I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be truly seen by another being.
Not in the sense of merely seeing my new haircut or fresh outfit.
I mean truly seeing my soul, my being, my essence, my pain, my insecurity, my depth.
Seeing the passion that lights up my eyes or the sparking of belly laughter or the nature of my heartache.
But for years, even sometimes now, I have stayed hidden.
Hiding from the camera in fear that somehow it could shine light on what I protect in the dark.
Hiding from love in fear that it wouldn’t last once someone saw the depth to me.
Hiding from my true self as I molded to what the world wanted me to be.
As I searched my soul for what has kept me hidden, I found layers.
Layers of makeup and physical appearances.
Layers of shame and insecurity.
Layers of genuine hurt and pain.
But the biggest thing that has kept me in my hiding place is the fear of being misunderstood.
That even if I allow another being to get a glimpse of my soul, they won’t understand who I am, what I believe in, what I’ve endured, and what I’m becoming.
The fear that if I make myself known, seen, and heard, people can’t or won’t make sense of what I have to offer the world.
The fear that once they have seen me, they will form their personal perception about me and that perception may not be understanding or compassionate or loving causing me to retreat back into that place of hiding.
Even though being truly seen is terrifying, it’s the thing I crave most in this lonely hiding place.
I think it’s something we all crave in this human experience – to be seen, loved, and understood by another human being.
So in order for that to happen, I have to allow myself the permission to be seen.
I have to break down the walls, tear away the layers, and take a leap of vulnerability out of my hiding place into the light.
To see another soul is a sacred experience and I want to gift that to anyone still in their hiding place. My eyes are wide open, my ears are listening, and my heart is welcoming (my inbox is also open).
Namaste. The divine light in me sees the divine light in you.
