Last week I was invited to be one of two Life Coaches to help with The Sister’s Project Retreat near Heber, Arizona. (@thesistersproject.us) I was surrounded by an exceptionally talented staff, gorgeous pine trees, and women who came to serve, learn, and heal. The food was to die for, the laughs worth their weight in gold, and lasting connections were made. Part of the service was refurbishing furniture with power tools and paint to help sex traffic victims. So much loved was poured into that project.
As the retreated progressed, hour after hour, lives were changed in incredible ways as we asked questions to dispel pain points and false beliefs of retreat attendees. Several women literally experienced a change in their countenance as they were able to let go of old stories and accept God’s unconditional love. Feeling ‘sisterhood’ was also one of the greatest keys to the success of this retreat. When women gather in light, their power is palpable. The following quote resonated with me after watching lives change from Wednesday through Saturday, myself included. I left the pines and came back down to the valley of the sun, where I’m again surrounded by Saguaro cacti and real life. So what’s next? Taking what I learned last week and moving forward.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” (Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love.“)
As a child of God, power is part of your birthright. This week I invite you to imagine living as your best, confident self and liberate yourself from fear. Instead of pulling away from doing something good/hard, lean into it and see what you discover about the power within you.
