subject: The Beauty of the Underbelly [print this page] The Beauty of the Underbelly The Beauty of the Underbelly
The shadow side, the imperfections, the underbelly. Call it what you want, but we all have one. This is a Universal Truth; human beings are perfectly imperfect.
I believe that life will always give us experiences that allow us to witness all aspects of ourselves. When certain aspects come up that we feel good about, all seems well.
Then suddenly, we are pushed into situations that allow us to learn how to utilize our shadow aspect. Free will and personal power become crucial when working with our underbelly.
Like any super hero, we are called to answer the question again and again;
Will you use your powers for good or for bad?
Personally, I am not a fan of labels such as "good" or "bad" but you get my point. How will we utilize these aspects of our self to transcend the dark and transform it into light?
Even a thief has power he can use to contribute to humanity. Thieves tend to be resourceful and creative. Therefore, a thief has a choice to make from his own free will. Will he use his resourcefulness and creative power to hear the call of his spirit and become an artist that creates art from the scraps of a fabric store and build an empire? Or will he succumb to his shadow and decide that he needs to steal as his means to survive?
From a conscious living standpoint, our imperfections are a perfect way for us to learn how to manage and exercise our personal power and free will. We are all powerful and creative beings. When we befriend our underbelly, our life takes on a new form. Relationships feel more fulfilling and we make decisions from a place of empowerment. When we choose to see our underbelly as the enemy, we get caught up in negativity and even victimhood.
All aspects of who we are have their place. I believe the goal is to channel our energy for the highest good. What are the benefits of your underbelly? Next time you see your need to control crop up, stop and remind yourself that your need to control is also how you are driven at work, a good organizer or a lead parent in making necessary changes at your child's school. Bless it all and stay conscious. Working with and befriending your beautiful underbelly is your ticket to authentic empowerment.
Katy Manna is an Intuitive Ayurvedic Practitioner living in San Diego, California. Email Katy at Katy@LiveWithTheLightsOn.com
