Finding Your True Essence

I am brave.
I am free.
I am radiant.

This picture is actually a still shot from a home video of me at about 3.5 years old.
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My family had gone on our first trip to Disney World, and in the video I’m doing one of my absolute favorite things in the world at that time: twirling.
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I end up twirling for so long and with such joy/enthusiasm that I lose both of my shoes…and STILL, I keep twirling.
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I chose to use this photo as part of a powerful visualization exercise I participated in this week with fellow coaches from around the world. The exercise was about empathy (which we often have for others but less so for ourselves) and unconditional love. It actually brought me to tears, which I wasn’t expecting.
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As a high-achiever I can be extremely hard on myself, so it was very touching to recognize these same qualities in the grown-up version of me and to reconnect with my true essence, my exuberant inner child.
Weaving bravery, freedom and radiance into my current self is just one step in my journey to make a difference in the world. And since I know you have similar BIG goals, I invite you to give it a try, too.
Find a childhood image of yourself. Then look at the photo from an outsider's perspective, and with empathy and love.

• Do you see the beautiful, innocent soul within?
• What positive qualities does he or she possess?

Then take a long look at yourself in a mirror, and look for those same qualities in your current self.

• How (even if you have to dig deep to find them) are they still present in the adult you have become?
• How can infusing more of these qualities into your current self benefit/improve your current life?

It's almost the end of October, which means that I'll be wrapping up my own journey through the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge (but you can still play it any time of the year on your own).

Next week I'll be sharing my thoughts on what I learned, what I can do better next time, and what surprised me as a result of putting gratitude front and center in my life for a month!
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Keep sharing joy,
Ashley