Intimate relationships with others

“We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.

Love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them – we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.

Shame, blame, disrespect, betrayal, and the withholding of affection damage the roots from which love grows. Love can only survive these injuries if they are acknowledged, healed and rare.”  

 

― Brené Brown

 

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Self-disclosure

 

 

Learning to gently reveal who we are is how we
open ourselves up to love and intimacy in our relationships.
Many of us have hidden under a protective shell,
a casing that prevents others from seeing or hurting us.
Being vulnerable can be frightening.
Little by little,
we learn to take the risk of revealing ourselves...
Gently, like a flower, we can learn to open up. 

Melody Beattie

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Intimacy

Can the purpose of a relationship be to trigger our wounds?

In a way, yes, because that is how healing happens;

darkness must be exposed before it can be transformed.

The purpose of an intimate relationship is not
that it be a place where we can hide from our weaknesses,

but rather where we can safely let them go.

 It takes strength of character to truly delve into

the mystery of an intimate relationship,

because it takes the strength to endure a kind of psychic surgery,

an emotional and psychological and even spiritual initiation

into the higher Self..."

 

― Marianne Williamson

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She followed her heart

 

She risked

 

 getting her heart broken again,

 

 to step fully into

 

the dance of intimacy.

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“This is a good sign, having a broken heart.
It means we have tried for something.” 
 
― Elizabeth Gilbert

 

Message from the Universe - Hold unto hope. When things feel dark and uncertain, know that in the grander picture, things are in perfect order. Remember: life is your side.



Building trust in others

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One of the effects of growing up in a dysfunctional family is feeling unsafe. Your natural ability to trust in others may have been shattered. Mine was! And even though I've worked on this issue for awhile, it can still challenge me today...who to trust...who not to trust...?

The ways I've dealt with feeling unsafe in the past is to either avoid intimacy or try to control others/situations. Neither of these feel like good options anymore.

It can be a life long process to rebuild our ability to trust. But it's important that we do...not letting our fear of abandonment, rejection, disappointment...hold us back...we have to be willing to take risks...to build loving relationships...making heart connections...for a fulfilling happy life.

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The magnolia trees are blooming. The scent is heavenly.

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Love is patient and kind,
Love is not jealous, conceited, proud or boastful,
it is not arrogant, selfish, irritable or rude.
Love does not keep a record of wrongs...
Love never gives up, and its faith, hope and patience never fail.
Love is eternal.

~ 1-Corinthians 13:4 ~

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"My heart is open"

There's a story in you waiting to be told

Creativity stretches the imagination.

 I included some torn newspaper print in this piece.

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We all have a story worth telling.

The first time I shared my story in a group (I'm not suggesting you need to do so publicly), I was trembling inside, secretly worried what people would think of me. My life story was pretty messy. Initially, I felt raw and ashamed. Being so honest exposed my vulnerability. But at the same time, I felt a new sense of freedom. Finding the courage to be authentic was no small miracle. 

I healed some old shame that day, forever changing life as I knew it.

                                                     Share Your Story with Me

Share your story with me. Tell me how you found the courage to face your fears.

Share your story with me. Tell me how it felt to touch your deepest sorrow.

Share your story with me.  Tell me how you faced being alone to heal abandonment.

Share your story with me. Tell me how you risked being vulnerable to love again.

Share your story with me. Tell me about your journey.

I hope you'll share your story with me.   Debbie Crews

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FYI . Blogger requires you to do a couple of things before you're able to write in the comment box, but don't let it discourage you. They give you several options. I'm told that Goggle is the easiest. So sign-up; it'll be fun. 

                                                     Taken at a park near Venice beach.

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Show me how you follow your deepest desires,

spiraling down into the ache within the ache,

and I will show you how I reach inward and open outward,

to feel...        by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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"I create sacred intimacy when I let my guard down,

sharing my truest self ."