You’ve probably heard me talk about staying in alignment “with the highest good.” There are some misconceptions about what I mean when I talk about “highest good.”
First, naturally, we tend to think of “the highest good” as what’s our personal highest good. But that’s not what I’m talking about. Instead, I’m talking about what’s best for everyone collectively. And that means it’s not just about ME, it’s about WE.
The good news there, though, is that it isn’t all self-sacrifice, throwing yourself on the pyre for the good of humankind. Nope, no martyrs need apply! Because YOU are part of the collective “we,” so when you’re contributing to the good of all, we’re contributing to our good, too.
The other thing that can confuse people is that what’s in our highest good isn’t all sunshine and rainbow unicorn poop. Sometimes it is! It’s fairy dust and angel wings and tinkling bells, and happy signs from the universe that are unmistakable. But a lot of the time, though, it’s the shadowy side of things that we want to ignore, hide from, resist or refuse that needs to be illuminated for the good of all. So this is why I always say – Love, Light and SHADOW!!
We’ve seen a lot of that lately. The shadow of the collective is calling for us as individuals to heal ourselves, change ourselves, so we contribute to a world we’re proud to live in. Chaos is sacred! The chaos we’re facing now is mission driven and its upheaval has a purpose to make real changes! Even when we’re taking shelter, or forced to take shelter we’re not going there to hide.
It’s so important to address the shadow and shine the flashlight on our wounds, and our contribution to the wounds of others collectively and personally, the stuff we might prefer to hide. But even though the shadow work is the most uncomfortable because it digs up the monsters we would like to keep hidden under the bed, this is where we get the most healing and true satisfaction, liberation and creativity and all that leads to genuine compassionate prosperity!
And when you shine light on it, and into it, without turning away you’re not healing around the wound, you’re going directly into the wound and cleaning it out so it can heal properly.
We need to look at the shadow because there is beauty hidden in there. We must focus there because that’s what needs to heal. Evolution is calling us and it won’t wait for our convenience.
When we dive into the shadow side, we can often experience more chaos. But when you focus on the healing, you can get rebirth from that chaos. Think about so much in our world that emerges from chaos: Evolution. Emotional boosts. Clearing of obstacles. The incredible smell in the air after the storm clears. All such good, good stuff — but it takes dealing with what the chaos is pointing at to get there.
So how do you deal with the shadow side, while affected by the chaos? First, don’t try to do it all at once. Diving into this work can often feel like the ground is moving under your feet as you engage in the process of healing roiling emotions. It’s impossible to do this without getting your hands dirty and skinning your knees a bit. The journey can be confusing and unsettling, and as you get deeper and deeper in, you can want to beat a hasty retreat!
Even if you jump right in, knowing the riches that will come from the painful work, you still can have moments where you just want to hide in bed and pull the covers over your head. But that doesn’t work. That doesn’t bring healing. So we rest, then we have to get out of bed, and get back at it. We don’t quit before the miracle happens.
Remember that even when you stumble, you are moving forward, even just an inch at a time, into creating something new. It’s not going to be a smooth path. In fact, it’s not supposed to be smooth! That’s the whole point.
When you start working with the chaos as a sacred thing, you can feel unsteady and even like you’re sliding backward. But that’s only because you’re being asked to look to the past and review the lessons you learned, and face your conditioning so your next steps can be sure and steady. Remind yourself that no matter what it feels like, the ground is steady beneath your feet, the wind is at your back, and the conscious Universe is beside you. There’s no need to head off looking for what may seem like safer ground, because you are safe right where you are.
Remind yourself that the landscape around you is always changing. Nothing stays the same. You are changing, too, and you will feel more settled. So breathe, keep breathing, and remind yourself that the chaos will resolve and the obstacles you once found daunting will disappear.
That’s because those obstacles — the big boulders that we thought were blocking our path — are actually internal. It’s an inside job! I’m going to say it again: The obstacle is not outside of us. Everything that’s occurring to us now appears to be external. But it’s not. Everything evolves from our inside out. So the shadow work — it’s internal. It’s about our insides and our personal reflection on what we need to do today, ourselves. Where do we need to go with love and light?
So start small. Ask yourself these questions: What do I need to heal today, in myself, even if it makes me uncomfortable? What do I need to heal so that I can live a life that I’m proud of? What do I need to listen to inside myself?
I think a lot of times, we want to rush past the hurts and say, “Oh, I’m fine now.” But if we’re really going to do the shadow work and heal the hurt places, it’s time for deep listening. This isn’t something you can rush. You have to do the work. The listening actually provides a place for us to find peace in the center of the discomfort. So there’s even a deeper layer we can go with ourselves as we start to shine light internally and dissolve the inner obstacles. We think it’s the outer world that’s asking us to change. We think it’s the outer world saying, Please, fix this. But it’s really our souls crying out. Our souls want this. And when we listen, we can hear.
And this work can be truly beautiful if we don’t expect it to be easy. If we’re ready to go to the dark places and do the work, we can become part of this extraordinary collective that we feel welling up right now. We can choose to behave in a way that says, “I will be part of this change. I will be a person who will stand up.”
If we want to build a new society, if we want real prosperity, peace, and love ( I am so sounding like an old hippie now!) we have to heal the hurts. The racism, the injustice, everything that we participate in to perpetuate these things unconsciously, or consciously have to go. And it has to go inside us first. That’s where it needs to start. And we can keep it going so this kind of collective healing is our new normal.
This is our highest good. This is our hope.
This reading hit right on as if it was meant for me.. so many things fell into place and so many of my questions were answered by this reading. Thank you seems inadequate right now, but I am ever so grateful to you for sharing your insights and readings each eek.
