Free Yourself

You’ve set your goals physically, mentally, and spiritually. Re-read them. Will achieving them please you? Are they written for your benefit alone? Do the goals you wrote truly reflect who you are without any restraint?

Several years ago, I had the glorious opportunity to attend a Southern Pentecostal church service. I was quickly identified by the preacher who stated, “We obviously have a visitor today”. I was the only one of my race in the pews that day and boy did their service open my eyes to a completely different way of worshipping the Lord. Growing up Catholic, you remained quiet and attentive at church, recited the memorized prayers, sang the hymns, and kept your communications with God to yourself. Maybe that is not how it is for everyone, but it was for me. So seeing people raise their hands up and feel the spirit then falling to the ground overwhelmed by the presence of God and the healing they were receiving was a whole new experience. It was refreshing to see people freely expressing themselves, honoring what they were experiencing, and most amazingly, they were 100% supported by the people all around them. There was no judgment or anyone to tell them to sit down and be quiet. Instead, they were encouraging them to “feel the spirit”. It was and remains today one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever seen. How glorious to be free.

I realized at that moment over 20 years ago that I hold myself back concerned about what others may think and governed by societal protocols established by the people around me. There was a select few crowds that I felt I could truly be myself around and express myself how I wanted to. In essence, I was hiding the light within me, afraid to shine for fear of ridicule or lack of support. I was living in a world that I am not enough and limited.

When you have children or grow older and gain more experiences, you become enlightened to the harmful ways you once thought and felt. I find with my own children, I want them to be themselves, love themselves, express themselves however they want, and always feel like they are the best thing God has ever created. I love when they wear the most mismatched outfits, 5 ponytails in their hair, and sing at the top of their lungs the most ridiculous songs. In those moments, they are teaching me how joyous it is to be yourself without restraint.

It’s a really challenging, unpleasant life, to hide who you really are and hold yourself back. Sometimes, we become such a people pleaser that we forget to please ourselves. We worry about what others will think, walk on eggshells to not offend someone, and try so hard to make other people happy at our own expense. I recently heard this referred to as a cursed life. When you neglect your own true essence, no one will be happy. Be yourself. Honor yourself. You are enough to live a limitless life.

I have found that the truer I am to myself, what I believe, and who I want to be, the people I want to be around come flocking to me. Those people lift me up physically, mentally, and emotionally. They know what I need and I, in return, know what they need. It just comes naturally because it is who I am. I am me and that is a very, very good person to be.

Thank you, God, for creating me. May I feel your presence, love, and support allowing me to “Feel the Spirit”.

 ~ Love, Jocelyn

Voyage to HEAL Weekly Focus

Stretch:  Time to be Limitless! Stretch, unwind, bring up a sound and the words from the depth of your soul. Can you do this? Feel your own restraints and break free. Let your light shine. Extend your arms out to the side, close your eyes, and let yourself move. If anything, say to yourself, “I feel the Spirit. I feel the Spirit” and let it move you.

Exercise:  Dance. Engage your pelvic floor and core muscles so you’re being supported, but not rigid and move. Are you a ballerina, a hip hop dancer, a rapper, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, or whatever you want to be? Check out the book Giraffes Can’t Dance.

Habitual change: Wear whatever you want! Be comfortable with what you are wearing. No sucking in to feel thinner. You are perfect and your beauty inside is far more spectacular than your outer beauty will ever be. Dress like the true you.

Enlightened Perspective: Feel the Spirit

Journaling Option: How do you hold yourself back? What will you do to change this?

This week’s Voyage to HEAL blog coincides with week #8 and week #11 with the theme of I am Enough and Limitless. For ideas on how to unwind, visit this week in your workbook or online with your Lifetime Membership.

Godspeed on your Voyage to HEAL

Love,

Jocelyn

I love these 2 songs.

I play this one for my girls and we can’t help, but dance and sing.