Read an Excerpt
A Year on Your Path To Growth
Daily Inspirations to Reconnect With Your Soul
By Keri Nola
Balboa Press
Copyright © 2012 Keri Nola
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4525-5382-5
Chapter One
You're Worth It!
Now more than ever we are being called to assist in raising the vibration of our planet by moving through layer upon layer of experiences that have led us to falsely question our worth and lovability. Contrary to popular belief, love and worth are not realities we earn; rather, they are Divine rights that belong to us simply because we were born. The truth is that we have always been worthy and lovable, friends ... now we're just working to remember these truths.
Instead of getting yourself caught in the web of "not enough" and attempting to measure your worth by progress on your New Year's "resolutions", this month I invite you to journey inside and discover what you have been telling yourself about the story of your unworthiness and lack of lovability and learn ways to shift into the truth of your Divine brilliance!
January 1
Today is the day to remember your magnificence and stand in it proudly! You are not here to shrink down and pretend you are unworthy, unlovable, or less than others ... you are here to shine brightly and let your gifts benefit the planet at this important time. Where have you forgotten your magnificence and Divine perfection? What is one thing you can do today to step back into it?
January 2
What if you allowed yourself to be "good enough" at this very moment? That doesn't mean, "I'll be good enough when I lose more weight, get a new job, am in a relationship, am a better parent, etc." It means stop in this very moment, take a deep breath, and declare from the deepest, wisest part of yourself, "I AM good enough right now."
January 3
It is your birthright to experience Joy. Pay attention to the stories you may have created to talk yourself out of feeling joyous. Pay attention to the ways your ego tries to convince you that you're different from others and that you don't deserve the happiness that you see others experiencing. Smile today and know that you can just because you're alive and you deserve to feel Joy!
January 4
Allow yourself to take up space today. How often do you shrink yourself down so as not be noticed or considered arrogant? How often do you consider yourself "not enough" in the presence of others? Each day is a new opportunity to step into yourself and claim your space and your right to be in it ... just for today, stand a little taller and walk a little prouder as you celebrate being YOU.
January 5
Speak up! How can you give yourself permission to stop apologizing for who you are and start speaking up so your valuable voice can be heard? Today, consider what you have to say and give yourself permission to share it with the world!
January 6
What are you looking for? If you want proof that you don't deserve this or that, you can always find it. Why not look for all the reasons you deserve incredible joy, peace, love, and prosperity? Today, find proof for that too!
January 7
Saying "No" to others often means saying "Yes" to yourself. Is it time to say "Yes!" to yourself more often? Keep in mind that this practice keeps our relationships honest and prevents resentments from building. Consider where you have been saying "Yes" when you have really meant "No" and allow yourself to change that up today—you're worth it!
January 8
Contrary to popular belief, we don't bend over backwards doing for other people out of the goodness of our hearts. These people- pleasing behaviors are often driven by our attempts to feel needed, wanted, appreciated, and worthy. The evidence of this reality shows up in feelings of resentfulness, bitterness, and anger in our relationships. Just for today may you recognize where you are hustling for your worth, allow yourself to set aside the measuring stick, and acknowledge your unlimited worth even though ...
January 9
It does not matter what you did yesterday or the day before yesterday. Today is a new and fresh opportunity, and you can decide again. May you decide something that welcomes the incredible joy and abundance you deserve!
January 10
What would life be like if you chose to do only the things that you wanted to do with those whom you wanted to do them with? Notice any defensiveness and resistance to this thought. Before you come up with all the ways this couldn't be your reality, think about it for a moment ... what would life look like if you said "No, thank you" to that which doesn't resonate with you? It is your birthright to live the life you want, and it is your job to make that happen. There's no day but today ... go for it!
January 11
You're worthy. If there seems to be any confusion, let's clear it up now ... YOU were born worthy. This worth and value is beyond anything you could ever fathom, and there are no experiences or lack thereof that may happen in life that can add to or deplete your worth. So rest assured that whether your humanly mistakes add up to one million or zero, your worth will remain the same ... Infinite! Now breathe that in ...
January 12
No matter what you've done or haven't done, what you do or do not do, and what has or has not been done to you, the truth is that your lovability has never changed. You are lovable beyond your wildest imagination!
January 13
How long do you force yourself to pay for something that you are ashamed of doing, saying, or being? Humanness is a perfectly imperfect journey, and yet we often hold ourselves to unattainable standards. What would it be like for you to forgive yourself and acknowledge your right to happiness now? No one else is going to do it for you ... it's up to you.
