What if things aren’t falling apart but falling into place?
As I sit down to reflect on my journey, I can't help but think about the word "shedding" and how relevant it feels in my life at this moment. I have been shedding things I no longer need and saying goodbye to people who no longer serve me. I am letting go of old habits, behaviors, and mental and emotional baggage that have built up over the years. I am shedding my old self, the one that was stuck in fear and doubt, the one who tried too hard to please others. It feels liberating to shed all of this weight from my shoulders and finally feel like myself again.
Recently, I went on a hike. On the trail, I came across an old snake skin. As I bent down to take a closer look, I noticed it was withered, twisted, and weathered—it looked like it had been through some tough times. But it also reminded me of the snake's journey of shedding its old skin to continue growing and thriving. This process may be uncomfortable for them at first, but it's necessary for their survival.
The same holds true for us as human beings. As we grow, we outgrow people, places, and things. We grow and expand in order to survive and thrive. It's a process that can be painful, but it's also necessary for our own growth and evolution.
I've come to realize that shedding our old selves can be difficult to imagine. It's hard to fathom someone being so different from who they once were. But we have all gone through this process in one way or another. We've all shed our old selves to become who we are today. It can be painful, but it's also necessary if we're going to grow into who we were meant to be.
To me, shedding has always been associated with something creepy and crawly, but I've chosen to redefine what shedding looks and feels like for me moving forward with this newfound awareness and perspective.
Baking cookies brings me joy, and as I was thinking about this process, I realized that shedding can also mean crumbling. It can be seen as falling apart and picking up the pieces— the sweet nibbles and bits.
The cookie crumbs, regardless of how they fall apart, become the perfect, delicious treat that they are meant to be. The same is true for us on our journey. We navigate life the best we can with what we know, embrace the growing and crumbling process with an open heart and mind, and rebuild and reinvent ourselves into something new and better than before.
I'm grateful for crumbling (or shedding). It reminds me of what I've had to leave behind to become this new version of myself. And even though it's painful and sad, it's also necessary to grow and evolve. Growth isn't always easy or fun, but it is always worth it.
So, while some days may feel like you are crumbling or falling apart into pieces, remember that this is part of the process. Your soul knows that something has changed within you, and it's doing its best to support you through this transition of rebirth. Embrace the power of shedding and let go of what no longer serves you to make space for growth and transformation.
Points to Ponder:
How have you personally experienced the process of shedding old habits, behaviors, and patterns in your own life?
In what ways have you found to make the process of shedding and growth more manageable and less overwhelming?
How do you remind yourself that growth, even though it may be painful and difficult, is ultimately necessary for the evolution of self?