The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off

{Gloria Steinem}

Hey there,

If you'd rather hear me read this letter to you, click this link.

You have wings, buried deep beneath your shoulder blades. Freed by the latch on the shutters, opening up and creating space for you to move around.

But, it is important that you remember that you have access to them, even when the latches have grown rusty with misuse over time.

You are working to believe, even when it feels tenuous, that your only job here is to remain present with your intention for your life. To stick with yourself, rooted into this solid earth while the vines run up through your feet, encircling your spine and reinforcing your posture.

The process is this: Set your intention (with the full-throttle of your inner wisdom and radiant heart) and move out of your own way. Surrender yourself the magic and the working of the unknown as this intention integrates, clicking into place and making space for you to breathe.

You are emboldened by the power of one choice.

One step. One inspired action. And then another.

You can feel the truth in that, even when your mind screams for complete and utter overhaul - for a plan that, when you get really honest with yourself, you know is overwhelming in it's sheer magnitude.

On your best days, you know that the only way forward is through - even when you are afraid, shielding your eyes with your arms and folding into the soft coil of sleeping in the fetal position. Even when the tears and sweat of your turbulent mid-nightmare body seals your pajamas to your skin.

But, somewhere deep, you still believe in yourself. You remind yourself that it doesn't have to be pretty. Good is better than done. Messy is acceptable here, beautiful here. There is no one to impress here.

You may not feel strong always, but you are capable deep in your bones.

You are a brilliant caretaker, if only you could learn how to take care of yourself.

You know that your fear is real and present, but it is also arbitrary, careless. It is triggered by the cumulation of your experiences, but it is not married to a specific outcome. In this moment, in an instant, you are transforming, shifting, and the outcome is yours for the creating.

You are yearning for the big thing, the moment when it all makes sense, because plodding through it all one piece at a time doesn't please you in it's distinct lack of melodrama. It lacks the sexiness of "______ in 30 days."

Yet you are moving forward with purpose - not because you are unafraid - but because the layer beneath the fear is desire. Glowing hot and running rampant in your veins, your desire fuels you moment-to-moment.

The deep wish is in grand gestures. The moment where John Cusack is standing beneath your window with speakers held up and music blaring. The cross country road trip in the middle of the night for no reason. The being chased in the rain.

Because you've told yourself that is the moment when you will know you are loved, safe.

But there is love and safety in the spaces between, if you notice it. In being your own compassionate steward and quietly putting the pieces together to build yourself something beautiful.

You continue to show up. You surprise yourself.

You make yourself remarkably vulnerable. You choose yourself. You summon up all of your strength.

And in one sweeping, grand gesture: you decide to be home, now. To live fully in your skin, now. To be an active participant in your life, now.

You are awake. But you know that you must awaken again each morning. That you must recommit yourself to your own beautiful endeavors each day, scooping yourself up off the floor and dusting yourself off when necessary.

You are awake, but you have to continue choosing yourself. Not to get somewhere. This is a journey without a destination. You choose yourself to get cozy in the moments between, filling your heart with the things you love and finding the sacred celebration in your own daily operations.

You are awake.

And this tribe is here to support you.

xxMara

P.s. Upcoming Workshops + Events

Rewired: The Cure for Comparison

We are going to be gathering tomorrow evening at 7 pm EST for a powerful 75-minute conversation about learning how to transform our urge to compare ourselves to others into a useful, delicious tool for engaging actively in our lives.

We still have a couple of spots available - including a few supported tuition spots, which will score you a seat in this workshop for just $15!

Join us.

In Her Skin: Starting the Conversation

In preparation for In Her Skin, the brilliant Hannah Marcotti and I are hosting a Spreecast about getting in touch with our sensual natures during our daily lives. We will be jamming live online Wednesday, May 28th at 11 am.

Sign-up here to get all of the info hand-delivered to your inbox (and be first in line when we open the doors for registration for our longer, weekend workshop in August).