Becoming Mindful

You may have heard of the term enlightenment or the term “awakening process.” For most, it seems like an experience that only a select few such as Gandhi or Buddha will ever have. But in truth we are all called to awaken by remembering the truth of who we are so we can realize our full potential.

If we dissect the word en·light·en·ment, it means to bring light to an experience or way of being, which is the expansion of consciousness. It is a natural process that is taking place here on earth and within us all individually. Its sole purpose is to help us awaken to the truth of who we are by shattering the limiting beliefs that hold us small and held down.

This means that you are more than you’ve been conditioned to believe. Each and every belief you hold can be changed at any time. There is nothing you cannot achieve, have or experience. You are not your fears, worries or concerns and, when you fully understand this, you have found the key to transforming your own life. Gandhi says it best, “May we be the change we wish to see in the world.” Many beliefs you hold today, inside of you, may not be a true reflection of who you really are. To be that change, we need to let go of any outdated beliefs that limit our true potential. This means letting go of the beliefs that keep us small and held down.

Imagine it like this: At birth we are given a block of clay that will eventually hold the framework of our personality. Over time it will be shaped and molded by the beliefs we take on from our parents, society, conditioning, and our own life experiences. The problem is that many of our beliefs are based in fear and limit our greatest potential. Our block of clay may be shaped into a figure that doesn’t actually represent who we really are. The beliefs of others are often passed on to us with good intentions, but were really just on loan until we found our own way. At some point this awareness kicks in and we begin the inward journey of discovering our own truth. When you begin the inward journey of examining what you believe to be true for you, you have stepped onto the path of awakening.

Each individual’s journey to awakening is different. Some may have a feeling of ‘being lost and not yet found,’ and that triggers their inward voyage. Others may be forced to take that inward journey due to outside influences such as divorce, loss, trauma, or illness. But no matter the path to awakening, they all lead to the same destination where our true life purpose is fulfilled. Your life purpose is uniquely tailored to you. There may be dreams inside of you that have yet to see the light. And yet, you question how they can ever become real. Just know that your dreams will never give up on you no matter how often you give up on them. No matter how things may look now, you are on your way to discovering your truth. Each setback is only a chance to re-evaluate. Each heartache is a chance to awaken, and every time we feel stuck we are nearing a major breakthrough. What may appear to be idleness on one level may in fact be huge shifting and inward growth on another.

As we awaken higher energies in the third eye chakra we begin to chip away at our mold of clay to reveal the true art within.  Then our own individual journey has begun. This is when the truth of who we really are begins to emerge. We start to understand that we are not our fears and yet we may have identified with them. By consciously facing our fears and challenging our beliefs, those masks begin to fall away. We begin to realize that no matter where we are starting from, we can become more than we are conditioned to believe.