Are You Ready to Thrive?

"Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant." ~Maya Angelou

    The season is on the verge of a change. Within, I can feel the stir of anticipation and am bracing myself for good things to happen like new opportunities, connections, and spiritual growth.

I would venture to say this is the first time I've anticipated a seasonal change in Arizona. Sure the weather is hot and every day is sunny . . . but this time, there is something new on the horizon - something special.

I wasn't always this hopeful or excited. In fact, the last several years have been laced with different struggles that have kept me in the mode of survival only. However, the time for struggling to survive is at an end a new season is upon us.

This transition isn't easy.

Struggling to survive had become my identity. It meant that I was in control of the outcomes. For instance, to survive meant I would never be homeless again. It meant that I would fight to keep what I had (even if the value was less than deserved). To survive meant I didn't need to focus on meaningful connections with anyone because I didn't have time to feel; to feel opened the door to vulnerability. Ultimately, surviving meant I didn't have to consider whether or not I was deserving of abundance, peace, and joy.

I am not gonna lie. Surviving works like magic because we learn how to be resilient, resourceful, and are defined by the struggle. The return for learning how to survive is empowering and we can feel invincible at times, however, the struggle is not always a roaring lion . . . sometimes, the victory lies in complete acceptance; these two conditions cannot co-exist.

For survivors, how do we know when it's time to make the transition from surviving to thriving? How do we know it's time to elevate?

Let's clarify what survival looks like:

• Coping with adversity by using grit to get through struggle. 
• Feeling like the rug can be pulled out from under you at any moment 
• Attempting to control outcomes to prevent loss

The premise of surviving is based on the idea of lack and loss. There is no room for love, thanksgiving, or the knowledge that we are enough and are deserving. Although surviving has its merit, it's not beneficial in the long run. 

When is it time to transition from surviving to thriving? When we've maintained our shit for quite some time. Often, when in the fight, flight or freeze state, we can fail to observe how well we've established consistency. 

When it's time to thrive, this is how we can initiate elevation in our perspective:

• Know that we deserve goodness. This is hard to believe in a society that rewards behavior, but the truth is - we deserve every good thing 
• Being thankful for what is and what is to come
• Release judgment and the need to be perfect
• Learn to relax and let go of ANYTHING that attempts to steal the peace

To thrive is to create a life free of survival tactics. It does not mean we are free of struggle, but it's knowing that we are blessed beyond measure and good things always happen because we are loved. 

This is all for now. I would love to hear from you.

TTYL

Sisu