The Ripple Effect of Celebration: Reflections on the Permission to Celebrate Exhibition
Lauren Best
Founder of Possibilities Universe ? Certified Hypnotherapist ? Writer ? Speaker ? Transformation Designer and Strategist
Monthly Love Letter for January 2024
I’ve been sitting with the experience of these past few weeks in Toronto, inviting myself—over and over again—to find the words that could capture the magic of what we created and lived through in bringing the Permission to Celebrate Exhibition to life.
We welcomed strangers, internet friends, new friends, long-time friends, neighbours, and passersby into Miraki Life Workspace to experience self-celebration, the disruption of perfectionism, possibility, connection, reflection, and the unexpected.
It felt like every person who walked through the door and into this portal left a little piece of their heart—and in turn, left feeling a little lighter, a little more connected to themselves and others, a little more tuned in to their own joy and intentions.
Creating this exhibition, giving myself permission to change my mind along the way, and sitting with the discomfort of the unexpected became its own portal of transformation—one I didn’t fully see coming. At least, not this fluidly or this deeply. I found myself facing moments where I had to choose my heart over what might have been more socially accepted, or over the old programming of fearing I might miss out. It’s interesting how life becomes this dance of expecting the unexpected while also acting as a mirror—showing us how far we’ve come and how much more expansive we’ve become.
One of the themes that surfaced so clearly—before, during, and after this experience—was the reality that we are all just figuring things out as we go. Making it up as we go. That can feel scary and fun all at once. The fear of being different, of changing our minds, of creating without a known outcome can feel overwhelming. But then I remember—everything we see, touch, and experience was once just an idea, a fragment of imagination, a quiet feeling of knowing… many times without knowing why.
There’s something powerful about creating a space where so many unexpected humans contribute to the realization of a dream. So many people helped bring this to life—those who created the artifacts in the exhibition, those who introduced me to others who would later become part of it, those who welcomed strangers into their curated workshops, those who hosted me, those who shared and promoted this work, those who believed in it so deeply that they’ve continued to extend invitations for me to keep going. It’s almost unbelievable. And yet—it is my reality.
And beyond what was seen, beyond the conversations, the workshops, the moments of reflection inside the exhibition, I know there is a ripple effect still unfolding. Maybe in a quiet realization someone had as they left. Maybe in a decision to celebrate themselves in a way they hadn’t before. Maybe in the way they show up in their relationships, their work, their dreams. The impact of moments like these expands far beyond what we can measure—moving through time, space, and memory in ways we may never fully grasp.
I don’t know exactly where this love note is going, but I feel gratitude, abundance, love, joy, and intuitive whispers all around me. It feels peaceful to be here, in the space in between knowing and unknowing… in between the before and whatever comes next.
What will happen next week? I’m not entirely sure—I’ve only planned as far as this evening. But whatever happens, wherever I go—whether it’s Winnipeg, Vancouver, or somewhere completely unexpected—I am grateful. Grateful for Toronto, for this moment, and for all the people I have met along the way.
I love you!!!
Perhaps this is an invitation where you can give yourself the permission to…
??? celebrate my journey, even when I don’t know exactly where it’s leading.
??? embrace the unexpected and trust that every shift is part of my expansion.
??? change my mind, follow my intuition, and honour what feels right in the moment.
??? create without needing a perfect plan or a guaranteed outcome.
??? believe that the impact of my presence, my creations, and my joy extends far beyond what I can see.
Let this love letter be your invitation to think about your ripple effect, if only for a moment.
Lots of love,
领英推荐
??Lauren
JOURNAL PROMPTS
1. What does self-celebration look like for me in this moment, and how can I honor that today?
2. In what areas of my life do I feel the most pressure to be “perfect,” and how can I embrace imperfection instead?
3. Reflect on a recent unexpected moment—how did it shape me, and what did I learn from it?
4. What dreams or ideas have I quietly carried with me, even when I didn’t know exactly why? How can I begin to bring them to life?
5. How can I show up for myself with more compassion and trust, even in moments of uncertainty or fear?
A CALL TO CELEBRATE YOURSELF
Trust that whatever comes to heart first is exactly the answer that you get to celebrate… no over thinking involved here!
?? JOIN THE CHAT: Share insights, spark curiosity, and celebrate the messy moments with us! Enter here…
?? CONNECT TO YOUR INTUITION: Join me for a Complimentary Hypnosis Consultation.
?? SHOP THE GOOD STUFF: The Celebrate Yourself More Expansion Guide & the Permission Slips Sticky Notes are finally here! You can also buy them in a bundle with the card deck.