I received this message from a reader named Serena and thought it was so powerful I asked her if I could share it with you.
From Serena:
If I have one Universal message for you it is this:
You are loved, supported, valued, cherished, appreciated, honoured, admired and respected. At every moment.
By the Source that holds you in love at every moment.
There is no moment here you have been left, nor could be.
You can do anything. The very best is wanted for you.
You are never alone. You are always loved.
No matter how difficult things seem, you are always being lifted up, even when you feel alone.
No matter how big a leap in life seems, you are greater than the distance you must jump.
You are free. You are able. You are complete.
Lots of love,
Serena
Coincidentally, Serena ended up leaving me this message on ‘one of those days’ when I was feeling pretty crappy and just needed to reframe my perspective. Lately, the anxiety that I’ve struggled with for many years, has started to creep back into my life and I’ve had a difficult time dealing with it on my own. Sometimes it’s anxiety about not feeling good enough or about my body; other times it’s about judgment from others or even feeling alone. If you’ve ever suffered from anxiety, you probably know that it has no limits and it can quickly impact your day to day life. To this day, I strongly believe that my eating disorder was a coping mechanism for my anxiety.
Anxiety usually breeds more anxiety which sucks. I feel more anxiety because I’m not supposed to be struggling with this anymore. I’m supposed to be past this. I’m supposed to be inspiring others. How can I do that when I’m struggling myself?
But I’m only human.
It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and get bogged down by negative thoughts that loop in our minds, but often, all it takes is a positive message to set those thoughts on the right track again, or even give us hope that we can change. That is what Serena’s message did for me. Her message reminded me that we all struggle and even if we’ve made great progress with things in our lives, sometimes they need more care and attention once and a while.
I receive a lot of emails from other women (and occasionally men) who are struggling with accepting themselves, finding a career they enjoy, ending a bad relationship, illness/injury, or even feeling accepted by their own family. Our struggles may be different on the surface, but what remains true for most of us is that we want to feel love and support from the people that matter to us. That will never change.
And usually that love and support is already there, but we fail to see it. We fail to open ourselves to accept it. We have to be vulnerable to let love into our lives. We have to take risks to make progress.
I’ve always loved quotes. I’ve always loved writing with my heart on my sleeve, knowing that others will connect with words on a screen, in a way that I will never know. I’ve always loved the power that a simple message can have.
Serena’s message inspired me to start working on my struggles with anxiety again. But, I know that I can’t do it alone, so I’ve decided to start seeing a psychologist again to help me with some unresolved issues in my past. I’ve had great success with therapy, and I know I will again. It’s scary though- even for me who has done it before- to open up and make myself vulnerable, but I know that I’ll be just fine. I debated for a while whether I would write this post or not, but I realized that if I didn’t, I would be missing the point.
I’m sharing this with you today in hopes that it connects with you on some level, no matter what you may be dealing with at this very moment. Maybe you got up this morning and the first thing you did was examine your stomach and thighs in the mirror, cringing, while vowing to lose weight. Maybe you struggle with alcoholism, bulimia, abusive relationships, shopping addiction, or perhaps you have the life you dream of and just feel guilty over the thought that something is still missing.
The best thing we can do when we’re struggling is reaching out to another person. The worst thing is to assume that no one cares or will judge us for our struggles.
We are never alone.
~~~
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”~Ambrose Redmoon
“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” ~M. Scott Peck
“We are all functioning at a small fraction of our capacity to live fully in its total meaning of loving, caring, creating and adventuring. Consequently, the actualizing of our potential can become the most exciting adventure of our lifetime.” – Herbert Ottto
Thank you so much for this beautiful post-what a great reminder and I SO appreciate how strong you are. It takes great courage to be able to share that much of yourself with us and it really means a lot. Therapy takes a lot, but it also gives a lot-I wish you the best of luck as you tackle your anxiety. You are strong and you are NOT alone!
