In my field of work, we talk about this concept of, “being who you truly are” and “finding our true selves” and attempting to accomplish these somewhat elusive notions in our lives.

In yoga we work to do this by moving our bodies, shifting out what doesn’t serve us and working to create space for what we want to cultivate and bring in. In energy work we remove barriers and clear energies that aren’t benefiting us, or perhaps having a negative impact.

All of the great spiritual teachers refer to this concept of revealing and honoring our true selves, some even saying that we are just a dream here on earth and our true selves are shining gems beyond what most of us can comprehend…

If we work to reveal these beautiful and pure true beings, what does that then look like in the here and now? How does this manifest? Is it truly possible to bask in the light of our own selves, honoring and listening to what we feel despite all the commitments, obligations and expectations that exist today?

When we go into a yoga class or meet a friend for coffee and we are feeling so down, so spent, so taken from, is it okay to sit there and be energetically held and supported? Do we do this?

Often we stuff it all down and go through the expected motions because that’s just what we do. Or we will  spit out one small truth and then backtrack or make it seem like all is good.

But, how is this truly serving us?

Is it possible to just show up as is?

Don’t we deserve this?

Is it possible to bow out of social plans because our hearts tell us that it might take more energy reserves than we have to offer that day without making a self-sacrifice and compromise?

I just think it’s a good idea for us to think about this. We need to honor our hearts, tune into our bodies and really believe that intuition…listen to those feelings that well up on the inside and let that truth be okay.

Because it our truth and our truth is our everything.

Here is where our real selfhood is rooted, in the divine spark or seed, in the image of God imprinted on the human soul. The True Self is not our creation, but God’s. It is the self we are in our depths. It is our capacity for divinity and transcendence – Sue Monk Kidd