Page 54 - TA Magazine Winter 2022
P. 54

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
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                                                                                              Chunky White Sneakers by                                                                                    ultimately add up to a life well-lived. We
                                                                                              TRACY ANDERSON                                                                                              are here for it.  TA
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