"Conquering the Enemy Within" - Reflections of a Recently Attended Conference... with Dr. Felicia Shaw
A week ago today, I attended a conference by this title. By the end of it, I felt I had been given a revelation about the "enemy within". It's applicable to anyone - regardless of what you believe - because there is always a battle of good and evil going on in and around us. We are often our own worst enemy, and the way that we speak to ourselves, we would not tolerate from anyone else... so why do we allow it from our own thoughts? It's time to take a stand.
We live each day within the invisible boundary lines of, this thing we have come to know as, our comfort zone. Its shape is unique to each and every one of us. The true irony of the comfort zone is that we really don't experience any authentic comfort here - and it's not even all that safe. The enemies within each us live here, and their negative chatter is loud! But yet, it has the most persuasive and peculiar way of making us stay. Especially when we try to leave... their voices are deafening! And we plug our ears with our fingers and yell out, "Fine! Fine! I will stay here! You're right, you win - who am I to think I can venture outside of what I know?" And so it is.
Well, I was challenged last week, to once and for all, define my comfort zones and figure out the plan of action to break free from the bondage I experience here... to conquer the enemy of negativity that dwells here and to take back the power that was ALWAYS mine. But I realize now, that for each comfort zone I break--there will be another that lies in wait... to kill, steal and destroy all that I believe in. The challenge is - to keep fighting and to NEVER give up and settle for the furniture and accessories of mediocrity that decorate the space of our comfort zones. Regardless of how long it takes! Every day is a challenge of our own individual complacency... Will we fight?
If we will, we will win. We are created to be more than conquerors. Amen?
One of my favorite "life quotes"... by Marianne Williamson
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
