Hi,
This is Theresa Conte and thanks so much for joining me for today's podcast about letting our light shine as we transform our challenges into healing,
Power,
And growth.
But first,
A quote from Cicely Tyson.
She said,
Challenges make you discover things about yourself you never really knew.
We are beacons of light.
We can use every challenge we've experienced from childhood on as avenues for us to learn from,
Heal,
Grow,
And share our light with others.
For instance,
A couple of challenges I grew up with included feelings of unworthiness as I was frequently compared with my brother who was the star of the family.
And I often felt judged as I was considered the black sheep because I had my own way of doing things and my own set of values which differed greatly from that of my family.
These experiences have helped me relate to and support others who had the same or similar challenges and gave me a strong sense of meaning and purpose.
Your challenges may be very different from mine,
But no matter what they are,
You can use them to heal,
Grow,
Prosper,
And help others along the way.
People who have experienced adversity have often gone on to become great healers,
Therapists,
Ministers,
Advocates,
Mentors,
Teachers,
And leaders.
Examples like Nelson Mandela served as a powerful role model as he brought forgiveness into his leadership as president of South Africa rather than seeking revenge on his oppressors.
And of course,
Viktor Frankl,
Who found purpose in serving others while imprisoned in a concentration camp during World War II,
Which not only helped his fellow prisoners,
But helped him survive as well.
Their examples are powerful and illustrate that while our experiences may not be as arduous as theirs,
We too can transform our challenges into a higher calling.
And as we do so,
We not only lift others up,
We are lifted up as well.
As we begin to celebrate our successes,
Develop a sense of purpose,
And express our unique gifts,
Talents,
And abilities,
We grow an inner sense of worthiness,
Resilience,
And empowerment that nurtures us,
Helps us to thrive,
And live with greater joy and ease.
What might be a challenge in your life that you can use for the greater good?
Perhaps you wanted to be heard but didn't feel listened to,
And now feel called to listen deeply to others,
Whether personally or professionally.
Or maybe you love making people laugh,
But they didn't get your jokes,
And you now feel called to inspire others to express their creativity through humor.
Or maybe you liked writing science fiction or adventure stories,
But people didn't recognize your talent,
And you now feel called to encourage other writers to express their ideas and unique talents.
Or perhaps you've gone on to write bestsellers.
What is there for you to learn from your challenges?
What are they calling you to do?
How have they provided you with opportunities to discover things about yourself you never really knew?
These are great questions to journal on because inside of you there is a light brightly burning and waiting to be shared with the world.
Wishing you in this wonderful day.