Thank you so much for this post. I know it can’t have been easy to write. As with so many others, it really resonates and hits home for me. It came right when I seem to be needing it most, and it really struck me how many other people have mentioned the very same thing in their comments. It really just serves to underline your point that no matter how isolated we feel in our anxiety, how we feel like we must be the only one struggling like this when everyone else seems to have everything under control, that we really truly are never alone.
Your post was courageous and inspiring.
We see a beautiful, confident woman on this blog, and for you to share your struggles with us just shows us that you are also strong.
Angela, you will come out of this in a better place. I know you will. Therapy will give you the perspective you need.
Thank you for this. It is so important to be open and honest about anxiety. So many of us suffer from it. I too suffer from anxiety which led to anorexia and eventually depression. I a lot better now and better at fueling my body properly and with whole foods. I still struggle some days with those negative dark thoughts that creep in. But i am able to blow past them after some positive self talk. I keep going back to my pscycologist too because sometimes there comes a point in your life when you need to again and then you are ok for awhile and then back again. There is nothing wrong with that. When you need help you need it. And sometimes family, a spouse or a friend is not enough and you need more than that an objective view.
I just recently got off my anti depressants and struggled with withdrawal. I had major dizzy spells for a few weeks along with mood swings…but i battled through and was open and honest to friends and family about what i was experiencing so they knew it wasn’t against them. I also started to commit to doing more yoga (2 x a week as opposed to once every 2 weeks) more as well as meditation. I downloaded some free guided meditation podcasts and they are great and helping so much. Maybe this will help you as well. There is a lot of good stuff out there and it’s great to take that “me time” and be alone with your mind and clear it of all that crap that swirls around. Anxiety is scary how it just grows and grows and spins and spins. I am trying to learn to control it with breathing and meditation. Funny thing is i just shared about this as well on my blog:) I think it’s so important to be open about anxiety so others know that they aren’t alone. Best of luck. It will get easier and better.
You putting it out there helps so many, including myself. I commend & adore you for it! Sending positive mojo your way :)
Ange,
I just wanted to say, I love you. You’re an incredible woman. Your honesty and generous spirit are such a gift to the world. Thank you.
I would love to plan a long run (perfect for a good chat) and a brunch very soon.
xo
I love reading your blog, but a big part of it is because you make posts like this which are above all else, HONEST about how you really are. So I just wanted to encourage you to continue to be honest, because personally, I only find people inspiring when I know they’re human just like the rest of us. Otherwise it just seems unattainable and unreal. Thanks for sharing, and I’m sure therapy will help when you go into it with such a positive attitude! :)
Again Angela, this is why you are who you are and we LOVE it.
Brave, Real, Passionate, Compassionate, and Hoenst!
Oh and it helps that you are a bad ass baker/chef too. :)
xo
Angela, you are such a strong, amazing, beautiful, intelligent woman. Your strength, poise, class, character, everything you stand for, ALWAYS inspires me. I am once again, impressed by your decision to return to therapy because you believe it will help you AND for having the courage to blog about it…either as a way to keep it real and be honest with readers OR because you think it will help others OR because you think it will be cathartic for you to share openly about it…but both the decision to go and the decision to blog about it…you’re awesome.
I happen to love therapy and think it’s such a huge gift to give oneself. To work on that which is holding us back in some way is a great thing. I hope it proves to be a great vehicle for helping you unlock some things and make the progress you search for.
I am always here for you. :)
What insightful quotes and what beautiful words from Serena.
I think we all appreciates your honesty. It’s natural to feel insecure at one time or another (I know I do). Getting to see someone overcome an obstacle is always an inspiration and always empowering.
Dear Angela,
Thank you so much for putting the message I sent on your blog. As I mentioned to you when you asked me, I am very honoured that you did so, and so happy that it was not only very powerful for you, but that it has also been supportive to others reading today. Your acknowledgment was also the extra push I needed to decide to really share the writings with the images via products and to potentially set up my blog up so thank you!!
