Self-Understanding Part 7
September 28, 2025
Self-Understanding Part 7
We all have wounds from childhood. This is normal and, for some, the wounds are deep. As innocent young children, we did not arrive here knowing the rules of our family, the neighborhood, school, or community. As very small and defenseless children, we did not know what to do when the voices told us that we were not “OK" the way we were and that we had to conform to expectations that ran counter to our natural self. We were not born knowing how to handle rejection and conflict with parents, siblings, or friends. We simply did what came naturally to us. Our unashamed soul had to learn to negotiate the world that inflicted shame. The overpowering pain of shame and rejection is why our soul child allowed our ego to cover it, protect it, and to strategize a way forward. The ego gave of the semblance feeling OK once again.
This strategy was our ego, and it serves us well. But many of us are tired of hiding behind our ego that has to fight, defend against, and present to the world the image that works. We are tired of the traps it puts us in such as perfectionism, service, over-efficiency, over-emphasis on our uniqueness, detachment and withdrawal, security, over-planning, and preoccupation with the future, administering our own type of justice, and over-conforming and complacency.
Fortunately, many of us are returning to the way we came into the world ... full of self-acceptance and delight with our being. We learn it is time to free ourselves from the traps and shame and return to our bliss. It’s time to express fully the amazing one-of-a-kind person we are!
Yes, what if we simply relaxed into our own being and let our soul take over? The wounds from the past can heal now because our ego no longer rules, but serves our souls. Stories emerge from our past that remind us of awesome, life-giving experiences, and the relationships that have loved us into being. All comes together. We see the divine story instead of the broken dreams of our ego's story.
Spiritual practice: Let yourself imagine a life without the fear of shame. How would your life be without shame?
Self-inquiry: Can I hear my soul child calling?
Prayer: Dear God, As I reach back and see that little child, my heart is moved with compassion. I take him into my arms to soothe him, yet his voice ministers to me. I do not know why we had to leave our soul child underneath all that covering, I only know that when I lift the covers to let him sing and dance again, I am full of life and reconnected to you, Oh God. For this I am so thankful. Amen.
