Feb/Mar 2026 Aspire Magazine FULL Issue | Page 64

In any situation, choose to listen to your love more than your fear— or your strength instead of your weakness. I recommend a technique I call“ Inspired Self Dialogues.” Write down what your fear / inner critic says.

Then journal what your loving, Inspired Self might say. To connect to this voice, you might ask:“ What would I say to my best friend or child, if they felt this fear?” Or you might consider writing from your Higher Spirit’ s point of view, an inspiring character from a movie or history, or writing to yourself from the mindset of someone who has always been your advocate. You have extraordinary counsel within you. Use it.

The mind can’ t focus on more than one thought at a time. When you focus on anything that calms or excites you, you literally can’ t be in anxiety. Do something you love. Too often we try to“ fix a problem,” by obsessing over what needs to be changed. Instead, create a WIN list, noting anything that has worked or is moving in the right direction.

Make sure you include inner shifts as well! For example, if you’ re usually depressed for 30 minutes in the morning, but this morning you’ re only depressed for 29 minutes, this inner victory goes on your WIN list. It’ s so important to celebrate the“ wins” that no one else will ever see. It’ s these wins that help you build courage and confidence.

Sure, you may have just been trying to get through your life without an awakening or shamanic experience. I get it. You just want a job or a boyfriend or more money. But here you are. This is your life. You have the chance to side with yourself or turn against yourself. Which choice will you make? Will you choose to be realized or“ realistic”? This is your moment, dear one. I encourage you to step into your true power.

For most of us, strengthening our confidence in ourselves isn’ t an overnight shift. It’ s not a pill. It’ s a practice. It can even feel awkward. But I’ d rather you go too far in believing in your possibilities than not go far enough. Go ahead and dare to stray from conventional thinking— and trust the radical brilliance within you. It’ s worth everything to wake up to your own fearless potential, one thought at a time.

This is the journey of your lifetime. Every circumstance you are in is a chosen conversation designed for your good. There is a scent to follow. The wind is pushing you in the right direction or whispering what is necessary. The rain is a wild, unfettered priest dousing your existence in holy water. Everything is in your favor. The moments of realizing this are worth a lifetime. Really, it’ s one thing to be alive. It is a whole other thing to be awake.

© 2024. Tama Kieves. Reprinted with permission. This piece is excerpted and adapted from Thriving Through Uncertainty: Moving Beyond Fear of the Unknown and Making Change Work for You( TarcherPerigree) Jason Johnson, Love in Media