Finding Personal Power through Letting Go of Old Narratives
When you find yourself questioning what you once saw as the “right” way of living, and determine that it no longer meshes with how you feel and experience the world, what do you do?
One option is to take the brave step towards deconstructing your life and examining it, one precious piece at a time.
To discover and break down barriers is a frightening concept to face, but I can say that being willing to face my fears of losing my identity and belonging in religion has brought me so much richness on the other side.
After years in a community of faith, I found myself questioning the cultural norms that I had accepted for so long.
Questions arose as I became aware of my inner spirit coming into conflict with what I saw being lived out around me. I eventually allowed myself to claim my own voice, and what was once a tender topic gradually became a tool for self-empowerment.
If you’re on the path of evaluating your faith, or cultural norms, take a moment to pause and look around at your community, at the messages you view in social media, at your inner dialogue, and ask yourself:
Am I clinging to things
and people that don’t serve me?
Have I become too comfortable
with things that are unhealthy?
—What do I need to let go of?—
Sometimes we need to take a look inward in order to allow ourselves to discover who we truly are.
This is not a topic limited to Christianity or Religion, but simply a larger question of what it means to be willing to let go of parts of your identity or community when they no longer feel safe or supportive.
Whether you’re already on your own path through deconstruction, or you have come through to the other side after facing some tough questions, I hope you’ll find some encouragement in My Conversation with Kristen Lohr or in my story about leaving Evangelical Christianity.
Here’s to more self-trust, loves.
xx,
-Madison