New Level, New Devil - How to keep shining your brightest light when you encounter inner resistance

If you ever tried to lift yourself from a habit, situation or pattern, I bet you've encountered the phenomenon of New Level, New Devil. Initially you felt an energizing momentum to take a step into the life you dream about and to never look back. You found the key to open the doors to the next level of you and your life and you felt like your most confident Authentic Self as you walked through them. 

We vibe on that higher level for a while, until the flow vaporizes as our former selves catch up with the ‘new’ us. Habits we thought we left behind sneak back into our routine and self-limiting thoughts start to make us doubt ourselves: ‘Maybe I’m not good/ qualified /courageous /ready enough after all’, ‘My life’s better than most others. Just accept it and be happy’ or the one that puts our dreams on hold: ‘Perhaps right now just isn’t the right time’.

It suddenly feels very tempting to settle back into situations we so firmly had decided we outgrew. We end up staying smaller than we actually are, with a nagging knowing that what we desire IS possible if we could just find a way to stay on that higher level. 

If you recognize this, you know that with rising into a new level of yourself or your life, new inner devils will pop up. When we try to make changes, it’s a given that we encounter self-harming subconscious beliefs, thought patterns, traumas, and other conditioning that we might not even know about, but that keep us stuck.

It’s never comfortable to look at a devil and deal with it, but I know from experience it's even more uncomfortable to look away and stay stuck in situations, habits and moods that don’t feel like YOU at all. Once we realize there’s more for us and to us the only path to true fulfillment is discovering who and why we truly are, so we can live up to the potential we believe to have and have our impact.

So while it’s not easy, I’m here to show you how to bring more ease to the powerful journey of embracing all parts of you no matter how dark or light. 

The first thing you need to know is that devils show up for a reason. One: They arise when you're trying to make a change to align with who you are today, so pat yourself on the back for standing up for yourself. And two: Devils shine a light on the parts of you that need healing and liberation. Devils are cropped up energy that, until released, will hold you back from embracing the powerful YOU that you are. See devils as your opportunity to unlock more of your powers to pave your one-of-a-kind path towards true fulfillment and impact. 

Then it’s crucial to understand where lasting fulfillment actually comes from: Living a life of meaning, joy and flow happens when you align your life with WHO you are (=your authentic self with all your unique talents, experience, values and ideas) and WHY you are (=your purpose or your unique reason for being here). Aligning with your WHO and WHY is a constant process that brings up deep meaning, confidence and endless creativity, while your brightest light has the unique impact only you can have on your loved ones, customers, clients or beneficiaries, communities, society and eventually the world. 

But living our life purposes requires us to show up and to keep showing up when the shadows feel so tempting. Our purposes makes us feel vulnerable because the causes are dear to your heart. It requires you to reveal parts of your true self, as purpose is inspired by your own journey from pain to purpose, your experience from shadow to light.

Purpose is fired up by heart-felt empathy, real emotions, and energetic expansion of yourself.

Our fearful and risk-averse egos don’t like this at all. There's an increased risk for embarrassment and disappointment, and mostly for failure in our own eyes.

My current devil tries to pull me back to the shadows where I was deeply unhappy and mentally and physically unhealthy, but at least I was ‘safe’. Devoting my time, money and energy to fully embrace and live my purpose is the hardest, scariest thing I’ve ever done, and also the most energizing, exciting and deeply fulfilling. After all, true meaning, joy and fulfillment are a consequence of expanding our unique ways to express your unique experience, talents and ideas. Feeling truly alive is your reward for offering your best to the world.

To live our life purpose and experience the fulfillment that comes with that, there’s no way around it: Once you decide to consciously align your life with your authentic Self, you will run into subconscious patterns trying to keep you smaller than you actually are. That’s why I teach the women I mentor how to self-coach themselves to welcome the devils we inevitably will encounter as we rise higher into our full power. Once you learn how to recognize when a new devil showed up (pretty easy: it’s when you feel stuck, drained or in any way uncomfortable), assess what’s being triggered with curiosity and self-love, and devote time and space to support yourself and realign with your highest self, you become unstoppable.

Curating a life that fulfills us deeply means learning how to welcome new devils to keep rising into the life you imagine for yourself.

The third thing we all need to realize, is that your rising is never ending. There is no happy destination, only a happy journey. The world will forever ignite new desires, ideas and needs within you to explore next, which is what makes life exciting and interesting. But it also means new devils will forever show up, which is not in our control. What IS in our control, is teaching ourselves how to not be afraid of these devils and instead of looking away, look right at them and even welcome them. ‘Oh hey devil, there you are’ removes the surprise element that freezes us and gets us stuck. Instead you've empowered yourself to respond with love, curiosity and compassion instead of reacting with fear and feeling powerless. 

