You have them. We all do. Your gifts, the reason that you exist on this earth. Your purpose, your meaning, whatever you want to call it.

These gifts don’t have to feel grandiose and world-shattering. They can be absolutely anything, but they are what you uniquely bring into this world. You are inherently suited to certain things – there are parts of your life that flow easily, where everything comes naturally to you. Sometimes we are quite disconnected from this part of ourselves and we have to do some work to come back to it, but it lives within all of us.

I have definitely had to do that work. When we lose our ability to trust ourselves, we also lose our trust in our place in the world. I didn’t feel like I fit in, anywhere, for a very long time – not realizing that it was because I couldn’t find comfortability in my own skin. If you don’t like yourself, how can you accept and embrace your own beautiful uniqueness? You can’t, not truly. When you are uncomfortable being yourself, you will not be able to open up to, embrace and begin to develop those special skills that exist in you.

I think the most important step that will get you closer to recognizing and celebrating what you are here to do, your dharma, is really diving in to cultivating your sense of self-love, self-worth, and self-trust. Embodying your gifts means first embodying … yourself. When you get truly grounded and centered, with a distinct sense of who you are, you are then secure enough to blossom into your future. This takes some introspection and also embodiment work. I’ve done a lot of experimenting with different methods, all across the board. Alternative healing modalities, writing, dancing, journaling, conversation, yoga, meditation, breath work – I suggest trying anything and everything you can, keeping an open mind, and discovering what helps you the most. It might surprise you. For example, I never in a million years wanted to try hypnotherapy. Then a friend of mine got certified, and guess what? I was hooked as soon as I started. Several months later, it’s still one of the most effective and helpful modalities that I use.

This work is important. Don’t discount it, push it aside, or give it last priority on your list. Step one of embracing yourself is remembering that you deserve to give your health and well-being a high level of importance when it comes to expending your time and energy. You’ll never find yourself if you’re always giving everything away to others. This makes you drained, bitter, resentful, and confused. I know. I’ve been there. I never loved myself enough to believe that I deserved care, nurturing, and compassion – from the person who can give it most effectively, me. But I do. And I need it desperately. You do too.

When you work from a place of strength, clarity, intuition and peace within, you can then start to truly expand outwards. We all need a strong foundation in order to have energy to give the world what we are here to offer. When we aren’t filling up our own source, we cannot effectively grow, evolve and transform into what we’re meant to be.

Start by developing this inner trust, this knowing that you have purpose and a place in this world. You matter. I promise you that you matter. Just by existing, you are important and you meant to be here. I’m sorry if no one ever made you feel that way, but now you have this beautiful opportunity to give yourself that love you’ve missed. And then, then you can begin to get curious and do some work to uncover exactly what lights you up, where you feel drawn, what you enjoy learning about – your purpose. It may take a while. Have patience with yourself and the process. Get excited! This unveiling can be a fun adventure, if you let it. It doesn’t always have to feel like work when we do the work.

Sending you love. You are here, and you matter.