“Remember: you have intrinsic value and goodness. You don’t have to prove it by ceaseless productivity.”

-- Unknown source

For years and years, I have prayed to be of service to the world. My requests for guidance have arisen from a fervent longing from deep within, a yearning so strong I was sure it was the voice of my soul. And then one day, I saw the source of my desire to serve: I need to know that I matter.

In that enlightening glimpse, I saw clearly that my deep desire to serve is not an aspect of my soul but a desperate need of my personality, of my ego, to know that I matter. There’s a gaping hole inside of me caused by the belief that I’m not good enough, that I don’t yet deserve to belong on this planet.

Seeing that hole inside, I can consciously, intentionally fill it with love from the part of me who knows that I am enough, just as I am. That’s the beauty of awareness! And it also dawned on me that my soul doesn’t need to serve. My soul serves naturally through expression – there’s no motivation required.

I sit in awe in this new knowing: I am enough, no matter what I look like, no matter what I do, no matter who I am. I am enough. I can rejoice in that … and relax. And pray I remember this!

~ Patrice

“To have that sense of one’s intrinsic worth which constitutes self-respect is potentially to have everything.”

-- Joan Didion