There is a blessing in making moves you don’t have to explain, and living contently in realities you co created. That blessing is sovereignty. It’s blessed because your alignment in it is known not obscured.
“I want us all to grow so comfortable in our own feelings, our own knowing, our own imagination that we become more committed to our own joy, freedom, and integrity than we are to manipulating what others think of us. I want us to refuse to betray ourselves. Because what the world needs now in order to evolve is to watch one woman at a time live her truest, most beautiful life without asking for permission or offering explanation.”
We need to be clear on our personal values so we are not swayed by the opinions of ‘public courts’. Guilt and shame are powerful convincers when not grounded in self. Ego consciousness uses fear of negativity rooted in one or the other, or both to assert itself. I.e to make you step out of yourself.
Ones true self and false self can’t appear and stand in or for a matter at the same time. Ego consciousness attempts to put the former in the back seat always.
Our values are comprised of what we on a individual level, like or dislike as determined in our hearts space. To honour that even when people beat a drum for their own, in a way that doesn’t validate yours or stands in contrast to it, is steadfastness because you validate it yourself.
The places where imbalances arise that are then railroaded in the name of maslaha (making peace between others by bringing benefit to a matter or preventing harm) are also the very same places injustices can be birthed. To railroad people is to shut process down and imbalances are a sign going against that, as space is needed for truth to sprout through ripe.
One example of how this happens is bringing a person who wronged another and the wronged party together on equal footing. (Key words equal footing) they’re not the same! You can not invite the wrong doer and the wronged person to the same party with the same invitation. (And if you can’t even differentiate between them, you have no business doing or initiating maslaha in the first place )
To do so is to appeal to the ego of the wrongdoer and invalidate the honour and haq/truth/rights of the wronged.
The very essence of commandments and prohibitions in Islam is embedded in the concept of maslaha. Imagine then our strategy of its implementation allowing injustice in.
I value the “thin line” between things because often it’s there we receive understanding and clarity.
There is a thin line between patience and enabling and I think that line is to do with purpose or lack of it. True patience flourishes when it is aligned with divine purpose and without this, one is prone to enable situations and/or people that usher in experiences and ways of behaving, that do not match up to whatever our individual divine purpose is. (I am not referring to the collective purpose)
Often in the name of patience, we can steer off course and enable our loved ones even ourselves. Because without purpose to measure things through, everything becomes convoluted and it’s easy for a false sense of guilt and it’s qualifying perception, to be mistaken for a voice of reason or compassion.
Another way of understanding what our divine purpose is, is knowing your true calling in life. This would be personal to you and it often has ‘symptoms’ like what you’re most passionate about, what do you check passionately, when things other wise roll off you, like water of a ducks back.
Your divine purpose that Allah helps to bring you into alignment with, is therefore things he already created you to have the substance for. The spark and drive is imminent and it pours into every aspect of your life, even if you aren’t always aware of its happenings. What people tell you you’re great at believe them, as it’s a major indicator and what you think you are good at keep developing.
Patience/sabr is a virtue one of the greatest in the sight of Allah and it is a gift for people to be met with and a manifestation of self care when you meet yourself with it, but what it never is, is enabling. Unlike enabling, patience doesn’t disconnect you from your divine purpose. As the spark and drive within its flow also pours into matters or to people you’re called to be patient about or with.
That’s one way to see if you’ve crossed the thin line between patience and enabling. Do you feel disconnected from self or connected in flow.
When you’re patient Allah replenishes your soul when you’re enabling, feelings of imbalances occur. These feelings are guidance to indicate and direct to truth.
Enabling in the name of patience , regardless of when it’s done or with whom, the impact is the same. Measuring things through whether or not it matches up with personal divine purpose is therefore key. Because It keeps you in check inwardly and so too governs well your outward reality. Because you yourself and your loved ones receive the best of you.
I remember resonating a lot with Bruce lee’s quote “be like water my friend” when I was a teen, of course there was more to quote than just that. But it was that part specifically that struck a cord with me.
