Embracing Transformation: Overcoming Fear and Outdated Beliefs

Here I am at Olympic National Park, embodying my powerful wizard aspect I saw during one of my hypnosis sessions.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a transformative retreat with a group of members from a community that I have been a part of for nearly two years. This experience turned out to be an incredible journey of joy and personal expansion, all packed into just a few days, and it’s truly challenging to summarize the depth of the transformation in words. The purpose of this post is to express the profound influence that being part of a community can have on an individual’s growth and well-being.

The retreat was, without a doubt, a magical experience. Humans need community and boy did I learn that through this experience! When we isolate ourselves, guard our feelings, or overly protect our authentic selves, we hinder not only our own progress but also the collective advancement of humanity. We can't stay small and grow at the same time. Before the retreat part of the trip, I participated in a hypnosis workshop alongside the same community members. This workshop was significant for me, as it pushed me to confront and navigate through feelings of fear and apprehension due to the unknown experiences that lay ahead. It was as if my body had an innate awareness that a significant up-leveling was required; it reacted with a sense of urgency, saying, “Oh, wait! I need to release some outdated beliefs about myself!” It’s fascinating how our bodies can communicate such profound truths, even when our minds may struggle to keep up. Historically, my body has often felt quite uncomfortable with actions that promote personal expansion and transformation. While transformation doesn’t necessarily have to be a painful process, it often involves movement and challenges that may not feel instinctively natural to us. This discomfort is simply a sign that we are reorienting ourselves and gaining new perspectives.

During this retreat and workshop experience, I found myself needing to dismantle deeply ingrained beliefs that I was not good enough, that I was unprepared for the journey ahead, or that I somehow didn’t belong in the space I was occupying. It was essential for me to extend grace to myself, allowing all those physical sensations and emotional responses to be present so that I could effectively release them. I have come to recognize that my body is incredibly intelligent; it knows exactly what it needs to do to facilitate healing and growth. For instance, when I start to notice physical symptoms, such as sweaty palms or a racing heart, my initial reaction might be to spiral into thoughts like, “Oh no, why am I feeling this way? I must be scared. Is there a real threat?” However, instead of following that anxious line of thinking, I have learned to simply acknowledge that my body is responding to something significant. I can give myself grace by recognizing these sensations and thanking my body for its messages, all while reminding myself that I am, in fact, safe. In addition to this self-reflection, sharing my feelings with others in the community proved to be an incredibly effective strategy for moving through these challenging experiences. Engaging in open dialogue allowed me to express my fears and uncertainties, which in turn fostered a deeper connection with my peers. We are not alone in our journeys. This communal sharing not only helped me process my emotions but also strengthened the bonds within our community, creating a supportive environment where vulnerability was met with compassion and understanding.

As I reflect on this retreat and the hypnosis workshop leading up to it, I am filled with gratitude for the growth I experienced and the invaluable lessons learned about the power of community and reciprocity, and also the (always accessible) soft and wise power within myself.

Valuable, personal takeaways from my experience:

• Incredible discoveries about self, and new awarenesses. Huge perspective shift and zooming out.

• Hypnosis method and community are resources always at my fingertips. I am safe to be held and seen as my authentic self.

• I am able to safely hold both my power and my softness simultaneously. Power and softness are not mutually exclusive.

  
  

  Channeled messages:

• Lean in. Take action. Initial excitement is real. Questioning your sacral response only disrupts and slows growth.

• Your peace is your power. Your knowing is your gift.

• Let your light be the beacon to bring in more light.