The Time Is Now

The time is now for us to see ourselves. To see ourselves as the bright, radiant, GENIUS, burning, MAGIC beings that we are.

Don’t waste your time trying to get this gift from someone else, trying to make someone else see you for the fullness of who and what you are. You may be occasionally successful, but you’re drinking a cheap imitation of the best, most delicate wine when you don’t make it for yourself.

See yourself. Dare yourself to count you as magic. To see your body as a space-dust-infused miracle. Allow yourself to KNOW, to know because it’s true, that your voice is beautiful or your writing slays, or you are a gifted public speaker or that your hair looks awesome and that you’re doing a really fucking great job in an aspect of your life. Remember that special talent that you know you have. Tell it to yourself and then let yourself REALLY MEAN IT.

I can’t count all of the times I’ve tried to get this acknowledgement from someone else in the past. And I’ll probably try it again in the future, because I forget sometimes. When I found myself doing it the other day, trying to wrest this visibility from another person, I felt just like a needy child jumping up and down, waving my arms, screaming “See me! Acknowledge me! Look at me, look at me!” That didn't feel good, and it was a clue for me.

Because what I really wanted in that moment was to be seen, and to be allowed to fully embody the magic of who I am. But I was looking to another person to give it to me, I thought that in order for it to be true that THEY had to see it.

But the treasure is that I don’t have to wait for someone else to give that to me. No, I can give it to myself, right here, right now. And. It feels even better than if it had come from someone else. 

The striving for love and approval and being seen from someone else can feel like wanting something that’s so expensive that it’s impossible to get. It feels depressing almost, because we don't know when it will come or how long it will stay for. But a subtle reminder to myself can bring about the awareness that actually, that thing is free and I can give it to myself. At any time.

The truth is, for me, I can’t get this gift from somebody else. It has to be an inside job. Because what I am seeking in those moments of reaching out is to just be seen, and I can see myself better than anyone else. And I am SO GRATEFUL for that. Because I am daring myself to see myself as a brilliant, intelligent, radiant being. Because I have to, because it is MY JOB. And it feels scary! And it feels exciting. And it feels right.

The time is NOW for me to see myself. The time is NOW for you to see YOURSELF.

Right now, in this very moment, I’m committing to myself that I am going to acknowledge the true uniqueness of my spirit. That I’m a beautiful dancer. That I have SO MUCH to offer in all of the work that I do, a unique offering that only I possess. That I’m going to feel every molecule of my radiance and aliveness when the wind blows through my long hair. That when I feel myself tugging at the shirt-sleeves of someone else, pleading with them to see me, I'm going to recognize what's really going on, take a deep breath, and tell myself the words I need to hear. I love you. I see you, you are magic. 

My invitation to you in this moment is to think about something that you are really, really good at, and something that you love about yourself. Even if it's something that feels small. State this thing to yourself, out loud even. Look yourself in the eye in the mirror. I am beautiful. I love my teeth. I am really smart. Repeat the statement WITH CONVICTION because it’s true. Allow it to fill you up, say it until you mean it. Say it loudly if you need to. Repeat, repeat repeat.

 You are magic. I can see it.

 The time is now for you to see yourself. What are you waiting for?

xoxoxox

Liz

Many thanks to my beautiful friend Dottie for letting me use this image of her, taken when we were soaking up some river magic on a summer day.