Part One: The Problem with Trying to Change
Healing my spirit, increasing inner power, becoming my biggest self—these can be terribly challenging.
I suspect everyone becomes discouraged about inner growth, now and then, feeling like it’s just too much to take on. It is not unusual to think that life’s hard enough as is without also trying to grow spiritually and emotionally.
Personal transformation can be daunting. Faced with all the effort that might be required, a person might end up just watching Netflix instead.
While watching Netflix, scrolling through social media, or otherwise avoiding inner change, some folks will find themselves having thoughts like I really want to make some changes. I want more confidence. I want more inner strength to stand up for myself. I want the courage to risk going after the life I dream of. I want the courage to get a different job. I want to be my most authentic self. But changing the way I am is just too much work. It is too overwhelming to even try right now.
Part Two: There Are Easier Ways to Become the Person You Want to Be
Easy and fun routes to metamorphosis exist. I find it important to use any and all transformative possibilities. While I don’t always welcome the difficult ones, I honor their necessity and move toward them, if not sooner, then later. However, were I open only to them, I’d make life much more difficult for myself. I’d also lose many opportunities for transformation.
Though I work hard to be my biggest, most authentic self, I also embrace easy, fun ways to transform:
Joy is transformative.
Laughter is transformative.
Beauty is transformative.
Pleasure is transformative.
Fun is transformative.
Creating inner change can’t always be easy and pleasant. But it doesn’t always have to be hard and unpleasant:
Tell jokes. Eat a yummy meal. Play a board game with your family or friends. Dress up and take joy in your beauty. Enjoy a trip to a museum, even if you have to go by yourself. Make love, whether with a partner or by yourself. These sorts of activities open your spirit to a Goddess-sent flow of healing and empowerment, without you even having to think about that opening occurring.
The Old Gods are Pagan—They love fun, joy, laughter, beauty, pleasure. Unlike a later, dour deity, They do not insist that everything must be accomplished through constant, endless grueling work. Instead, They created a world filled with the potential for happy moments. And these lovely moments are utterly transformative. They did this out of love for us. We are Their beloved children.
So mote it be!
Dear reader, if you like this post, you might enjoy my book, Baba Yaga’s Apprentice, available only from the author. It is an easy, fun read that readers agree is remarkably transformative. Reader reviews are in the comments below the description of the book: https://stardrenched.com/2017/02/28/baba-yagas-apprentice/