​​When you walk your own path, 
in your own way, 
without regard for what society thinks, 
but only following the nudges of the Universe, 
leading you ever further on 
a tantalizing path of self-discovery…
you arrive as soon as you begin.
You hurry slowly.
You notice everything.
You experience it all.
This is all we’re here for. 
There’s nowhere else we need to go.
You relax and breathe and look around you. 
You have arrived.
What about your goals, your lists, your dreams? 
Have those if you want.
But achievements checked off will never mean as much as the true experience of being here Now, 
and enjoying what is.

​Be in your life, because it is your life.
Do what you do,
because you have decided you must.
Not because society says you must.
Because you demand it of you.
You can’t get here with a map
that’s not your own.
You can only find what you seek—connection, expansion, joy—with your own map.
Your map may lead to achievements, experiences, newness, bucket lists,
globetrotting at first.
But when you get to a certain place of understanding, you’ll find the map has changed.
It takes you only to this moment,
fully experienced.
It takes you only to this next moment,
fully experienced.
Fully present, as your life’s path.

​​When you become self-determined 
you move toward self-actualization.
Meaning, you do not accept the role of victim, 
even if you are a victim.
You notice this as an experience. 
You understand that the pain
and suffering you feel is no different; 
no bigger, no stronger, no worse, 
no more profound; than the pain and suffering 
felt by some being, anyone, at any time.
Others are in the abyss right now.
Others are feeling pain right now.
Others are recovering, working through, healing right now.
Others are walking away from abusers, 
from pain, from darkness right now.

​​Don’t be lofty.
Don’t be righteous.
You have been on both sides 
of the coin in many lifetimes.
Know this clearly.
It is not yours to forgive; this is not your role.
Who is in charge of another soul, 
for walking on their soul path?
It is only yours to feel compassion 
for both the Self and the other
who are part of the One.

​This pain you feel, you as One, 
is the pain of all souls.
Until all are lifted, until all feel no pain;
you, and all the others—who are also you--
will feel.
What affects the smallest of us, affects all of us.
This is what Oneness means: 
there is no separation, not from
you and God/One/Divine/All.
And not from you and everyone else.
In order to transcend your pain, 
you must own your victimhood.
Speak out, claim it. Name it as it is.
And then, in order to transmute 
your pain into something new, 
hold compassion.

​The soul leads you on the journey 
of remembering your true Self.
All else falls by the wayside, 
as you journey deeper and deeper,
higher and higher, into this understanding.
You are here to learn how to live 
as soul in human container, 
in the highest, most experiential, 
most present way you can.
Let all else drop away.
Live from your soul.
You have millions of years to learn these lessons.
We say, enjoy it all.
Enjoy your body, in whatever shape it is.
Enjoy your personality, with all its flaws.
Enjoy the very struggles themselves,
as they open you.