“You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, well, you might find
you get what you need.” The Rolling Stones
How many times have you heard people say, “You can’t choose your family”?
I must disagree!
It’s true that you can’t hold interviews to find the perfect parents and siblings once you’re living your life on earth – but, in fact, you do choose them, long before you arrive here.
If you’re thinking, “There’s no way I would have voluntarily picked my dysfunctional family,” think again. Their flaws might be exactly what your soul needed.
Before you are born, your soul convenes with your guides, angels, and ancestors in the spirit realm, and together you chart your destiny points, including where you’ll live, what you’ll do, and who you’ll live with. Why? Well, it helps to remember that Earth is not your true home, at least not from your soul’s perspective. It’s a “schoolhouse” where you’ll encounter the situations you need for your soul’s growth. Not surprisingly, some of the most profound lessons you’ll learn can come from the people closest to you – your parents, siblings, and grandparents.
A Family Transformation
For example, a woman I know was born into a very wealthy family. Growing up, she and her brothers were showered with gifts and material things. The little girl had dolls, books, toys, beautiful clothes – even a pony. But she rarely saw her parents, and the only affection she received was from the housekeeper who looked out for the children during the parent’s frequent trips.
As she grew older, she was often depressed and lonely until one ordinary day changed everything. She went on a school field trip to an animal shelter, and as soon as she stepped foot inside, she felt her energy shift! She forgot her own sadness when she saw the animals in their cages, and immediately asked if she could volunteer to care for the abandoned dogs and cats. She became a regular helper at the shelter, where the animals she encountered gave her a sense of purpose and allowed her to experience unconditional love for the first time in her life.
After a few weeks, she brought a dog home from the shelter, and suddenly the house felt like a home – not just in her eyes, but in the eyes of her entire family. As she told me the story, it was crystal clear that she was put into that family to teach them the transformative power of love and to break the cycle of materialism. Having experienced pain and loneliness, she went on to learn the importance of service to others and the healing power of love.
Choosing Love over Fear
This story answers a question that people often ask about destiny. It was my friend’s destiny to go to the shelter and find her purpose. She was going to wind up in that place one way or another, but once she got there, she had to listen to her heart – or her intuition – that told her she could be of service there.
It would have been easy for this privileged girl to be afraid of the shelter animals or turned off by the noise and smells. As she shared her story, she admitted that she was a little hesitant to take the next step and become a regular volunteer. But her compassion and empathy for the lonely animals outweighed her fear, and she decided to choose love – and that made all the difference!
We’ve talked before about the relationship between destiny and free will. Basically, your soul encounters important destiny points that are predetermined. The soul contract you agree to before you’re born maps out the people, places, and activities you’ll encounter, but free will allows you to decide what happens next. To make the right choice at a soul level, it’s important to follow your heart. Your brain will always give you reasons to look away, or an excuse not to help. When you encounter a destiny point, and that little voice inside you urges you to make your move, slow down and listen to your heart. It will always choose the right path.
If you’re still struggling with emotions and trauma from your past, I can help you heal. The first step is to become aware of the pain you’ve been pushing down for so long. Once you’ve discovered it, it takes awareness and courage to figure out what that pain is trying to tell you. Once you’ve found the lesson, you’re not only on the path to healing, but growth.
It’s like the lotus flower that comes up from the muddy depths, to emerge from the water strong, beautiful, and magical!
I created my JVP Certified Spiritual Healer Certification Course to help others recover from even the most deep seated pain and dis-ease. Something magical happens when you listen to the voice of your soul. Just like my friend found her destiny when she stepped into that animal shelter, my Healing Certification Course might be your first step toward healing yourself – or starting a career healing others.