A few years ago, some family members, close friends and I got this great opportunity to attend a private event with First Lady Michelle Obama. As she walked out onto the stage and presented her message to the audience, there was something about her that was warm and welcoming.
What was it about her that captured us as she stood and talked about current issues and our future in the world.
After Michelle’s talk, my beautiful mother Diane Pauly pictured above, (the expression on my mother’s face is priceless) had a brief one-on-one conversation with the first lady. After the meeting my mother said, “Michelle generates love, is a very receptive woman with loving hugs, no stiffness or pretending. You could feel her loving energy in the room”.
This is the same loving energy what was seen more recently during the CBS special farewell interview in December 2016 and Oprah Winfrey asking her, “What allowed you to stand in your own truth and find your way?”
“Being a grown-up” Michelle replies. “I went to law school, I practiced law, I worked for the city, I ran a nonprofit, and I was an executive at a hospital. I’ve been in the world. I’ve worked in every sector, and you don’t do that without coming up against some stuff. You know, having your feelings hurt, having people say things about you that aren’t true…life hits you, so over the course of living, you learn how to protect yourself in it. You learn to take what you need and get rid of the stuff that’s clearly not true.”
While I can’t speak for everyone that attended the private event or watched the CBS special, I can speak for myself. What I see in Michelle Obama is her willingness to share, to be open and honest. She speaks the truth with what she has experienced and endured over the years. She expresses that she does not let the past, what others think and say about her, or people’s fear hold her back. She has a caring presence and follows her heart to stand in her truth of who she really is! She is her truest self.
Because of her life experiences, the trials and tribulations, I feel she is a great role model for so many women in the world, saying if I can be the person I most want to be, so can you!
The issue for many women is they don’t know how to stand in their own power to be their truest self, identify with who they really are, or most want to be. They feel confused and lost with where to start, what to do, the questions to ask, where to go, and so many times feeling hopeless. They want to dissolve their issues and hurts that are holding them back. They want solutions so they too can find their way and create the life they really want.
Finding Your Truth
To stand in your truth, it starts with getting out of your head, and tuning into your heart. Your head is part of the equation, but your heart knows what is best for you, it does not instill fear and doubt, it radiates love and compassion. In our society, many women have been taught to spend an over abundance of energy looking outside of themselves for the answers and solutions. Many of us go to the head, usually for an immediate response, which is filled to the max with other people’s agendas, ideas, and expectations, or thinking maybe a magic genie will come to the door. The head is a container for thoughts, thinking space, processing, while the heart is connected directly to the life-force of the universe, speaking the truth.
Here is a Head, Heart and Horse Exercise
Head
- Think of a question you are looking for an answer to. Here are some examples: What am I needing right now? What direction do I want to go in? How do I really want to live? What wants to be expressed in my life?
- As you are thinking about the answer, notice where your mind goes. Is it focused on something you read or saw somewhere, or what someone said?
- Did you get what you are looking for, or are you confused and wanting more concrete answers?
- How does the response, what you are getting resonate with you?
- Does it feel right? Why or why not?
Joseph Campbell wrote, When your heart speaks, take good notes”.
Heart
- Use the same question from above.
- Sit in silence, no distractions, and get comfortable. Close your eyes and take some deep belly breaths.
- Focus on your breathing as you inhale and exhale a few times.
- Place your hand or both hands over your heart, take a few more deep breaths and tune into the loving energy coming from your heart.
- When you are ready, ask your heart the question and wait for a response.
- Take your time with how it comes to you. Maybe its a direct answer, a symbol or image, maybe its a whisper or an internal feeling, a deep knowing.
- However it comes to you, it’s what can be trusted and feels right, and it speaks YOUR truth.
Heart and Horse
Practice the heart-centered exercise with a horse. Use the same question and stand next to a horse, place one hand on the horse and the other hand on your heart to help you to get into presence, connecting with the life-force anytime you are looking for answers or guidance. The more you do this, the more you will learn how to stand in your own truth, who you most want to be, not only to yourself but to the world.
I hope you enjoyed this article. I’d love to hear if you did the exercise and how it went for you.
Let me know in the comments below.
Much love and may you stand in your own truth.
Great article!