I was listening to the wonderful  author known as SARK share her childhood trauma story during a online series about creativity and spirituality.  I was awestruck with the similarities of her story that also occurred in my own life. 

She told the story of how when she was young, Maya Angelou was hosting a reading at her local library.  Afterwards, SARK went up to her and shared how she also had been abused.  Maya grabbed both of her hands and looked deep into her eyes and said intently,  "YOU ARE ALL RIGHT!   YOU ARE ALL RIGHT!"       

I felt as if Maya held my hands in that moment, and told me, "You are all right." 

It was the key to releasing the 50+ years of shackles I unknowingly lived in.  I became aware that I had lived a life in a constant belief that I was wrong.  

Wrong and needing to be fixed. Wrong and needing shame to coerce me into action.  I became so dependent on shame that I didn't even realize how I would self-create it. Especially, if it was not provided by others. I was blindly immersed in the normalcy of shame. 

The normalcy of shame is the result of abuse. 

Shame is the lowest energetic vibration on the emotions scale. Seeing now, that it was a constant set point vibration for me, no wonder I was always working hard trying to raise it.

I know I am not the only one.  Anyone who uses their past as an excuse, or feels victim-hood at any time, they are still in the  shackles.  

I see how the paradigm of shame is an epidemic within our culture.  The #metoo movement didn't really land in my heart until now.  The #metoo movement didn't resonate with me, back when it was rampant online, because people were using shame to point fingers at the abusers.  Shame, suffering and sacrifice have been learned motivators for expression and action, woven into a cultural paradigm of living. We can bring forth a new way. 

We use our past as either an excuse or an inspiration.

Following your bliss is a powerful catalyst for inspired action.  It opposes the teachings that punishment and reward are the only means to success.  Being in the flow, having fun, aligned with presence, has proved itself plenty as the means for success with musicians and athletes... May we all engage this paradigm for success, joy and deep fulfillment in living. 

You are all right.  Feel your reason for being here now, by following your bliss!