January 14
Are you looking for the buoys or the obstacles in your life? Sometimes lifelines are disguised as struggles, and it's your responsibility to choose how you will see your reality to move forward peacefully. You are being supported right now. Look around and discover that truth in your life today.
January 15
Take an inventory of your choices today. Are you making choices that do not resonate with your highest self? If so, get curious about a part of you that may be feeling undeserving of love, peace, abundance, and joy and see if you can give that part of you some of your attention and recognition.
January 16
When we remember our worth, we choose ourselves without guilt or shame. How can you choose yourself today?
January 17
Life isn't about running and rushing to do more and more. No one's last words have been, "I wish I worked more, cleaned more, or cooked more." Life is about discovering our passion, creating, loving, and experiencing joy and peace. What can you do today with the intention of being less "perfect" and instead more "happy?" Be the boss of your happiness today ... now this is a job worth having!
January 18
Do you ever visit the "Crazy Place?" You know, the imaginary destination in your mind where you create the story that you are unworthy of love and compassion, where your world is an unforgiving and judgmental place and you are all alone? Doesn't sound too pleasant, does it? Today, revoke your residency in Crazyville and come back to the reality of your worthiness, where you create a joyful and loving experience for yourself!
January 19
Show up for yourself today. Be present in your experiences, gently acknowledge your reactions to those experiences, and give yourself permission to make mistakes and grow through them. Lower the bar from expectations of perfection to a loving awareness of your humanness and know that you are perfect and worthy even though ...
January 20
What is it like for you to receive compliments? This doesn't mean just hearing one; it means welcoming it without justification or excuse and simply being able to mindfully say, "Thank you." Sometimes someone offers us a genuine compliment and parts of us disagree with that we've heard, and we start giving a litany of reasons why that person is wrong. Just for today, see if you can create a category within yourself called "Compliments" and welcome them gracefully in.
January 21
Take a moment and discover what you've been holding back, and give yourself and the world the gift of showing up fully today. When we grasp the totality of our worth, we stand tall and allow our gifts to overflow. What are you allowing to block your brilliant light from shining upon?
January 22
Our evolution is a gradual process that unfolds with love, patience, and time. Just for today, choose a change you'd like to make and commit to practicing one action in the direction of the experience you desire. Then acknowledge your efforts each step of the way; celebration is an equally important part of the transformation journey. Remember to celebrate YOU!
January 23
View what you do today as an opportunity to create. Whether it's a report at the office or an experience with a loved one, feel your passion in the process of creating and know that you are capable of producing miracles!
January 24
When we release others from the role of responsibility for our worth, we are free to love them and ourselves unconditionally. Who are you still making responsible for determining your worthiness?
January 25
As soon as we realize our worth, we stop allowing ourselves to be controlled by the opinions and thoughts of others. What experience are you still allowing to deem you unworthy, and how can you gently release your grip on that story and free yourself today?
January 26
Simply because you were born, you are enough.
Say this out loud ... "Simply because I was born, I am enough."
If you notice resistance to this statement, try starting with an in-process affirmation such as, "I am willing to consider that simply because I was born, I am enough."
January 27
When we find ourselves staying at jobs we don't like or in relationships that are abusive, it's because we don't believe we're worthy of anything better. Ask yourself today, "Where am I settling for less than I deserve?
January 28
Abundance is your birthright. Abundant health, abundant peace, abundant love, and abundant wealth ... if you find yourself feeling stuck in lack, this is an issue of worthiness. If you knew you were worthy, what would you be allowing to exist in your life right now?
January 29
Societies and cultures often communicate to us that we have to be more and do more to earn our worth ... get another degree, achieve a promotion, get married, be skinnier, be more muscular. All these messages relate to something other than what we are as being acceptable. For today, examine what unconscious messages may be impacting your actions. Can you fathom that you'd be enough even if you didn't "achieve" one more thing?
January 30
Peace is your birthright. Have you created a story that there is a person or experience keeping you from peace? Creating stories that others have the power to keep us from peace leaves us powerless. Decide today that no matter what you've experienced, you can process it, heal the wound, and experience the peace you deserve. Re-empower yourself today!
