ART: ESTHER SHOOTS
“…when you do not seek or need external approval, you are at your most powerful. Nobody can disempower you emotionally or psychologically.
“This spiritual security gave me a liberated feeling that was practically euphoric. It made me appreciate why the famous line ‘to thine own self be true’ in Shakespeare’s Hamlet is considered a spiritual commandment.
“You cannot live prolonged periods of time within the polarity of being true to yourself and needing the approval of others. At some point you will realize that you are doing harm to yourself by being what you think you should be so that someone approves of you.
“In the language of a Contract, compromising who you are to gain the approval of another is a very precise example of giving away a piece of your spirit. Eventually you give away more and more of yourself until you have no strength or sense of self left.
“I understood then that manipulation is the art of making another person’s spirit dance for personal amusement, and only through honoring oneself do we become strong enough to refuse to dance.”
~Caroline Myss Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential
This is so potent and I am taking it on as a daily mantra to the Self. Her book Anatomy of the Spirit is also a must read! Thank you.
Wow I really needed to read these words. I do often suffer from searching for validation and approval from others. But the question becomes how to let it go?
Ahh… This is so wonderful.
My biggest spiritual obstacle put into beautiful words. My goal, is not to ask for advice from others, if I am unsure I plan on meditating first to look within to seek the answer to my question. I may have to meditate several times before I receive it but I won’t make ask for any advice until I consult with myself first.