The full quote is…
You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend. ~ Bruce lee
Only after I grew older, did it dawn on me just how profoundly this quote impacted me unconciously. It crystallised in meaning, permeating every fibre of my soul. I realised meaning was preserved and developed through various phases of my life. Because the quote was a sign, a clue about my authentic fluid nature. You can only connect the dots when you look back…
The freeing flow of the water was the opposite to the rigidity i’d lean towards, in the face of changes that I didn’t want.
The freeing flow of the water was symbolic for all the fulfilment, my soul wanted to pursue but I’d resist because (insert blind spots that led to much self abandonment or fear of my true desires)
…is your well being flowing through you and to you, no matter what your circumstance is. Just like this rock in the middle of no where, doesnt clog up the flow of the river passing through it. So too, when you follow what fulfils you will the rock not be a factor or obstacle to your harmony and flow.
To be (flow) like water, acknowledge every facet of your being, especially your soul perceptions about things.
It’s only when we ignore the latter (our soul perceptions) that we fall into judgements and then projections and then last but definitely not the least, neglect in not acknowledging our true needs.
Any disappointment like energy in life that we feel, can only be transmuted when we pursue what fulfils us. As the feeling of disappointment in our present moment, is carrying the loyal mail telling us that we are not being fulfilled. See the rock as is disappointment and the water is our fulfilment continuing to flow regardless of it.
When inner conflict gets in the way, it only gets in the way of clarity coming in. That realisation serves as a great incentive for me to persevere and work through it. Clarity is what paves the way for us to align with fulfilment. It is the first dose of it, and ultimately for me, the reason why clarity feels like well being.
When people change, you must not erase what you knew about them before the change that hurt you.
It’s what we knew after all, that we must grieve. As it’s what we knew, that we had the relation and connection with.
There is a seed planted under the rubbles where your heart was crushed. A seed that grows into profound clarities, that lay out the foundation for a greater and more wholesome home.
There is a crack in the psyche that pain illuminates. So we can experience discernment creeping through when needed most. Discernment, that shows us how to get to and stay in said new home.
All that happens, when, where, what and how ultimately serves the evolution and expansion of your soul.
Will you be patient?…is a question I’ve asked myself a lot. The answer is always yes because patience fulfils my soul.
There is a part of me that always cared to master myself. That always cared for the silver lining in the dark clouds, that appeared on my path.
And because of this, this same part of me unwittingly dismissed my feelings to work through things I had no business doing. It held space for things that bothered me.
This part of me that cared to understand even if I wasn’t being understood, is now grateful to realise that she can exist in a space devoid of any form of self deception. A space that makes sense of the unconscious self betrayals that resulted in the forgetting of myself.
Only with time can we look back and re write the first draft that made excuses for others and none for ourselves.
Only with time can we grow strong enough to look back and swallow the cold truth that in deleting ourselves…..we overestimated the intentions and integrity of others……..and just as we are about to attack ourselves for that, we can in its stead, attach to self love that writes a second draft.
A second draft with clarity replacing confusion. Truth replacing illusion, understanding replacing judgment, empowerment replacing resentment and fulfilment replacing disappointments.
Our soul holds the pen, that is ready to write our second draft on everything.
If you don’t care about my peace of mind, I don’t feel valued by you…
That’s ok, just make sure to establish the peace you need yourself and to realise your feeling here, is sending a reminder. For you to remember who you are, so you can value it to do the above.
If you feel a sense of abandonment or rejection creeping up on you in any matter you are immersed in. Then know that the feeling is showing you, that in that very moment you are not standing in the power of your value.
If you make that conscious connect, you shift because you remember your value & the feeling subsides, because you received what it came to give you.
When you see your feelings as messengers, you don’t run the risk of activating projections, that make you miss the loyal Mail.
It was sometime in September 2018 I was visiting my brother and his wife. It was mid afternoon, feeling really depleted I needed to have a power nap.
