Big Idea #1: Experiencing and Dealing With Depression

Experiencing depression can be very isolating, and might feel like an extremely difficult thing to deal with on your own. Having a place to feel safe expressing this experience can be freeing, like lifting a weight off your shoulders.

Many times, people who feel depressed feel like they need to present a positive image of themselves to the world. Maybe that means being extroverted, bubbly and happy to others, in order to hide the depression that’s going on deep inside. But accepting yourself completely as you are, whether that’s happy in the moment, feeling confused, depressed, loving or any combination of these, is the first step towards living an authentic and fulfilled life.

A safe space and community of support is a huge help when it comes to dealing with depression. Because the ability to be yourself in front of others without a filter, without a screen up, means that you can feel accepted and ultimately accept yourself.

Remember the difference between saying “I am experiencing depression” vs. “I am depressed”. The first phrase simply indicates that you are experiencing a certain state, but you aren’t that state. Saying “I am depressed” is like saying “I am a headache”. Depression is a state that’s experienced, not an identity.

Big Idea #2: Making Your Big Dream a Reality

Sometimes there’s something we wanna do that’s a HUGE commitment, that feels crazy and totally out of our comfort zone! Whether that’s a 6-month meditation retreat in a foreign country, or completely shifting our life plan in some other way, having these big dreams is what makes life exciting and helps us really step into our purpose.

And if the specific scenario that you desire for yourself isn’t exactly possible in the way you imagine at the moment, it’s time to unleash your creativity. How can you creatively create a situation that can fulfill your needs while you work towards your big dream? What can you do in the meantime that will take you in the direction you want to go?

Focus on why you really want to do this thing, and what results you want to achieve. Getting to know yourself and what you want to feel and achieve will help you take the steps towards your big dream and turn it into a reality. Don’t be afraid to look at other options and find support from others in moving towards your goal.

Big Idea #3: Authentically Sharing Who We Really Are

Being fully honest, real, vulnerable, and authentic takes courage. It feels uncomfortable and often even scary to put yourself out there as you really are, with defenses down.

We might even try to rationalize the avoidance of sharing ourselves authentically. We try to find excuses why we shouldn’t be fully open and honest, why we should present a different view of ourselves to the world. Sometimes we think “if I have something authentic to say, I might hurt people”, so we want to put on a cover and avoid true authenticity to avoid hurting someone else.

Be yourself. Own your authenticity and live in integrity, and you will find a clear path towards fulfilling your purpose. When you give yourself permission to be human, you rise above the shame that comes up from feeling vulnerable and imperfect. It’s so much easier to live life fully, moving forward into uncertainty, when you feel perfectly fine about being yourself.

We don’t need self-improvement. Instead, what we’re craving is self-acceptance. There was no advice given on today’s call! There is nothing that needs to be fixed. The magic comes simply through expressing ourselves authentically, being seen, and becoming okay with who we really are! Once we fully accept ourselves, then we can focus on love, service, connection and creating our ideal lives.

HW + Action Steps!

As always, we’d love for you to share your personal favorite takeaways in the private Facebook group.