Page 54 - TA Magazine Winter 2022

Why stepping into your own power is key, BY RYAN HADDON
the guru’s
canceled

The New Year is a time of beginnings.
It gives us a feeling of starting anew, of creating fresh goals
and intentions for the year ahead.
It’s a moment of intentionally projecting what we want to call into being, Let’s close the power leak of deifying oth-
as the master manifestors that we are. We can also take stock of what ers, lifting them to unattainable stature.
we’ve outgrown and what no longer serves us on the journey ahead. We It serves neither party. We’ve witnessed
so many ‘fall from grace,’ as no one can
consciously enter this new year by first peeling back the layers of habit, sustainably hold that level of idolatry.
patterning, conditioning, and programming to see where we stand in What’s more, when we consistently look
relation to ourselves and the world. This changing of the guard then be- to others as benchmarks of our own suc-
comes an opportunity to be more of who we want to be going forward. cess, it ultimately distracts us and pulls
us out of all the good already unfolding
in our own lives, in its unique way. By 22
These last unprecedented years have been about releasing old paradigms and stream- not holding them as benchmarks, we can
lining priorities—all of which has felt like one giant New Year’s resolution, with peo- continue to hold those individuals ac-
ple making all kinds of radical decisions and adjustments in their lives. But never in countable for not being in integrity with
our cultural history have we been so willing to expose the elevated, the chosen ones, their message, and their behavior being
the anointed…by pulling back the curtain on such ‘gurus’ to see them for who they inconsistent with their stature. 51 Y ANDERSON WINTER 20
truly are, not just what’s presented. The result has been disappointing at times, but
also freeing to be reminded that there is no one above us. Let’s instead engage in full conversation
with inspiring teachers, motivators, and
In this vein, here in 2022, let’s commit to no longer outsourcing our power. those guides that light the way to follow
It’s an inside job. There is no blueprint to chase outside of us that ensures our happiness. our own sacred journey. Any person in-
It’s up to us to claim wholeness, and no relationship, health, perfect body, or bank account structing and informing us, in any capac- C
guarantees that sense of fulfillment. No one person should be a model of embodying all of ity, should always be pointing us back to TRA
it. Every one of us is moving towards integration, and we’re a work in progress. our capabilities, strengths, and hard-won
wisdom: back to our True North. We
There are people that have excellence in certain areas, which can be inspiring, but can open that circle to include and honor
let’s retire the pedestal. It’s about putting value on the inner journey specific to us. It’s teachers in our everyday lives: our chil-
a cultural trap to compare our insides to anyone else’s outsides. If the center within dren, partners, friends, and colleagues–
us isn’t rooted in some form of self-love, we won’t experience the satisfaction those widening the scope and definition of
outside things bring when we do call them into being. We won’t recognize them as those that enlighten, that work on us
the blessings that they are but will instead be chasing the next thing. And we will daily to grow through love and friction.
continue to look to others for this elusive feeling of self-acceptance that no one else
can actually deliver us. It’s a hamster wheel of disillusionment. It’s a resonant time to claim absolute
self-responsibility in all areas of our lives
It seems we have collectively outgrown the guru principle and the undue reverence of around our own empowerment and
public figures pushing limited definitions of faith, beauty, success, partnership, ageing growth mindset. It’s a tremendous reali-
etc. Only we can align with our own definitions respective to our values and goals. zation that it’s on us to fully step into our
Knowing that, we can finally cancel the matrix that elevates celebrities and spiritual- sovereignty, and place ownership back
ists to the forefront of our culture as better than us—to aspire to and to emulate, only on our choices and decisions. In so do-
to invariably come up short. It’s a game of smoke and mirrors. ing, we take back the power and curren-
White Bodysuit by SKIMS, cy of our unique existence, accumulating
Brown Shorts by DEVON WINDSOR, the small wins we make every day, which
Chunky White Sneakers by ultimately add up to a life well-lived. We
TRACY ANDERSON are here for it. TA