Unfortuntely I wasted the time I could have slept so idly. It’s like I just couldn’t settle myself to do it.
During one of my idle moments, I popped into the balcony where my brother was resting. We began a conversation about life, this and that. My being tired came up and when he told me to go rest I replied…
“I tried bro but I can’t, I’ll just wait for night fall”
He asked why? and I said “I don’t know but several attempts failed. I think this is just one of those houses, that I can’t sleep during day in”
I felt this strange feeling that matched the facial expression on my brothers face come up. I shrugged conversation off, but the feeling stayed with me.
(His expression and my feeling reminds me of this emoji 🤔)
My intuition piped up to join in, it made an observation and left me some homework. It said ‘that sounds good, but what does it mean exactly?’
Upon quickly reflecting I found that I was in agreement. What I said did sound good because it wrapped things up somewhat logically. Yet I had no real idea about what it meant.
Fast forward another few hours later. My brother had left and my sister in law wanted to hit the town centre. She took with her my 6 year old and her youngest. My eldest son and nephew were left in the house with me.
We both thought I’d get some rest while she was out. But the same thing happened again, I couldn’t find an appropriate moment to take the nap. Even though the kids were settled in near by, watching a movie or playing their game console quietly. I still couldn’t fall asleep on the comfy large sofa beside them.
The time rolled by and whilst in the bathroom my sister in law returned home. She was in the kitchen putting shopping away and I could see her at the end of the hall way as I exited bathroom.
I felt this polite somewhat compulsive urge to go over to acknowledge she returned home? But got contradicted by an inspiration telling me to turn left into her bedroom and sleep!
I stood there baffled for about 2 seconds and suddenly I lost all decisive control. Something in me just took over, acknowledging the reality that I had nothing to say but I did have something to do! I walked straight into the bedroom and lied down.
Settled in I began flicking through my phone looking for something to read so I could fall asleep through it.
I heard and saw the shadow of foot steps approaching bedroom door to come in and reacted bizarrely by flipping my phone upside down on pillow. All so that it’s screen light disappears, and in doing so I get to give off the illusion that I’m asleep (to whoever it was coming ~my sister in law or the kids~)
I was taken aback by my sudden reaction, it felt like it was accompanied by a panic like energy. It felt so surreal that my actions to follow just mirrored the bizarreness of it all. I responded to whatever just happened with a curious compassion.
I asked myself inwardly & wonderingly
“What was that? Why did you do that”
Something coming from deep within me replied in an honest, raw, soft yet frustrated type of way…
“I was afraid!”
I felt empathy and asked concerned “Why are you afraid?”
and whatever was speaking back to me replied “They will think I’m available”
All of this happened in a matter of seconds.I sat there numb and shocked as my mind flinched out a memory of me as a child.
I grew up in a household where I was the only girl and had a lot of brothers. My mum unintentionally had the dysfunctional programming of boys will be boys and girls responsible.
This meant not only were my needs irrelevant, but the concept of me just ‘being’ was alien. The child me therefore understood that, if mum saw me just lying down resting like I was when trying to fall asleep in real time, reading off of my phone. She would have seen it as I’m not tired, that I am awake and if there was something she needed doing, finding or in general help with, it would ok to ask and expect it.
I would have complied even if I felt burdened because subconsciously I was disconnected from my needs. This lack of self agency paved way for my shadow to leak through, by the time I turned 15. It led to not a single care given to household, type of rebellion. I became like my brothers. Shortly afterwards I left home and moved in with my dad using college as an excuse, so I didn’t hurt my mums feelings.
Living with him freed up so much space in my head and heart. I had nothing to do in his house but just be, he took pride in his home. In his free time he would sit and write or draw. I was very drawn to his energy and his nurturing was effortless. I found myself often just liking to sit near him in living room doing my homework or talking. When I returned home from college I’d be making plans to make us a meal. Only to find he made his one special dolmio and pasta dish.
