the foundation of life, they are necessary for us to become fully who we were born to become. You can choose to go it alone, to be your own island, your very own one man band, but how much richer would life be if we moved together in partnership and in community – helping and supporting each other to become the very best we can be and live our very best lives. Each one of us has our own individual talents and gifts that we came here to share with the world, each one of us is absolutely unique in our own special way and no one can take this from us. In all of time and space there has never been a you before and there never will be again – imagine that. There is room here for everyone – step up and take the place that has your name on it… live your best life NOW!
“Come out of the circle of time,
and into the circle of love.”
Rumi
