I was talking to this person (more like I was being talked at by this person) the other day, and she was telling me all sorts of stuff about herself, her accomplishments, and her belongings. I eventually realized that she was essentially (and probably unconsciously) trying to convince me of how important she is. So naturally I got all judge-y and felt sorry for her for feeling like she had to put on a show. This condescending positioning of mine lasted all of about ten seconds until, of course, it turned in on itself and it dawned on me why this performance of hers looked so familiar. It’s because I do the same act — different words, different stories, different actions, but the same striving to convince others and myself that I matter, that I am important, that I have value, that I am lovable and worthy of their attention and favor.
“In most of our human relationships we spend much of our time reassuring each other that our costumes of identity are on straight.” — Ram Dass
Why do we do this? We do this because we forgot. And in our forgetting we started to believe those messages out there, which we encounter every day, telling us that we are not enough, we’re not doing enough, not working hard enough, not earning enough, not attractive enough, not funny enough, not strong enough, not this enough, not that enough…
We forgot. BUT we were born knowing, and now we can choose to remember that we are, always have been, and always will be perfectly enough.
What would the world look like if we went through our day remembering that we are inherently valuable? That nothing we have, or do, or achieve can alter or even touch our divine importance? That our lovability is impenetrable and always, always at a maximum high? How would we talk to ourselves? How would we treat each other? How would we get out of our own way, stop wasting our own time and energy and be of service? How would we move through our day without shame, fear, pride, feelings of superiority nor inferiority?
Honesty. Total, complete, open-hearted honesty. We begin by being honest and transparent first with ourselves. Let the costumes of identity fall away. You have nothing to prove; your existence is all the proof that’s needed. You have nothing to earn; what you’re seeking is un-earnable and it’s already yours.
I find an invitation to remember this most important message in every single cycle of breath. There is a natural pause which occurs after every exhale, just before the next inhale. Each new breath, each new moment of inspiration is born of this moment of stillness. This space of remembering is accessible to every one of us, in every breath. You can hover in these moments of silence and rest there knowing you are enough and that there is, always has been, and always will be enough success, room, attention, love, and whatever else we might be seeking for each and every one of us.
Krystal Barschig 