Sometimes we are trying to make a decision or get a spiritual answer about something important and . . . nothing happens. We may begin to feel stuck, lose trust in ourselves and even feel isolated from our own intuitive wisdom. Don't feel alone as this is actually pretty common.

The first thing to look at when this happens is, am I running some judgement about the issue, the question, some other situation in my life that is happening at the same time? Self-judgement is a pretty pervasive energy. Once it starts, it seems to spread like a smoldering wild fire. I might be criticizing myself because I've gained five pounds during Covid-19 and then suddenly, I'm doubting the approach I've taken on a certain project at work. This can expand into a feeling that any choice I make won't be right.

It has to do with the way we feel about ourselves. If I feel like I'm wrong in some way, on an unconscious level I'm not going to like or trust myself enough to make a good decision. And I may not be able to hear or see the intuitive information coming from spirit anyway, because I'm too busy trying to put out the fire of self-judgement.

One of the problems with self-judgement is that we tend to wrestle with it. We might be punishing ourselves because we don't like this or that, but at the same time the wounded part of ourselves tries to answer it. We don't like all that pain we are heaping on ourselves and we want to feel better. So the internal argument begins. We wrestle with ourselves in the cycle of judgement and justification which tends to happen as that constant mental chatter. I want you to know there is an easier way out of this constant and troublesome cycle!

Compassion opens our hearts to receive. Why not decide to forgive what went wrong, befriend ourselves during a time of pain, and show ourselves the kindness and humanity we would offer a loved one? This one step begins to turn the cycle around and create an opening for growth and change. With a little compassion, the pain begins to soften and the need to defend ourselves dissipates too.

A second step in healing this kind of wound is to begin to appreciate ourselves. Even in the most troubling time, when it feels like the world is tumbling down, we can find one small aspect of ourselves to appreciate. Something we did, a characteristic that made us feel proud, an ability we feel confident to perform, the joy we brought someone else. Appreciation dissolves judgement! The more appreciation you can find for yourself, the better you will feel.

Your world will start looking a little better. Learning to like ourselves better is a wondrous piece of magic that brings aid into any situation. Life is tough enough without the struggle of the internal argument. With self-appreciation, we find more peace and contentment, feel more grounded and centered, and more ability to listen to our own internal wisdom and clarity.

You might start giving to yourself more. Maybe find the time for those activities that invite you to go inward and seek the solace and nurturing kindness you need. Things like your meditation, walking, bicycling, singing, gardening or painting. When we find time for these non-goal oriented activities, we momentarily turn are heads away from those "problems", we release the stress of the wrestling with ourselves and over and over again, and suddenly . . .

. . . the answers appear.

Blessings to each of you and your loved ones,

Sue