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| Your Flaws Can Serve a Higher Purpose • Soul Inspirations 397 • March 13, 2023 |
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Hi Everyone and welcome to my Soul Inspirations newsletter: "Your Flaws Can Serve a Higher Purpose" Whenever my soul needs a recharge, I often turn to one of my favorite books— A Daily Dose of Sanity by Alan Cohen https://www.alancohen.com/ I just randomly flip through the pages and see where the Universe guides me to land. Today, I landed on a page where Alan tells a story about an elderly woman who carries two large pots to a stream every day to fetch water for her household. The pots hang at both ends of a stick that this woman carries on her shoulders. One pot is in perfect shape, while the other one has a crack in it. Day in and day out, this woman takes the long walk from the stream to her house. But each time, the cracked pot always arrives half-full. While the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, the cracked pot was very ashamed of its imperfection and miserable that it could only perform half of what it was created to do. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, this marred pot spoke to the woman one day by the stream. “I’m embarrassed because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.” The old woman smiled and said, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds along your side of the path. And every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be beauty to grace my house!” |
| JOHN'S MESSAGE |
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What a great story, right? It reminds us of how high our expectations are sometimes, and how often we put ourselves down for not being perfect. This week, I’d like you to be aware of any time you start to criticize yourself. Take a moment instead to pause and think about how these traits that you consider flaws may serve a higher purpose. Maybe you feel like you’re too quiet and don’t express yourself enough, yet others could perceive this as being a good listener. Or maybe you feel like you talk too much and ask too many questions, and yet this trait could help someone who is shy to open up more. I’ve learned early on to replace the word perfectionism in my life with this phrase: permission to be human. As Alan reminds us, “Do not be hasty to judge yourself for your foibles. What you think may be the worst thing about you might be the best.” Here’s a powerful affirmation Alan includes in his book that you can practice this week: “I accept, honor and celebrate all parts of myself. Even my imperfections bring gifts.” If you know someone who may like to get this message, feel free to share this Soul Inspirations or recommend they join my newsletter list. Equally, I'd love to hear your personal stories, so do share them on my Facebook and Instagram pages. Live a Soul-filled life!
p.s. Don't forget that when you tell your friends to join my newsletter list, there's a free meditation to listen to, which is called Raising the Power when you SHARE this with a friend. |
| 2023 EVENTS |
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April 27th, 2023 SOLD OUT April 29th, 2023 May 19th-21st, 2023 June 15th, 2023 June 29th, 2023 August 4th-7th, 2023 Meet John in Person! If you'd like to find out more about John’s upcoming events in 2022 |
