An Extract from Debbie Ford.

Debbie Ford is one of my favourite authors. Needles to say, she has impressed me and inspired me a great deal. Through her writings, I have learned to heal a lot of my ‘Shadow Self’. I’d like to share with you an inspiring page from one of her books.

Ford, Debbie (2009-10-13).

The Secret of the Shadow: The Power of Owning Your Story

Imagine that you knew at birth that you were a master, that you were powerful beyond measure, that you possessed enormous gifts, and that all it would take to deliver your gifts to the world was your desire. Imagine that you came into this world with your heart filled with the healing power of love and that your only desire was to bestow that love onto all those around you. Imagine that you had the innate ability to create and have all that you want and all that you need. Is it possible that at some point in your life you knew that there was no one else in the world like you? And that in every fiber of your being you knew that you not only possessed the light of the world, but that you were the light of the world? Is it possible that at one time you knew who you were at the deepest level and you rejoiced in your gifts? Take a moment now, and see if you can remember that time when you knew the truth

Then something happened. Your world changed. Something or someone cast a shadow on your light. From that moment on you feared that you and your precious gifts were no longer safe in the world. You felt that if you didn’t hide your sacred gift it might be abused, injured, or taken away from you. Deep inside, you knew that this gift was like a precious, innocent child that was yours to protect. So you did what any good parent would do: You hid all your magnificence deep inside so that no one would ever discover it, so that no one could hurt it or take it away from you.

Then, with the creativity of a child, you covered it up. You created an act, a persona, a drama, a story so that nobody would ever suspect that you were the keeper of so much light. You were very smart— brilliant, actually— at hiding your secret. Not only did you convince others that you were not that; you also convinced yourself— all because you were being a good parent to the gift that you held. It was your secret— your deep, dark secret, which only you knew. You were even creative enough to manifest the exact opposite of that which you truly are so that you could protect yourself from those who might be upset or angered by your innate gifts.
But after days months and years of hiding your treasure, you began to believe your story. You became the persona you created to protect your secret. At that moment you forgot that you had ever buried your treasured gift in the first place. You not only forgot where you had hidden it, you forgot that you had hidden it at all. Your light, love, greatness and beauty got lost inside your story. You forgot that you had a secret.
From that moment on, you felt lost, alone, separate and scared. Suddenly you became aware that there was something missing - and there was.

Perhaps its time now for your lamp to shine before the world once again. Find and take ownership of your Secret - that you are light, love, greatness, beauty and so much more and become free once again.