It was a powerful moment when my husband’s music world and mine collided. That’s what happened the other night when Lee launched a new CD with our friends Brian Owens and the Deacons of Soul. They performed their new music in a Soulful Space concert in the Gothic sanctuary of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. When they sang about how we are the light of the world, things became profound.
They included refrains from the beloved song, often taught to our children. You know it – “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine”. (*Hear a bit below)
This song makes a significant point. The Afro-American spiritual is likely based on the New Testament verses that essentially say: Let the light of your gifts be seen by everyone in your life, don’t keep them under a basket. (Luke 11:33, Matthew 5:15, Mark 4:21)
This was also the experience in my Manifestation Course last week. After reviewing the self-limiting thoughts that keep us from letting our light shine, we released that negativity, and focused on our gifts. Right away it became easier to imagine creating lives of joy, abundance and purpose, for when your life is organized around your innate strengths, anything you want is possible.
Are you letting your gifts be the focal point of your life? Are you letting your light truly shine? Here are some signs that indicate you are:
YOUR VALUES ANCHOR YOUR CHOICES
When your values underpin what you choose to do and who you choose to be with, you’re more able to fully be who you are. The congruence gives you the confidence to step into your full power.
When you are in situations that are not reflective of what you believe, the compromises that occur between what you think and what you do will eventually erode your confidence and your ability to be honest with yourself. It dims your light.
This also goes for who you pick to have as friends, mates, lovers and colleagues. When those choices are not consistent with your values, it is just a matter of time before conflicts undermine your joy. Even if you stay quiet and keep your thoughts to yourself, it will eventually surface in physical, stress related symptoms.
When your choices reflect your beliefs, you can fully be yourself without holding back.
YOU SPEAK YOUR TRUTH
When you’re in situations that are consistent with who you are, you can speak your truth and be heard. It’s part of how you shine, there is no holding you back. It natural, normal and expected. You may even be known for the truths you hold dear. There is no fear muzzling your expression.
The contrast is painful. When you are unable to speak your truth for fear of reprisal, at work, home, or in relationships, there is an internal and external tension that is palpable. Again, it is impossible to be fully real or true to yourself in situations like this.
Without fear of consequences for what you think or believe, you can fully express yourself.
YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT IN YOUR WORLD
We all have unique gifts, the diversity and growth we experience as we claim and use them is what makes our world expand. We are the leading edge of life.
When we settle for whatever comes along, without clear intention to utilize our gifts it’s like being on a gerbil wheel, moving mindlessly without meaning. The lack of personal investment in doing something that speaks to your soul can create boredom and restlessness, eventually leading to self-destructive behavior, depression or a life of limitations. It’s living with a dim light.
When you’re using your gifts, you’re constantly challenged. You’re aware of your growth that generates ever increasing self-confidence and pleasure. It’s the foundation for living a life that feels rich and abundant. No matter what you are doing, you’ll make an impact and experience the zingy feeling of having purpose.
When you’re living with purpose, you impact and expand the world around you – we need you.
WHEN THINGS ARE NOT CONGRUENT, YOU MAKE CHANGES
Since life is a constant ebb and flow of change, there may be times when things don’t line up like they once did and adjustment is required. When that happens, you make changes.
How you ever noticed the once fabulous relationship, work situation or lifestyle become uncomfortable due to lack of synchronicity between what you want and the direction it’s moving? Did you fight the change to keep everything the same, get upset and become embroiled in the conflict? That’s can be a sad and losing battle.
Being able to flow with change, letting your gifts lead you to the next opportunity where they can be appreciated keeps our experiences fresh, congruent and relevant. Noticing the natural flow of your life and being able to adapt to change as needed allows your light to keep shining brightly.
Changing along with the flow of life keeps your light shining rather than growing dim.
What is your life calling for right now? How can your gifts be better utilized? Are you hearing your own internal call to use your gifts for the greater good of yourself and other’s? These are the questions to ask yourself. No matter where you are, as soon as you respond to the invitation to check in with your soul’s knowledge of who you can be when you step into your full power, you will be shining your light more fully.
If you’d like to know more about how to do this for yourself, my Transformational Life Coaching and Coaching can provide the support you need. See my website www.spectrumtransformation.com for more information and use the Free Consultation button to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you.
· Brian Owens and the Deacons of Soul, with Lee Carroll
