As I reflected on what to write for this blog post that has been moved from the to-do list of one week to the next and the next and the next ;), my eye landed on the Chesapeake Bay calendar over my desk.  It has a gorgeous sunset sky over the bay and a sculpture spelling LOVE on the beach.  Of course.  It was just Valentine’s Day…

It can be a poignant time, celebrating love.  Valentine’s Day is generally associated with romantic love, but the true nature of love and appreciation is bigger than that sunset sky.  We parse love out into various forms – parental, friendship, altruistic – but at its core is the power and energy of life reaching out, expanding and enfolding us all in great loving arms.

So why do I find it so challenging to open my own heart wide to give and receive love?  This was one of my insights from the darker time and inward reflection of Solstice and December.  This is my current place of learning to be willing to let down my guard, and let love in and out.

I’ve found that my guardedness can take many forms –

• Criticism: They or I am not doing it right
• Judgment: They are, or I am bad for not doing it the “right way”
• Fear of speaking up and showing who I am and what I am feeling: What will they think of me? (See the first two!)

Does any of this sound familiar?

My recent practice in shifting my old patterns has been to both feel my feelings, and share them…

• To allow and acknowledge my anger and petty irritations, and look at why I get triggered
• To allow silly expression of joy and appreciation, and here’s the tougher part – to let these be seen
• Bit by bit to honor my desires and take action to make requests, so that another can see what my true preferences are and what helps me feel safe or cared for
• To speak up when something comes to mind, rather than withhold my thoughts and perspective out of fear of rejection.

What does LOVE on the beach say to you?  How much are you challenged to let your emotions flow, to share the unique gift you are in the world?

If you want to change long-standing patterns that are keeping your real self from showing up authentically, click here to email me to set up an appointment for a complimentary Soul Gardening™ Exploration conversation, and we can see if this work would make sense for you.

May we all live and love out loud!