Love your sweet & sour self

I sat down to write the newsletter last night and instead spent a few hours between 1 and 3 a.m. making a set of adorable Valentine gnomes for one of my Etsy shops. It felt a little crazy to do that when I had other priorities, but it was remarkably fun. I went to bed satisfied and happy, filled with creative joy, and decided to put the newsletter off until tonight.

I woke up euphoric, as I do on days when I know I’ve been out of body at night working with the angels. I didn’t remember what we were doing or who we were helping, but despite a packed day and only three hours of sleep, I was energized.

After work, I began the huge job of taking down the Christmas decorations. My love of holidays feels a bit nutty about five weekends a year as I haul boxes half my weight and run up and down ladders. But the other 355 days of the year, my life feels like an ongoing celebration, and the festive decor I’ve made by hand fills my heart.

Later, as a chilly rain rolled in, I settled into cozy clothes and finally sat down to write this newsletter. A few text messages caught my attention. I rarely text, because it interrupts my clients, so notifications stay off. But something pulled me to check.

One friend wrote for moral support on a first date. Another sent photos celebrating her first anniversary with a wonderful partner. My friend, who had a recent medical emergency, wrote to share more good news about her healing.  And a dear family member had sent a long message earlier that day, sharing they were in the hospital after an ambulance ride to the ER this morning. Yikes. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t known. I hadn’t received the usual “memo” from Spirit, and it had been nearly twelve hours.

I set everything down, closed my eyes, and immediately began to flow love. In that peace, I knew things would be OK for now. I live far away, and over time I’ve come to trust that this kind of energy work truly helps. After the initial wave, I gently sent my awareness to their side, surrounded them with Divine Mother light, and simply held their hand as they slept. Maybe I’ll show up in their dreams. I don’t know.

In the past, I would have berated myself with a thousand shoulda, woulda, coulda’s. Should have seen the text. Should have known. Should have called rather than hauled boxes… etc.  But in this space of self-acceptance that the angels have taught me, I could see the bigger picture. There was nothing I could have done differently. They weren’t receiving calls. I had clients who needed my full presence. In the strange way the universe works, the timing was perfect. When I finally got the text and had the time, my dear one was resting, and it was the ideal moment to support their spirit.

I’ll continue to pray, count my blessings, and accept all feelings as they arise. Tonight there is only gratitude.

Self-acceptance didn’t come easily for me. Early on, I expected perfection and believed I had to be everything for everyone. I could accept my sweet self, but not my sour self! Over time, the angels demonstrated such incredible, unconditional love that I began to understand how to accept myself. When I was upset, I felt their love flowing in. When I was sad, a soft presence surrounded me. When I made mistakes, I’d hear the giggles, and in spite of my own resistance at times, it raised up into their lighter view of life.

They never coddled me or indulged victimhood. They simply loved me. And eventually, I learned to love myself that way, too. When I mess up, I remind myself that as long as I love, I’ve got what counts right. When I accept feelings of upset or frustration, they settle. When I accept the sadness, I start to see beneath it a heart that wants all souls to know how deeply they are loved, and I shift to focus on the love.

Self-acceptance has been the key to understanding the true nature of love.

Over the years, I’ve seen people who have been through unthinkable abuse leave it behind through the power of self-acceptance. They accepted their fears, their tears, their inner children screaming for love and safety, their lethargy, their inspiration, and all the rest. And the souls I’ve seen adopt a consistent state of self-acceptance have transformed into the powerful, light-filled beings they are, with their love and inner power rippling into and transforming their relationships with family, friends, jobs, and more. It has been remarkable to watch these “spiritual makeovers!”.

Self-acceptance is not saying that you are OK being stuck in a sorry state; it is instead a statement that you are still a good and loving soul, no matter your present condition. It is an honoring of your essence, while being compassionate about your ego. And true self-acceptance will give your upset or sad self a reason to settle and surrender to more.

Here are a few pointers ot help you….

1.  Remember, you’re doing your best

Speak kindly to yourself.

When you feel the urge to criticize yourself, stop. Say to yourself as if you are talking to a child. “You’re doing your best. I love you.”  The simple act of separating the upset, fearful, or sad self from your essential self allows the soul to speak to and share compassionate love with the inner child or the ego.

2. Talk to yourself as you would a child

When the urge to be hard on yourself arises, imagine you are talking to yourself as a child. Be kind. “It’s OK, honey, you’re doing your best.” “Of course you’re upset, that was mean! But there are nice people on earth. Let’s think about them,” etc.  By speaking to the child self, you will find yourself becoming kinder, more compassionate, and more accepting.

3. I am who I am… even as I grow into more

This is one of my favorite angel sayings. In the Old Testament, God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and, when asked his name, replied, “I am who I am.”  And we are too. That was a deep, mystical statement explaining that the Divine essence is present in all things and beings at all times.

I am who. I am, and who I am is light, no matter what I feel or experience.

Remind yourself of this often.

Self-acceptance is not resignation. It is not arrogance. It is honoring your essence while loving yourself through growth.

So this week, no matter what you feel you’ve done or not done, did right or did “wrong,” said kindly or not, accept yourself. Be compassionate with yourself. Remind yourself of your true nature.

You are love. You are light. Nothing can diminish that.