innerself bemindful innerwork stillness liveinthenow meditation gowithin mindfulness selfgrowth peacefulmind centred love motivation peacewithin spirit thepowerofnow toronto african africanbeauty africanwoman awakening beautymakeupartist blackmodel braids braidsfashion darkskin eastafrica ebonymodels longbraids meditatedaily liveinthenow
‘I wanted help “living like this”, not suggestions on how to STOP “living like this’.
Brene Brown - Daring Greatly
If being here has taught me anything it is that we fall too easily into the trap of being ‘busy’ all the time. At home it’s a habit - perpetuated all around me and I just follow along too
But here as I’ve paused I’ve become unstuck and it’s as if I can see now more clearly because of it
It is not about trying to MANAGE living a certain way (for instance being permanently productive and busy - exhaustion as a status symbol) but instead CHANGING it - choosing to opt out
And I think this takes a lot of bravery and vulnerability - because in doing so you’re saying I am worthy enough and think enough of myself to set boundaries and live MY way, as opposed to the ‘way’ set out by society
But life’s too short and here I feel I have paused long enough, jumped off that fast train, to see what makes me excited for life and what makes me happy
To try and change one’s experiences is to get caught in a battle with life. It is to try and change the winds, when one is merely a leaf.
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A leaf has no power to change the winds, but it has the power to withstand them. To withstand is not to hold strong and suffer, but to move lightly in the direction of the drift.
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This gentle movement without resistance is the act of listening, of patience, of care, of love and of surrender. The blade of grass that bends survives the great storm, while the oak gets uprooted.
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This inward change required to understand the forces of life is not a result of changing our experiences, but of changing the one who experience. This change is to become soft and in the process, receive incredible strength.
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When we fight fear we become afraid and small, quivering with each new threat of suffering and pain. When we become one with fear, we also become indestructible.
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When we don’t resist, we can’t be overpowered by the forces of life. It is only our resistance that can be overpowered.
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The experiencer only changes when there is complete acceptance of the experience. And that acceptance, is the beginning of our freedom.
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•Embrace your authentic ❣️YOU❣️• Hi my #selfloving #instagram #family #friends #loveyouall #positivecreation2share #instagood #photooftheday #bestoftheday #quoteoftheday #wordstoinspire #beauthentic #authentic #authenticity #innerself #discoveryourself #embracewhoyouare #youareenough #openupyourheart #soulsearching #beautifulfromtheinsideout #personaldevelopment #innergrowth #selfimprovement #trusttheprocess #neverstopexploring #mindsetshift #createxploretakeover #innervoice #loveyourself
i wish someone would have told me that the descent was part of the journey. not in a “4/5 women experience postpartum depression here’s a brochure you should go see a therapist” kind of way. but like - THE DESCENT IS PART OF THE RITE OF PASSAGE YOU MAY EXPERIENCE AS YOU BECOME A MOTHER. YOU WILL LOSE YOURSELF. GRIEVE YOURSELF. THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE FOREIGN TO YOU. YOU’LL BE FLAILING IN A RIVER THINKING YOU’RE DROWNING AND YOU’LL HAVE A HELPLESS CHILD ON YOU. a dependent, impressionable child. who you are supposed to be guiding the way for. while you are scrambling for shore, some illusory shore that you’re still not really sure of. it’ll be the hardest fucking thing in the world... but mama - oh mama! - this is INTEGRAL TO THE INITIATION. the shattering pain. the disillusion. the stripping you down to your knees. that raw broken hollow hopeless place - that’s where the transformation begins. the breaking apart is how the universe makes space for your expansion...
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i wish someone would have held me and said, ‘my child, you will ascend again.’ -
you will dance again.
you will sing again.
one day - you will breathe again. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
because now i stand at the steps of the cellar, looking up at the light again. naked and weary, hopeful and teary, opening my heart again. i think i’m ready to slowly but surely climb out to meet the world... and as i do, i leave behind the many skins that i have shed. the rage. the grief. the tender naive. the innocence. the yearning. the idealistic clinging. and as i ascend i slowly collect the gifts that are now mine to claim. a newfound preciousness. a slower embrace. more depth, understanding, a fuller space. a love so selfless, so surrendered to source... an even greater capacity to hold...
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the tides are turning, i can see the shore. i’m not quite there yet but i’m not flailing anymore. i can see the horizon, the horizon again. the winds are softer, the waves are calmer, i am floating, not fighting, along. and i await my eventual arrival with reverence and (dare i say) laughter! today feels hopeful - i can see the shore - it won’t be too much longer ✨
A picture of me pretending to be a badass and channeling my inner rocker
Photo: @terrycollins.nyc .
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#leatherjacket #letherandlace #toughchick #rockandroll #rockmusic #whysoserious #inspiration #badass #strong #alternative #grunge #imagine
#sometimestough #look #artist #actor #actorslife #character #toughlove #manhattan #rockchick #confidence #innerbikerchick #innerself #differentsides #innerstrength #readytokickass