Every year I choose a word to focus on. It is such a simple practice that sets the tone for my intentions and acts as a guidepost as the months unfold. Last year my word was EASE and while that seems hilarious to me today because 2015 was one of the toughest years of my life, that powerful four letter word shaped all of my experiences in such a transformative way.

Choosing the word EASE on January 1, 2015 served as a prayer to be able to flow through whatever came up, to be gentle on myself during the process and to open my heart to the notion that it is possible to expand even when all of the shit hits the fan. EASE reminded me on a minute by minute basis that I had the tools within to move through my most core shaking fears of not being enough and being an unlovable sad cat lady who lives alone in a tiny house.

And let’s be real for a minute, I love my tiny house and my cat with my entire heart.

The day Jason left our home I sobbed on the couch for hours and hours. Instead of questioning my sadness or trying to change it, I gave myself permission to feel every pang of heartache. I cried and cried and let out so many screams I was worried my neighbors would think something bad was happening to me. I needed to feel. I needed to yell. I had to move the energy and allow myself to grieve.

How often do you give yourself permission to just be exactly as you are in each moment?

This is something I’ve been reflecting on a great deal post breakup. In the past I tried to rush through the feeling part of loss. It took me much longer to heal and process because I wouldn’t let myself just go right into the darkest place and embody it for as long as I needed to. Spending some days on the couch crying was better than therapy. I embraced my most tender, vulnerable self and I know deep down it made me a much stronger and wiser person.

We must be willing to be who we are and not try and minimize our pain (or happiness!). The only way out is through and there is nothing like a conscious, heart opening, loving breakup to reveal what you’re made of. I’m proud of myself for showing up in the way that I did. It’s a big deal to let go with compassion and sweetness and hold space for the ugly cries and the sinking feelings too. More and more this is becoming the space I choose to dwell, a sacred place that makes room for all feelings and doesn’t try to avoid, change, or medicate any of them.

When I set my intention to focus on EASE last year my hope was that I would slow down, take in the fullness of my life, and be able to enjoy myself more. The cosmos clearly had other plans for me but I chose, each time I remembered, to carry the spirit of EASE into each challenging moment. Through the ups and downs of the year and all of the initiations along the way, I feel at peace knowing I ended the year with as much EASE as possible. That word was such a huge teacher for me and I am still learning volumes about creating calm, relaxing when I need to and being content no matter what is happening around me.

This year I am choosing to call in JOY. I know, I’m raising the bar like super super hight, but I am ready. I learned on a soul level last year that I am a true alchemist and am a living example of redemption. I have healed lifetimes of dysfunction, grief, and repression and am continuing to shift my paradigm and raise my vibration in ways that I am beyond excited to step into this year.

Up until last year I wasn’t ready to handle the caliber of JOY. I still had some major clearing to do in order to begin this next evolution. On January 1 I took a stand (walked on fire, more on that next week I promise) and claimed this word as my new teacher. I cannot wait to see what this year has in store and all of the incredible ways I will be able to infuse JOY into my life and the lives of the people around me.

I am letting go of the darkness from my past. I am not ignoring it or pretending it doesn’t exist. I am choosing a higher path for myself. It’s time. I’m over punishing myself for things that were out of my control and all of the terrible, tragic events that happened when I was a young teenager drowning in addiction. I have much more to offer this world and I am here to let that be known in a bigger way.

In order to call in JOY this year on a deep heart level I had to go through everything I have been through in my life. I had to break open, to gut myself in all possible ways in order to finally see I am worth it, I am lovable, and I have a powerful message to share. I am grateful for my past and to be honest wouldn’t change any of it. Our experiences, our parents, they make us who we are. How can we shy away from those teachings? I want to enjoy my life on a new level. Don’t you? It’s time.

Looking out the window of my tiny house to a sunset of peach and gold my heart is full of love. It has no boundaries or limits. There is more than enough to receive and share. When I look to JOY as my teacher for this year my entire body softens into the belief that there is so much contentment and hope to be found in every moment. JOY doesn’t depend on outside circumstances or events rather is found within each of our hearts if we are willing to do the work and truly listen.

All my heart,

xoa

Images by Lani Trock