Last week, I held a book launch for my first two books. It took only 45 minutes and was over before I even knew it. But in actuality, that particular event was years in the making and occurred on the five year anniversary of when I had originally finished writing my first book. It also took a life time of experiences to understand my awareness, and nine years to gain the confidence to publicly open up to and discuss my truths in a venue that was not necessarily conducive to like-minded people. It was a personal victory and to top it off, I was blessed to have both family and friends in the crowd who have always loved and accepted me unconditionally, even before I did.

In standing in my truth and finally taking the stage, I was not nor am I seeking the approval of others. My soul was not seeking to be heard or seen. It is not that I am needing people to believe in me or follow me. It is not even that I was needing the time to perfect my presentation or the direction in which I would eventually talk about my story. My inner changes were not dependent on public speaking tips, fashion consultations, vision boards, or professional advise and coaching. My inner changes were and are in progress because I am learning to love who I am.

I hear a lot of talk about people standing in their power. Even on that magical night, there were many congratulations from the crowd telling me how I was truly and finally standing in “IT”. Yes, I AM. But the IT, is ME. And the how, is with FAITH. The when, is when I finally loved myself enough to just be at peace with who I am. The where, is by refocusing my attention from my physical self to the divine loving energy from within. And the what, is a wife, a mother, a daughter, a healer, a psychic, a medium, an author, a teacher, a visionary, a bringer of truth, a prophet, a conscious co-creator, a messenger of change, and a divinely appointed prophecy fulfilling woman in motion. I AM. And more importantly, I have finally learned to love, accept, and stand in all of IT. I have learned to fully love, accept, and stand in ME.

May you also learn to find peace, love and acceptance of your own truth. May you learn that standing in IT, does not mean being seen or heard by anyone but yourself. May you understand that standing in IT does not mean deciding you are the great I AM without learning how to embody that loving perspective. It is simply embodying all of who you are and striving to be the best version of yourself you can be. Shining your own light, which by the way, casts shadows on no one, and learning to see and accept that same level of beauty in all others, even before they do. It is about standing back and letting people find their own way. It is about being there to pick people up when needed, but doing it because you care, not because someone might notice how powerful you are. That is what source would do. And that is what it means to stand in your power.

I AM.

Namaste,

Lauren Heistad