We are all learning so much about ourselves and what areas of our lives that need healing. And you may be reliving painful moments from your past. You may be reliving those moments of awakening that caused you so much pain that you had no choice but to change. And, it is a human response, as we recall those awakenings to blame someone or something else for our pain. However, in order to heal those past hurts, it is essential that we work through how we perhaps were responsible for causing or creating our pain. Today, the Universe wants us to embrace both our darkness and our light because they exist in all of us. Today, the Universe wants us to own up to our role in past events or painful situations without shame. Today, acknowledge that you can hold yourself accountable and learn healthier replacements for your destructive defenses, while also maintaining compassion for what your younger self went through and the struggles you didn’t yet understand. For you see, from the trauma in our pasts, we developed coping mechanisms in response to what happened to us. Those coping mechanisms protected us and kept us safe. But those survival coping mechanisms frequently ended up with us acting less than our best selves. And, those defenses usually resulted in causing some amount of collateral damage on the people around us. Acknowledging our “bad” behavior can cause us to feel shame and shutdown. Furthermore, some of us even end up thinking that there is just something wrong with us. Or that these behaviors stemmed from character flaws we learned how to hide. Then, we end up just hating ourselves and feeling broken. Today, instead of feeling shame for your past survival skills, recognize them as signs pointing you toward what needs to be healed.And, rather than allow your shame to swamp you, today seek to understand the unmet needs and unprocessed pain that prompted your negative behavior. Sometimes we don’t acknowledge the past because it doesn’t line up with our image of ourselves as good people. Today, know that you are a good person, even if you acted “badly”. Today, listen to your stories and see how they can lead you to what needs to be healed. Today accept and embrace both the dark and the light that are inside of you. Today, acknowledge that each of us is capable of so much better than the worst thing we’ve ever done. Know that how we grow from those mistakes is by owning up to them—while at the same time, forgiving ourselves for doing the best you could at any given time. .Just for today, I love and accept myself exactly as I am. I no longer judge or criticize myself or others. I accept that I am doing the best I can with the knowledge, understanding and awareness that I have right now. I am safe. I am willing to change and everything is always working out for my highest good. And so it is.