In our combative Western culture, we celebrate the feisty individual hustling for success. Our culture honors aggression and dismisses those with a quiet, peaceful demeanor as “weak.”
Over the course of my life I initially embraced a persona of being the expert know-it-all. I believed that’s what other people wanted from me: answers and advice given with confidence. But I always felt like a fraud because underneath I was anything but certain. Nor did I believe what I was saying was my own Truth.
When I began practicing self-compassion and self-care I realized my real strength came from being myself. “Being myself” means I speak from what I actually believe and care about. And this is hard!! Because when I began to speak from an authentic place I discovered how many people disagreed with me and were quick to share how much they disagreed.
Which is why cultivating inner peace is SO important. When I can pause, anchor in my body and environment; when I can calmly and compassionate ask “is this really mine?” I tap into strength I didn’t realize I have.
When I ask “is this really mine?” not only am I asking “do I believe this?,” I am also asking “how much fear and doubt belongs to me?” This is important because like all human beings, I tap into the emotions of other people. Often my decisions and beliefs make other people nervous because what if their beliefs are wrong? No one likes to have long-held beliefs cast into doubt.
The Empowerment practice enables me to set a clear boundary. I ask my spiritual guides to remove what doesn’t belong to me and move this outside my boundary. This alone can be a huge relief. I often find my doubts and fears diminish or go away all together. From this place of inner peace, I find I am able to tap into my own knowing to do what is right for me.
I say the Jewish Threefold blessing:
May Shekhinah bless you and watch over you.
May She light up to you.
And may She bring you peace.
I ask that the Divine Presence within protect me, enlighten me, and allow me to proceed with peace regardless of any noise to the contrary.
Inner peace enables me to tap into my own knowing and strength; where my true power resides.
The artwork for this practice features an upright hamsa which symbolizes protection, the Adinkra symbols for strength and protection, and the patterns of roots, webs, and nets all of which offer safe, flexible containment.