You know, it is always such a gift to sit down at this computer and begin to write my letters to you (I call my articles letters because that’s how they feel). It’s a gift for me because I am finally doing what I love and showing you who I really am, to the best of my ability every single day. When I sit down to write, it’s not about only showing you the parts of me that I think you will like, it is about challenging myself to show you all of me, because I like myself enough to not want to hide anymore. If I hide, you can’t ever really SEE me. If I hide behind the partial truth, that means I’ve already decided for you, that there is something wrong with me. If you can’t SEE me, than how will we ever feel connected? Isn’t that what we all really want? To feel seen and connected and acknowledge for EXACTLY who we really are inside?
If you are nodding your head yes, then welcome. Welcome to E.L.M. and this space I have created for us to share connection with one another. Here we acknowledge, accept, and appreciate one another for exactly who we really are. If you are shaking your head NO…welcome to you too. I accept you just the way you are, and I am not here to change you or to tell you to feel any differently than you do. Whoever you are and however you feel…you are welcome here. I will not take my love away from you, no matter what, I promise 😉
As an Intuitive Personal Growth Coach, A Yoga Teacher, a Personal Trainer, and a Writer, I get the opportunity to interact with lots of different people all the time, in a variety of settings. I have worked with men of all ages, women of all ages, and I have helped my clients work through anything from feeling more purpose and passion in their lives, to creating their ideal partnership, to healing their relationships with their bodies, to feeling more peace and joy inside, to bringing their career life into alignment with their soul’s path, and the list goes on. As you can imagine, this work is near and dear to my heart, or I wouldn’t be doing it. One of the gifts I receive from my job, and there are many, is the gift of getting to know people. I hear what goes on in their lives, and over a period of time I see and hear patterns. Whether it’s a single wealthy man in his 50’s or a young married woman in her twenties, we all seem to struggle with similar things.
We all seem to need support when it comes to learning how to let go of who we think we are supposed to be, and embracing who we REALLY are.
Whether you are looking to get off the “dieting” roller coaster, or are wanting to find more meaning and purpose in life, or perhaps seeking to experience a healing within so you can finally attract a healthy relationship with a partner, it all comes down to this. What are you willing to do to connect to who you really are, so you can begin to share that with us?
We grow up in a world that tells us to think and feel a certain way. We are taught that this means that, success looks like big houses and expensive cars, that happiness is a product of how perfect we can look on the outside, and that we will be loved and respected and therefore accepted by others if we can fit into these boxes. We adopt the belief that if we can squeeze ourselves into these limiting shapes I just mentioned, that we will finally feel relief from separation and thus connection, inner peace, and joy will be our experience.
Well, who am I to say it doesn’t work this way? All I can share with you is what I have personally experienced as a result of my own life, and what I have seen and learned from working with others. In my experience, IT DOESN’T WORK THIS WAY, but please find your own conclusion. Choose your own beliefs about what works and what doesn’t, and live in a way that honours YOU rather than honouring the perceptions of someone else. After all, this letter to you is about finding out who YOU really are, not telling you who I think you should be.
What do you believe your purpose is in this life? What is the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning? Do you value who you are and what you bring to the world? Are you carrying around someone else’s belief system, or do you have your own? There are no right or wrong answers, just FYI.
Imagine what it would feel like to have your happiness, sense of connection, confidence and self-esteem not be attached to ANYTHING outside of you.
What would it feel like if you could eat healthy and exercise, but know if you didn’t, it doesn’t mean you are not worthy of love? Or what if you could have beautiful homes and cars, but know those things are not what make you special or define who you really are and that even if they were to be taken away from you instantly, you would still know and feel that you are a successful and happy person. What if you could stop counting calories, stop obsessing about food, money, your tan, your hair, your relationship or lack thereof, and you could let all of that go and tap into the peace that exists when you are connected and embracing who you REALLY are?
If you could do that…WOULD YOU?
Those of you who visit me here often know my story. Therefore you know I use to struggle with my self-worth. It was dependent upon what you thought of me, what I looked like, how many fitness competitions I’d won, how much body fat I had or didn’t have, what I ate that day, what guys liked me or broke my heart, and whether or not you said I was good enough. That’s right. I lived for many years giving my power away like this. I became a master at making things look pretty on the outside, until I got sick, tired, and over it! Ultimately I reached a point of realising, that no matter what things looked like on the outside, until my insides and outsides were a match, I was going to be unhappy, feel less than, long for something more, bigger, and better, and I would most likely die trying to find something that could never be found. That’s right, we can die trying to find what we are looking for outside of ourselves.
That’s because IT’S AN INSIDE JOB!
Although it takes MASSIVE courage and willingness to step up to the challenge of this inside job, we are ALL capable of making this kind of move. In fact, it’s what we do most naturally, once we let go of all the conditions and beliefs we have picked up along the way.
So, how do we let go? What can we do to begin letting go of who and what we think we are supposed to be, and embracing who and what we really are?
Here are 3 Ways To Begin Letting Go So You Can Finally Be Who You Really Are:
1) There is freedom in being able to look silly in front of a room full of people. Start practicing being more silly! Get out of your comfort zone. Approve of yourself and you will find that there is no one else’s approval that really matters. The only person whose judgment of us matters, is OUR OWN. The more I do this, the more FUN I have and the more FUN people around me have too! Try it…I invite you to get silly with me 🙂
2) Before you ask anyone else what they think or how they feel about something, ASK YOURSELF. Check in with what feels good to YOUR heart, and make a commitment RIGHT NOW, to make your heart’s requests a priority above all else. Everyone involved will be better off for this. There is no such thing as being selfish for caring for ourselves. It is selfish not to. We are all connected, so no one benefits when you play small.
3) Start with the feeling. It is important to remember that we must find the place within us FIRST, before we can truly experience it in our external world. This is a hard one for many people to understand. Whatever “thing” you think may bring you the happiness you seek, you are wrong. No “thing” and no “one” can give you what you want. What you want already exists deep within you, but you must be willing to uncover it. It takes courage to walk the hearts path. Be courageous.
Ok, I am going to leave you with those for now. No matter where you are in your life’s process or what is going on for you good or bad, I invite you to contemplate on the above for a while. These simple things have helped me and others tremendously!
I’d love to hear from you on this! Please post your comments here on the BLOG or email me at [email protected] to share your feedback.
Love, Light, and Freedom,
Erin xoxo
Do want to live your life to the fullest? If you’re ready to experience more inner peace in your soul, purpose in your life, joy in your heart, overall better health and well-being in your body, you are serious about investing in yourself, and ready to work with a coach, then please send an email to [email protected]. The E.L.M. Personal Growth Mentoring Program is an exciting, mind and heart opening, fun, and highly effective way to release your mental, physical, and emotional weight so you can finally live your dreams. It’s an investment in your health and happiness. Serious inquiries only.
