Phoenix Rising

The phoenix is a mythical bird, often described as magnificent with vibrant plumage. It has an extraordinary lifespan, but when it nears the end of its life cycle, it constructs a nest, sets it on fire and succumbs to the flames. From the ashes of this destruction, a new phoenix arises reborn and ready to go.

The act of burning is a pivotal moment in the phoenix’s journey signifying a sacrifice and a letting go that is necessary before transformation. We also go through these cycles…Although, I’ve never set myself on fire – it often feels like I have gone down in flames! The flames represent the hardships, the trials, the trauma that we’ve gone through – the loss, failure and physical and/or emotional pain. Every time we overcome these struggles in our life, we emerge from the flames…better, stronger, smarter (hopefully!)

From surviving my own hardships, what I have learned is that first you just have to acknowledge what the hardship is…you can’t ignore it – you can’t stick your head in the sand…You’re a Phoenix, damn it – not an ostrich! By acknowledging and accepting what the situation is you can then move forward.

Sometimes, moving forward means taking a step back and taking a breather. Now is a good time to surrender and let go (like the phoenix in the flames) – let go of the things that no longer serve you. This could be friends or family members – relationships, destructive behaviors or thoughts and patterns that don’t serve you and just hold you back. Let that shit go!

You have the ability to rebuild and redefine yourself anytime you want. I have often said (more times than I have wanted to say) that I am never afraid of falling apart – because every time I have to put myself back together, I can rearrange the pieces any way I want. I can leave some pieces behind if necessary – I get to choose how to put everything back together and what I get to look like afterwards.

When you go through personal struggles and hardships, just making it through makes you stronger, wiser and more empowered…whether you wanted those things or not…it’s just a matter of the process. I never wanted to be this strong, but here I am, killing it! 😀

The phoenix rising from its own ashes is a powerful metaphor for surviving our personal struggles and thriving in the midst of it. Acknowledge the flames burning inside you and surrender to them. Then, embrace the power of those flames and use it to transform yourself into the beautiful, powerful creature that you are.

Now, spread those wings and fly, baby…SOAR

#phoenixrising#soar#rebuild#gohappyyourself