Thank you Colette
I needed to read this today . Our shadows can be very scary and yet , as you have said , when you do the work you will be reborn . I have been in deep grief and it feels like there is no end … but the sun does rise after night and a new day will dawn . Thank you and bless you
Thank you, I needed to hear this. I have been hurting and trying to heal. It so hard to heal a broken heart. I know God is watching over me and I have so much faith, but my heart still hurts. I know God wants me to move on and I am trying thank you for being there
Colette,
our hearts are as one. Our blood is the same color,
Our food comes from the same place and we chew the
same way, with teeth made from the same material,
I can not find any difference but one “the Tint on our skin”
Whatever you believe we are all dependent on Mother Earth,
and if she rejects us we will all go the same way, Together
You have written a beautiful piece above Thank You
Love and Respect to you and your family and all your readers
Gerry Kenny
I love “the old hippie”. This was great. I needed some permission to go deep and do this work, as my “mind” keeps telling me I’ve got 5 other things to get done. What could be more important than cleaning, clearing, and loving the old wounds and supporting my soul so that I may best support “the highest good.” Huge gratitude for all you do DAILY for this world. You make Mondays so easy! Thank you. Woot and Big Hugs!
Thank you so much for this. I’d love to learn how to do “The Work”. Do you have an outline of how this is done? I hear this a lot…doing the work. But there are no instructions on how. I’ve never consciously done this…or at least I don’t think so. Any guidance will be appreciated so I can learn to face the shadow side of myself and do the work.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom ❤️
Thank you Colette for your insights and clarity.
As I continue to navigate through this time of transformation, chaos, and shifting outer landscapes, it is necessary to create a climate within where I can see clearly. This is a dangerous/opportunity where if time is taken for reflection we can rebuild our world in a new form. ” Something very beautiful happens to people when their world has fallen apart. A humility, a nobility, a higher intelligence emerges at just the point when our knees hit the floor. ” Marianne Williamson
It takes courage to take stock, to own the parts, to review what works and no longer serves the health and well-being of the whole. The process is an ongoing one that asks for rigorous honesty, and a commitment to one’s personal and spiritual growth. ” Healing is the release or removal of a block/interference that kept us separate from the perfecfion
of the universe. ” Dr. Eric Pearl. I find that there is a lightness from undergoing this cleansing, healing process. A sense of peace, and grace that wasn’t possible when certain parts are sparring with each other. It will not work if the changes that need to be addressed, are not initiated from the inside. Let it begin with me. I must be accountable, and take ownership for outmoded attitudes, behaviors, values/ thoughts that do not contribute to a positive world view.
The cleansing, and subsequent healing is made possible when replacing these beliefs, with new ones which are inclusive and serve the best interests of all concerned. It an be confusing, and shift our equilibrium turning the axis in a different direction. Chaos is meant to be this way. The good news is that it opens many doors for restructuring and re-creating a new vision. Like editing a book which might require many revisions and changes, the plan is designed with the raw material that is being revealed. It is an organic synthesis of enormous proportions. One step, one choice, action is all that is asked. I remind myself that there is nowhere to run or hide. Being gentle, will support a gradual transformation that has an innate wisdom and intelligence.
Stay well, and be kind, for everyone we meet is facing challenges. Many that we have never experienced before.
Thank you for the opportunity to share.
Beautifully said, Colette .
Thank you . 💖
Thank you for this. I do podcasts on fear which is doing the inner work and the shadow self. I believe that everyone has a unique shadow that they deal with.
In love and peace to you,
Karen
Thank you Colette,
Hreat writing. I love your writing cause I see myself when I read , I see for real what I’ m feeling, like if a was beside me looking at me, as an observer… Lately I feel stock and a bit afraid.
❤much love
Great questions.
Do we read the protection message when asking these questions?
Ask yourself these questions: What do I need to heal today, in myself, even if it makes me uncomfortable? What do I need to heal so that I can live a life that I’m proud of? What do I need to listen to inside myself?
Thanks Colette for articulating these fundamental meanings behind everything you do.
As I once recall you saying, the expression “What’s in my highest good” is intended to work in favor with the greater good so both can move forward favorably.
It totally makes sense that now we are called to face the shadows, not bury our head in sand.
I really appreciate all the awareness and support you bring each week.
Thank you for your uplifting words of kind wisdom Colette xx
I do a lot of shadow work it is imperative for proper growth. I love that reinforce this 💜💜
Thank you Collette this has given me hope and l do want a kind peaceful world for me and everyone 🙏💜
Thank You. Hug to all who make this opportunity for our individual growth.
there is no other way home!
you are so welcome, we are in this together
read what calls to you and feels accurate
I think everyone is xooxox hugs
I love that you do that@!!!!
well, there are lots of books to read, especially now, seeing a therapist, read The Dark side of the Light Chasers by the late DEbbie Ford. I’d also check out Nancy Levin Life Coaching.
thank you for those words
xoxoxo
I know its like we are grieving for everyone and everything without end some days. This is a sacred passage and we must not turn away.
BIG love xoxox
Your thoughts, reflections and guidance in this blog speak to a universal desire and longing.
But – this is poignantly personal and shoots straight to my heart, our hearts.
Here is a roadmap we can actually follow to start us on a unique journey in order to contribute our individual spark of love to this world …
I’m maybe finally understanding that doing the “shadow” work is nothing to feel guilty about. And that it’s ok to take a break because it’s heavy stuff.
HOPE lives in the fact that by doing this hard, hard work, we are – as individuals – adding to the collective LOVE and making it that much BIGger in this world.
Thank you Ms Colette. Always
beautiful share thank you Julie
New to all of this, so just trusting that I will learn from all this insights.