January 31
Welcome home to your worthiness ... it's always been here ... where have you been? Today you're invited to remember that if you're feeling unworthy, undeserving, or unlovable, you're the one that's changed because this fact never has: YOU, my friend, are worthy and lovable beyond your wildest imagination ... always have been and always will be! Now pause and breathe that in for a moment ... ahhhhhh
Chapter Two
Wrap Yourself In Love
The most important relationship we will ever cultivate is the one we have with ourselves. Attachment theory research tells us that the way we learn how to relate to ourselves is by witnessing and experiencing the love from our caretakers to us, from our caretakers to themselves, and between our caretakers. Even with the best intentions, our parents or other adult caretakers often have unhealed aspects of themselves that keep them from being able to fully connect and engage with us as children in ways that help us learn the important skill of self-love. If you are a parent or have children in your life, one of the greatest gifts you can give them is to intentionally heal your own emotional wounds and learn how to love and care for yourself because it is from their witnessing this process that those children will grow up to be able to mimic it for themselves.
This chapter will gently guide you to an awareness of where you may be emotionally abandoning and neglecting yourself and will offer you ways to establish a solid foundation of self-love that will support you through the peaks and valleys of your human experience. May you give yourself permission to read along and commit to engaging mindfully in a journey of learning how to love yourself fully and completely without apology.
February 1
We all want to be loved, we want to feel like we belong, and we want to know that we matter. Just for today, will you remind yourself that you are loved, you belong, and you matter?
February 2
What part of yourself have you been denying or ignoring lately? All parts of you are valuable and have helped you to survive different times in your life. If you're finding that the behavior of a part of yourself is no longer necessary, consider building a relationship with this part of you; it's working with instead of against ourselves that allows for change.
February 3
Mother Nature doesn't judge herself when she's gloomy, so why do we? How about today you allow yourself to honestly reflect the state you're in, whether that be sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy, or stormy? The weather is always more tolerable when we accept it for what it is and dress accordingly. Here's to meeting yourself where you are without judgment today!
February 4
When we get honest with ourselves about our history, our patterns, and our behaviors, it's easy to judge these truths as "good" or "bad," which can then translate into labeling ourselves as "good" or "bad." Today, try viewing your truths with curiosity; notice the feelings the truth reveals, and then hold them with compassion so that it can heal.
February 5
How can you elevate yourself to a place of peace and love today? Close your eyes for a moment and take in a deep breath. Envision a peaceful and loving experience and allow the vibration you are tuned into to invite more in.
February 6
How many times in life have you been told to "Be Quiet," "Be Still" "Be good," or essentially BE something other than what you are in any given moment. Today, bring awareness to the messages you are repeating to yourself and see if you can allow yourself to make some noise! Laugh when something is funny, cry when you feel the urge, speak up when it is time to establish a boundary or share an idea ... let your spirit out of the closet!
February 7
Fall in love with yourself today! Think about what you love more about yourself today than you were able to yesterday and consider what you hope to love more about yourself tomorrow than you do today. Here's to a day filled with all the self-love you can imagine!
February 8
Judge-Mental. When we judge, we are affected mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Today, consider where you are judging yourself and see where you can welcome more gentleness. It's one thing to take accountability for your behaviors and another to continually beat yourself up.
February 9
What would life be like if you took responsibility for your own happiness and made decisions that honored your heart? The most loving gift you can give yourself and others is to relinquish your loved ones from the impossible job of making you happy and start loving yourself enough to make you happy! Dare you start today?
February 10
We spend a lot of time trying to fill our feelings of emptiness with the external ... people, work, sex, shopping, substances, hobbies ... and then we're surprised when we still don't feel full. Today consider how you can fill yourself from the inside out so the results can last longer. Your power lies in this kind of responsibility for yourself.
February 11
Others may think we are the most amazing person on the planet, but the truth is it doesn't really matter what they think because if we don't believe it first, it will be hard for us to believe them. For today, can you admit the truth of how amazing you are?
February 12
Loving others doesn't mean determining what's best for them. When we become the judge of others, we abandon ourselves. For today, when you notice yourself being the authority on others and what they should or shouldn't be doing, gently re-direct your focus back home to you. After all, that's the only place you have any authority.
February 13
Truly taking care of ourselves means not waiting for others to anticipate our needs and say or do "nicer" things for us. Today is the perfect day to get to work in anticipating and meeting your own needs and doing/ saying nice things to yourself! Ready, set, go!
February 14
What or who can you love more today than you did yesterday, and how can your behavior be congruent with this truth? While your first thought may be about someone or something outside of yourself, the opportunity may lie within you. What can you love more about yourself today, and how can you let your actions demonstrate that? Go ahead! Love the heck out of yourself today!
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A Year on Your Path To Growth by Keri Nola Copyright © 2012 by Keri Nola. Excerpted by permission of Balboa Press. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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