I know rising into your purpose can bring up pain and doubt, but we don't have to suffer or get stuck. As I’m dealing with a few Devils as I write this, I'd love to tell you how I make sure I don't get stuck in my own shadows.

The devil I’m encountering right now comes from rising into a new and unfamiliar level of responsibility and putting myself out there. Our community of purpose-driven women is growing rapidly, while I’m also launching my most vulnerable creations ever: Life Academy and our signature mastermind course Life Curators. It’s uncomfortable to hear no’s to our programs and it’s tough to keep reminding myself that it’s not about me but timing, and to keep my focus on the many I’M IN!’s we do get. The uncomfortableness makes me want to hide so badly.

But I won’t. Not only because it’ll make me feel unfulfilled and super underwhelmed (I’d choose occasionally feeling in need for a break over constantly underwhelmed and numb any day), but also because it's a waste of the impact I could but won’t be having.

I’m here to tell you that we can all teach ourselves to keep rising when you encounter a new devil, and that it’s our collective responsibility to teach ourselves so we can all shine our brightest lights on the people, animals and the planet we all care for in our own ways. You living your purpose is important for you, but also for everyone you (will) encounter in this lifetime.

Here’s three things I reach for to welcome, explore and release my devils:

1. I remember my purpose which makes this about you, not me

Thinking, journaling and talking about the deeper reason I’m doing all this for (for you to feel equipped and confident to expand your purpose and have your impact), brings up a deep motivation and excitement to keep going no matter how tough or unpredictable this road is. Purpose turns the spotlight away from my own unverified fears and towards you and the impact I could have. I remember what a waste it would be to NOT live my purpose and give my best for you to thrive.

2. I practice unconditional self-compassion and allow myself space and time

I consciously and with love allow myself to go my own pace so I can process every devil fully and free myself from it. My progress and rising slows down, but I don’t stop fully as it’s harder to speed back up into flow. I self-coach myself to take active breaks to understand why this devil showed up to fulfill my needs, which more often than not is a need for clarity. So I write, call supportive friends, reach out to my mentors and coaches, guide myself through future vision meditations, read, hop on the mat, go on long walks on the beach without my phone...all to calm down my nervous system that got overwhelmed from all the changes that have happened, and to make space for this current devil to show me what I need to know. The result is self-knowledge and awareness, which empowers us to rise even higher.

3. I tap into the encouraging energy of circles with like-minded people and ask support to remind myself of...myself

I connect to fellow purpose-driven women which reminds me I’m not the only one running into these fears, doubts and worries, and through this reconnect to my inner knowing that I CAN do this. This is the power of soul family and circles: It’s as much about connecting to others as it is about remembering and realigning with who you truly are beyond any devils. Circles inspire, energize and encourage to keep going on our path of purpose and fulfillment.

These are my main resources I tap into to self-coach myself towards my 10 year vision for the Life Academy and my personal life goals. I know getting there will require me to break through many levels and many devils, but I feel equipped with the tools and energizing support system to figure it out every time and make it happen.

Know that self-coaching is a skill, not a given talent that comes naturally to us and like any skill, it requires practice to coach ourselves when times get challenging so we realign with ourselves and keep rising.

‘Fearlessly’ making changes and rising into your purpose is impossible. So let’s embrace our fearful devils, hold space for them, and work with them so they don’t work against us.

We will not only survive the temporary uncomfortableness from our devils, facing them will give you a radiant confidence and centeredness that will lift you up and won’t go unnoticed.

The reward is sweet: A life you jump out of bed for every morning before the alarm even goes off feeling excited for whatever the day will bring.

I left behind my former belief that I can deal with my devils alone a long time ago (my Do-It-Yourself mentality was one of the devils I had to deal with ha!)—and if you’re anything like me and the members in our circles, connecting to fellow heart-centered women energizes to make the inner changes required to create outer change with more ease and joy. While you eventually have to take your own steps towards sustainable change, rising into the life you desire alone is nearly impossible and now you know why. Your tribe is here to root for you as you rise into your highest potential and purpose.

Keep showing up for others and yourself when the shadows feel so tempting. The world needs you and your unique impact now more than ever as we collectively are rising into a fairer, healthier level that has us encounter our collective devils. We are ready for your gifts. The only question is: Are you?

To all of us shining our brightest light!

Marit

Ps. You're invited! I host a virtual Rising Circle for our community of purpose-driven women every 6-8 weeks and if you feel called to rise higher into your potential and purpose, you are welcome to join us! Send me a message so I can send you the invite.