“It takes courage...to endure the sharp pains of self discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives.”  

Marianne Williamson

The question I’ve been asked a lot of lately: but isn’t personal growth work difficult? 

And my answer? 

Well yes, exploring the truth about ourselves can be difficult. It can be painful to dig up old wounds and ask ourselves the tough questions about our lives, our desires and our intentions.

But what’s more painful, is living in denial. What’s more difficult is living a life that isn’t aligned with who you truly are because you’re hiding or numbing or avoiding. What’s more of a struggle is believing that that you shouldn’t have any dark, you shouldn’t have any unwanted feelings and that your life would be perfect…if only you were.

But it doesn’t work, does it? Living this way wears you down in the same way any lie wears you down over time.  Because it’s an ongoing reminder that you’re not living in your truth. 

And when we aren’t living in alignment, we hold ourselves back from the life we were born to live. A life of realness and messiness and truth. A life of full-capacity living. And a life of true freedom. 

Learning to live in alignment with who I really am, has become a soul purpose.  I question myself often. I challenge my own intentions. I seek answers. And I always dig deeper.

If you’re someone who feels a little tentative on this path, please know that you’re not alone. Walking this path isn’t always easy. But I do believe it’s always worthwhile.

And in the meantime, here are some quotes that have inspired me to keep going. I hope you find one that shines a new light:

“Only when we’re brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”  Brené Brown

“I'm not a mess but a deeply feeling person in a messy world. I explain that now, when someone asks me why I cry so often, I say, 'For the same reason I laugh so often--because I'm paying attention.' I tell them that we can choose to be perfect and admired or to be real and loved. We must decide.” Glennon Doyle

"Your problem is how you are going to spend this one odd and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over people and circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.  Anne Lamott

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”  Marilyn Monroe

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”  Martha Graham

Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”  Dolly Parton

“Only when we’re brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”  Brené Brown

“Do you really want to look back on your life and see how wonderful it could have been had you not been afraid to live it?”  Caroline Myss

“Staying requires being curious about who you actually are when you don't take yourself to be a collection of memories. When you don't infer your existence from replaying what happened to you, when you don't take yourself to be the girl your mother/father/brother/teacher/lover didn't see or adore. When you sense yourself directly, immediately, right now, without preconception, who are you?”  Geneen Roth

“Living with integrity means: Not settling for less than what you know you deserve in your relationships. Asking for what you want and need from others. Speaking your truth, even though it might create conflict or tension. Behaving in ways that are in harmony with your personal values. Making choices based on what you believe, and not what others believe.”  Barbara De Angelis