TURN IT UP! Your inner volume is everything. Turn. it. up. Today. Now. Go.

Image: "Inner Light" by Melina Del Mar

I was having one of many bad days a few months back...A friend of mine who has impeccable timing, and whom I honestly believe the Universe has presented as one of my life-angels, sent me a picture of this quote that is framed on her bed. It was given to her by her self-proclaimed "soul-mate" who happens to be her brother:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."  

- Marianne Williamson, quoted from her book: "A return to love:Reflections on a course in Miracles."

Now I have to admit, I am not a religious person. I think we all can believe whatever force it is that drives us to be good. Mine is more abstract...the self's higher consciousness, the universe and whatever/whoever's beautiful powers created all of this. I trust in that, even without knowing it's name, or which exact story it falls under.

The words "Who are you NOT TO BE?" reframe the very idea of what I try to convey to myself, my children and those I love. I've fallen down, I've left trails of mistakes and damage all over the place in all kinds of forms. I don't think I'm special or unique in that. I also don't believe I'm unique in having that quiet knowledge that gets muted. I, like you, and all of us, have that innate voice that has whispered the words: "You CAN DO IT."

Life and our experiences with all the negative forces of people, energy, or fear have forced (yes, FORCED) the dial on that voice from a childlike cry of exclamation and self-belief to something else.

 Year by year, the taunting and the tumult of life's ugly moments take it from a "10" or in Spinal Tap's idea, "11" in volume and slowly push it counter-clockwise until it's barely audible, or on mute. We accept this!!! We believe it!? As loss and life happen and voices outside ourselves tell us we can't. Shockingly, WE even  further manifest it! Our own energy being the strongest and most powerful can move the dial back. WHY THE F*&% would we not do that?!


I, this Monday, today....am taking my index finger and thumb respectively to the dial of my inner voice that speaks the truth, and in honest self-belief I am spinning that dial up. UP UP. Maybe I won't hit a "10" today? Sure.

I'll take it from a "2" to a "4"....just loud enough to drown out the anger, the hate, the noise and static of all the people and alternate voices that mean so much less than my own.

Re-read the quote above. Yell it out. Whisper...However, while you do it look inside yourself. RIGHT NOW. Adjust your volume, hear it. Say it. Live it and Believe in YOU.

Like anything, with practice and time, we will get to a joyful humming inside ourselves that is pure, and full of light and sound that encourages us and beams out to help others turn up their volume too.

Begin today. Wherever you are. At your desk, on the toilet, from a train, at home with screaming kids....

 I, with all my heart give YOU permission to do so. DO IT. Let's start a revolution of loving ourselves, and turning it UP. Pass it forward. We owe each other everything, and we owe ourselves the world.

TURN IT UP.