As a group facilitator, as well as in my private mentoring practice, I give a lot. I give freely, shamelessly and full-heartedly. And I also receive a lot.
In my younger years I was not able to give and receive love to this extent. I wanted to fit in. I wanted to belong. I wanted to be loved and accepted. So I limited myself in my expression and perhaps that resulted in a limited ability to receive the full scope of the love that was available to me.
Getting to know all aspects of myself and learning to lovingly accept the dark and the brilliant ones, showed me a way to align myself with who I truly am, and to begin living and expressing from my Authentic Self. With this came a peculiar kind of satisfaction, a sense of deep fulfillment that I have rarely experienced before.
Knowing my true identity opened the door to finding my life’s purpose—something that many of us struggle with. For many years I was convinced that I'm here to paint. It turns out that I am destined to love!
Practicing self-love taught me to witness without judging. I learned to remain present and open, and to accept what is.
Self-love taught me that I can love even when I think that I am not loved.
Self-love taught me that it is safe to love without expecting to be loved in return.
Self-love taught me to simply love. Unconditionally. Without agenda. Without expecting anything in return.
The paradox is that as I began to do this, I receive so much more! I receive more love now than I have ever received in my entire life!
I receive more satisfaction than I have received from winning top awards, coveted commissions, prestigious nominations, and valued public acknowledgements.
I love. I feel. I am happy. I feel fulfilled and alive. My heart remains open and fills up with love for everyone whom I encounter.
And I discover, again and again, that the only thing, which purifies and heals, is Love.