(My dad was the first person I ever saw acknowledge my needs and express them in situations where they were ignored. When I think of being “seen” I remember him)
(I know I’m digressing, my heart runs away with me when I talk about him. But back to original story of post )
My inner child saw the footsteps approaching and presumed my being on the phone will give off the impression that I’m available for conversation.
I completely understood her and found myself validating her apprehension by saying…You don’t have to be afraid anymore, I got you. Read what you want and if anyone does come in and presumes you’re available to talk or what have you. I’ll let them know the truth, that you’re not.’
I was so firm in what I said and had 100% conviction about it. I was filled with so much love and understanding for this part of me and in a conscious way.
I didn’t even realise till afterwards when I felt the knot in my heart dissipate, along with the hyper vigilance. That the reason why I was failing to have a nap. Was because my inner child was finessing/looking for a moment to do it, where it felt safety established for itself. It was scanning for ways that contradicted her worries before proceeding to do it.
This is why when I came out of the bathroom, my ego (acting to safeguard my inner child from its concerns about interruption ) tried to lead me to the kitchen to make myself seen. To then have a nonsensical conversation with my sister in law. All with the intention of making sure that I’m not looked for when I slip off to sleep.
I think what took over and made me turn left straight into bedroom was my soul. I remember it so clearly, it literally interrupted the egos plan with a firm energy that can only be best described as “fk this” This then taught me a phenomena I gave myself creative licence to name as “soul hostile takeover”
When my inner child ‘left the building’ of my consciousness. I lied down and began reading. I heard the footsteps again in the hallway. Only this time there was no hyper vigilance because of it.
I had no reaction to it at all. There was just a tranquil feeling and before I knew it I fell into a deep slumber.
2 hours later I briefly woke up only to fall back asleep again without a struggle. I woke up because my sister in law was nearby a cupboard next to me.
When I looked up, she whispered ‘sorry babe just came in looking for something’ She commented about me sleeping with my robe on and wondered if I was too warm. I said I was ok and felt cosier that way. She then bent over to kiss me on the forehead and pulled blanket over me.
I never told her but as she left room a tear fell from my eyes. As I fell back asleep realising it was my inner child who received her love and kiss. Along with protection, attunement and understanding from me.
Or it will forever live abandoned within you, looking for other ways to get it
I later learnt that this encounter also meant my healing growth that proceeded it, is what allowed my inner child to trust me enough to show up.
I will never forget the words “I’m afraid’ followed by ‘They will think I’m available’
No wonder the adult me was always looking for relief. I loved giving others what I wanted deeply for myself too.
The relief I wanted was received by me, from the part of me that needed it most. (My inner child)
Our unmet needs can only ever be satisfied and met best, when it comes from within our own selves.
Our insecurities reflect what our inner child believes. It’s our Inner child that makes us doubt our worth or value because of what he/she believes in any given moment where an insecurity is activated (triggered)
Sometimes instead of looking within, people look outwardly and project the emotional intensity floating up from their unconscious. That wants to reveal a particular point related to information like this.
If we think the emotional intensity we feel is about the story that caused it to bubble up. We will continue to miss the point, that would have otherwise led to illumination about a matter.
Conversely if we don’t project the emotional intensity, but instead we become emotionally available to ourselves enough to feel it and accept how we feel afterward. We heal and ultimately grow into cultivating unconditional self acceptance, that safeguards self esteem.
All that we don’t accept are filed away as insecurities. That means self esteem is left injured. Wholesome living can not be attained with out recognising & attending to the one who did the filing…
Our inner child..
That needs our efforts & attention to turn towards their reality. So that they can be seen heard, nourished and loved. Rather than subjecting it to disregard and thus further abandonment. Because the ego employs patterns of resistance to keep us away from the places and spaces our inner child is left to bleed alone or worse hustle for its needs on its own. If we are not present our inner child is out there finessing. For safety, love, understanding, acceptance, validation and even vindication.