Be anxious for nothing…

Tell Yourself a Better Story About the Universe and God

A couple weeks ago…

… y’know, there’s a funny story about that. I had this article ready to go out last week while I was taking some serious self-care and off-stage time, and apparently it didn’t send. When I logged in this morning to write today’s love note to you, I saw that it was PAUSED and hadn’t sent. 

“Well, isn’t that interesting…” I thought. 

(a very powerful phrase, by the way, especially when things are going sideways)

Shook my head. And then felt SO GRATEFUL because I don’t have a thought in my head today. I wasn’t sure what I was going to share – which almost never happens.

But, there you go. Everything’s all taken care of and you get a beautiful love note this morning and I don’t have to beat myself up for not having a great idea for today. Thanks past-self!! 🤣🤣🤣

(and, yeah, I do usually write them the morning of so they’re super-fresh!)

So, a couple of week’s ago, we were talking about signs from the Universe and how you have to SHARPEN YOUR DISCERNMENT.

Sharpen Your Discernment

You have to PRACTICE distinguishing truth from falsehood.

And you must take an active role to improve your ability to see and feel and hear truth.

Yet most of us don’t even know where to start. We weren’t taught HOW to tell truth from lies.

We’ve been brought up in a stew of fear and shame. It’s around us and running through us every single moment of every day of our lives.

It’s the air we breathe.

A huge part of the work that I do with my clients is helping them free themselves from this toxic stew and – often for the first time – breathe the air of liberation.

Fear and Shame is Not Who You Are

The first time you realize that the fear and the shame you feel is not who you are– that it’s not natural – and that you have an awareness of a part of you that is NOT fear and shame… well… that is a very good moment, indeed.

What If What We’ve Been Taught is Wrong?

Is it possible that the Universe doesn’t hate you? That you don’t have to prove yourself worthy? 

What if you are beloved?

What if you are safe?

Maybe… just maybe… instead, of constantly having to watch your back, you can relax and trust and surrender to a natural flow of love and belonging that will carry you straight to the heart of God?

Reaching Out to the Church-Hurt

Y’see, I know that part of my Mission is to help the ‘church-hurt’ – the men and women who, in whatever way, were damaged at an early age by the ass-hattery of organized religion.

Whether it was a well-meaning elder who filled you with the ‘fear of God’ and left you with a belief that God was, like them, also a judgemental asshat who sits on a cloud and condemns you for every single thing you do wrong …

… maybe you were hurt by a damaged human, or let down because God didn’t save someone you loved …

… perhaps you were shown a patriarchal, misogynist religion that had no place for women of power and strength and it made you feel so negated and always an outsider …

… or, like me, you grew up without any formal religion because, it turns out, that both your parents were church-hurt and had left all that silly stuff behind …

… and however it happened, all in all, you now have this low-level KNOWING that something is wrong with you, that you aren’t quite good enough, and that even if it’s just in some small way, the Universe is out to get you…

… then you’re church-hurt.

(Hey! Welcome! You’re among friends, here.)

And the story that you’re telling yourself about reality is not really real.

It’s a story.

What if that ‘BIG G-‘ we were taught to fear isn’t an asshat who is impossible to please?

Maybe it’s way easier than we’ve been making it out to be. Maybe we can relax.

What if we could trust and read the signs for good instead of for fear?

What if it’s all about love?

Here’s the deal as I’ve come to understand it:

We are told to ‘not be afraid’ over 350 times in the Bible.

It’s everywhere.

Not: You’d better be afraid because immagonna judge your ass!

But: fear not. Have peace. I am for you, not against you. I am with you.

Yeah. That’s right. The BIG G- is for you. With you. Always.

Not just when you behave perfect. But… ALWAYS.

Breathe that in.

Me? It makes me weep to surrender to that.

What a Beautiful Story! We Are Beloved

As I relax back into this glorious Summer week, I want to leave you with this: 

It’s one of the most popular pieces of scripture and it’s a reminder to me that God is not a God of fear, but a God of peace who wants relationshipwith us.

A God who wants us to snuggle up and tell her our problems. Who loves us more than we could ever believe. And a God who will walk with us through the darkest hell and show us where to find the light – over and over again.

(and if you feel like maybe you’re in that darkest hell right now, yeah, you’re not alone there either, even if it feels that way most of the time. I promise there is light in there as well…)

6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (Philippians 4:6-9, The Message translation)

May peace be with you, my dear friend, as you focus on what is beautiful and true to bring more and more of it into your life.

Take all of your worries to the highest part of your Self, that part of you that is connected to, and flowing with, the Divine.

Lay them all out. Talk them through. Ask for help. For support. Ask for the love and grace and strength that you need to get through one more day. To forgive. Move forward. To step out boldly and be visible.

Allow the peace and love and grace that are waiting for you to flow through you and soothe your tired soul.

Allow it to lift your vibration to a level where you can see through the lies that are whispered to you by those chirpy demons on your shoulders to the beautiful truth that shines through every part of reality:

You are beloved. You can do this.

Just like the Divine is good, so you are good. You were made in the image of the Creator.

You’re here for a reason. You matter.

Remember: You’re here to build a new world.

And we’re here to help.

You don’t have to do it alone.

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Vanessa Long

Vanessa Long is creator of the Seasons of Success and author of Discovering Your Passionate Purpose. Focused on providing straight-forward, no b.s. solutions, strategies, and support to move you from where you are to where you yearn to be. It’s time to tap into your purpose and build a life that expresses all of who you were designed to be.