Releasing What No Longer Serves Us

Just before the buds were forming, I took time and really noticed the trees – seemingly bare with many shades of grey as the light reflected off them; standing tall, reaching toward the sun.  As I looked more closely, I observed some dried leaves from autumn that were still clinging to some of the branches.  The dried leaves were few and although one tree had five or six, another, one or two, the next had none.  I pondered the thought of the old-fashioned winter we just experienced and wondered how in the world these dried, dead leaves were able to hang on.

Next, the idea of us came to my mind.  How we too can hang onto things from the past that no longer serve us.  They may no longer have a purpose and serve us, yet we allow them to hang on.  Our dried leaves may be beliefs, stories, disempowering feelings, trapped emotions and more. 

Just like the trees, when the season changes, new growth bursts forth from within us; however, unlike the trees, we are still affected by these things that hang on and refuse to be released.  These things may not always be obvious to us and we may even think we let them go.  Meanwhile, they are running in the background in our subconscious mind. 

Like software running in our computer, they affect our performance.  When our computer is not working to its full potential, we may run a scan, defrag, troubleshoot, ask for guidance, and discover helpful tips to remedy the situation.  So what do we do for us?  How do we uncover the things that no longer serve us and release them, so we can live more in line with our full potential?

This is the journey.  This is the path we are on.  Just as the things that no longer serve us were left behind year after year, the journey of releasing them, takes time.  We are in the process of learning how to release them fully.  

Many articles here on I’m a Shining Soul have shared tools of self-discovery and healing.  As well, there are many ways yet to be discovered. 

Healing the past and releasing all that no longer serves us takes time, focus and effort, but it is so worth it!  As we release what no longer serves us, leaf by leaf, our soul shines ever more brightly!

~ Sherry Buikema

Connecting with Self

The Sacred Self, the higher Self, our Shining Soul or whatever you choose to call it, is the part of us that remembers the truth about who we truly are.  It knows we are acceptance, tolerance, joy, passion, peace, understanding, compassion, forgiveness, unconditional love and more.  We experience these parts of ourselves often, yet we rarely take time to acknowledge and honour these truths.  These are the aspects of us that make up our Shining Soul.

When we are in harmony with our Shining Soul we feel alive and empowered with life force energy.  We experience our true nature, our true selves.  It is here in this place that we receive insights and guidance on how to move forward in our life - how to respond to our life events in ways that demonstrate who we are and that are in line with our desired outcomes.  It is here that we experience all that we truly are!

Taking time out to connect and reconnect with oneself is crucial!  There is so much “busyness” and “stress” happening these days.  Our inner journey needs to become a priority if our desire is happiness in all areas of our life. 

Embarking on this journey of self-discovery and healing has changed my life!  As a result, part of my dream is co-creating One Place To Be to share these journeys with others.  Although One Place To Be manifested in physical form as a beautiful place in nature, the real place is inside each of us.  A place where we can be at one with self. 

Each month we have a day retreat where we take time out from our busy schedules to remember and experience who we truly are.  We just completed our third retreat and feel extremely blessed for these times together.  They are filled with laughter, play, inner guidance and friendships. Our next day retreat, Living Your Best Life is taking place on Sunday, March 23^rd from 10-4.  Are you living your best life with passion and enthusiasm?  If not, what is standing in your way?  We are Shining Souls after all!

~ Sherry Buikema