I’m a very reflective person by nature, but for this year specifically, I really had to take more time to honor myself, my growth, and all of the changes I have manifested in 2014.

I was going through some old photos and when I arrived to this picture that I’ve included on the left, I actually startled myself. So, then I started scrolling forward to more recent photos of myself, I could feel nothing but gratitude and celebration for how far I’ve come in a year. I know that weight is a sensitive subject for many, including myself, but to give you an idea, I probably weighed about 70 pounds in the first photo (and would like to add, 70-75 pounds throughout my 26 year life-span is the MOST I’ve ever weighed)! Many know that I’ve always worked in busy retail settings or unpredictable, non-stop jobs where I never really knew how to take care of my needs first because I’ve always been too busy ensuring someone else’s needs were placed before mine, and it’s quite visible that physically, this was very tolling on my body. Over the course of my management career, I could never understand why I was always so sick, and why my life was never fulfilling, and why really painful circumstances were always surrounding me, and it wasn’t until this year when my conscious mind really rose above and revealed to me those reasons why.

I attracted my unhealthy life, toxic work environments, terrible relationships, gossip, rejection, financial distress, poor health, declining weight, poor choices in friends, and the list could go on.

I never had balance. In fact, I think I kind of liked the chaos and disorder that my life was in some weird way.

If it weren’t for some heavy interventions by loved ones in my close support system, I would have never had the courage to invest in myself holistically and spiritually and seeing how far I’ve come in these few short months is astonishing. This summer I manifested: acceptance into my Master’s program, acceptance into a Life-Coach training program, launch of my business brand, spiritual renewal, mental health, stronger health, financial relief, blessings and gifts left and right, and what I think is most valuable of all, is a healthy, stable weight–I’ve gained over 30 pounds and have not allowed any of this healthy, good weight shed not even one pound from my desired goal that I set for myself!

The picture on the right is me at Christmas with my mom, and the changes are evident–I’m not that tiny, frail girl you see on the left, but a balanced, cleansed, healthy woman who is stronger and finally knows her worth.

I just wanted to share this little reflection and remind you, this all occurred in about 6 months, so I can’t wait to see how far I go when I have 12 months and a brand new year to work with!

Love and blessings,

Darryn, Holistic Guidance and Life Coach

www.belifted.net