We each hold great strength and beauty within us, but the nature of our development means that while we are the essence of deep peace already, as we move further forward, things may simultaneously come up. I feel that they do because they are serving us on the path to a greater experience of that which we already, in essence, Are. It is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength to recognize it and to act upon it. Within each challenge comes also something that will bring ultimately greater joy, harmony and well-being when it is recognized and gained and I know that this will happen for you too. You have inspired so many people already with your blog and in your sharing today you have continued to do so! I know too how much admiration and respect there is also for you in your sharing this. As someone who teaches a lot I know the feeling of sometimes feeling like you should be and feel great all the time, and the concern of something returning that you thought you had dealt with, but I know too how much power there is in feelings of vulnerability as much as in feelings of strength, and how much love and beauty can come from receiving as well as sharing.
I trust that your sessions will be very beneficial for you :) I hope that they will give you an even deeper foundation within of self love and beauty, so that you go from strength to strength, greater height to greater height in all areas you choose. They are almost the platform for the most spectacular flight upwards! You are doing fantastic and will continue to fly! Keeps shining and being you.
In case you ever need a reminder (and I hope this resonates)…
~You are the beauty and truth of love, the wisdom and power of grace, and the strength and source of freedom~
Lots of love and a big hug,
Serena xxx
‘
Angela this was a wonderful post. I too have used therapy to get through a really awful time in my life and it helped me so much. Sometimes it just helps to have another person help you find perspective and discover how strong you are. You are a beautiful person in and out. I believe that you are much stronger than you think you are and I hope you are able to find some peace soon. :)
This post really spoke to me, Angela. Thanks so much for sharing!
This couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Thank you.
Angela,
I have been following your blog for over a year now and this is the first time I have ever posted. I just couldn’t let your post today go. I have read it several times and each time, I tear up. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for helping me realize that I’m “just human.” Even though we have never met, you have inspired me beyond words. I went from being an overweight mother of of two boys, to a vegetarian, tranformed raw vegan. I physically feel so much better, but still struggle with my place in this world. Your story has challenged me and lifted me up start believing that I am capable of more than I think I am. I truly hope that counseling will assist you and help to provide the peace you deserve. Just by reading all of the comments, I know you have a huge support system. Happy, positive, and loving thoughts…please know how amazing you are and how much of a difference you have made in others lives.
Wow. Once again… you hit the spot. I don’t know how to express what I think in English… other readers probably have done it better.
But you know… you are not alone. For sure. And you are wonderful!
And it’s crazy how this posts happens at just the right moment.
Deciding to go to therapy is one of the greatest gifts you can ever give to yourself, you should stand proud knowing your being proactive. Your so inspiring in more ways than I can say here, but just know that your posts and words are always reaching someone, somewhere in ways that you can’t imagine.
This post was both inspiring and heartbreaking to me. I lost a good friend of mine last week. She was struggling with an eating disorder and depression for some time and last week she gave up her battle. For all the others who are still struggling through and battling emotions and fears in themselves, Keep up the fight. It’s worth it. My world was rocked in so many ways last week and as I still struggle to find closure, I know that the loss of my friend could be a turning point for others. A friend of hers from an eating disorder program made a comment last week that she wouldn’t let the disease get her too. That comment alone was a bright spot amidst all of the darkness. Sometimes just sharing a story can help so many, so thank you for sharing yours with us each day!
I’m sorry to hear about your loss Amanda. My thoughts go out to you. Thanks for your encouraging words!
Angela, please watch this:
http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html
You will LOVE it. It is SO apropos to this post!
Good for you! I have and still do deal with anxiety and like you, I HATE it. I deal with it daily at work and it affects my relationships with my coworkers, and occassionally family and peers. I started using a life coach to help guide me as I felt I was not progressing like I should in life. So far, ok but I know I will need more. My friends have been amazing and a lot of them have gone to speak to someone to cope also. At first I felt strange and thought I was the only one but it was refreshing that I am surrounded by openminded individuals who need a little help in certain areas of life also. Good luck with your anxiety. I hope we both can conquer this.