Wholeness – A Powerful Intention for 2021

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My sister, Toronto artist Nicole Kagan, has created a series of prints that she calls ‘Meditative Muses’ – images that are intended to inspire and direct attention to an essential theme. This piece, entitled Wholeness, jumped out at me the moment I saw it. As I write, I’m looking at it and absorbing its wisdom.    

If Covid-19 and the past 9 months have taught us anything, it’s how important it is to be self aware and comfortable in our own skin. We have lost many of the distractions and activities that used to keep us constantly busy and outward looking. As our personal and professional social circles have contracted, we are spending more time with ourselves; moving at a slower pace. For many, this may have been a huge challenge; but upon reflection the opportunity to meet ourselves, and embrace the whole person that we are might be the pandemic’s biggest gift. 

Being comfortable in your own skin means that you know and value who you are – your strengths, values, and quirks. It also means you’re aware of your habits, and how they help and hurt you. You get that you’re not perfect – you resist things, get triggered, lose it, get scared, judge yourself and others, and sometimes even wish you were someone else. All of this makes up the depth, richness and colour of who you are. 

As I sit here looking at the print, the light in the room is highlighting the gold in a way that it hasn’t before. This is a great reminder that even when we are aware of ourselves, there are always surprises. Human beings are interesting! If we can see these surprises as beautiful, much like the splotches of gold showing up today, we will feel more at ease in who we are. 

Let this new year be one of Wholeness – where you recognize and embrace all that you are and all that you’re not, and from there step into what’s possible.