Surroundings Within brought my light back

For the past several years I was stuck in survival mode, just going through the motions. I did all the things! I found a therapist, I went on medication, I spoke with a life coach - the list goes on and on. None of it fully landed. I decided to add Reiki to that smorgasbord of wellness. And I am so thankful I did, because that is how I was introduced to Surroundings Within. Kiersten came to my apartment for our Reiki sessions and saw something I could not see at the time - I was making all these efforts to improve myself but kept coming back home to a space that did not garner a healing environment. It honestly did not fully sink in for me until the end of the process when I looked back at the before photos. It makes me emotional just thinking about it. I was in a dark place and my home truly reflected all that darkness. Now my home is my refuge where light can enter, literally and figuratively!

To be extremely honest, I was half-hearted in my decision to sign up for this package. My inner-critic kept telling me I should be able to do this by myself and not pay other people to help me do it. Shame, shame and some more shame. Nevertheless, I pushed forward and I am forever grateful for this decision. The first day of decluttering alone proved to me that I would have never been able to do this on my own. It was a long process, in the best way possible! I needed it to be long because I needed to slowly grow alongside my new home. It challenged me in ways nothing else has challenged me before. It was not an appointment I could check off my list and never thought about again. I lived in the process, forcing me to reflect on it.

With that said, you need to be ready to make the change and commit to it. I experienced a lot of discomfort and moments where I wanted to resist the whole process and every little decision. It was only with Kiersten and Maureen’s compassion and gentle guidance that I was able to grow and heal. They walked me through all the changes and mentally prepared me for the changes and emotions that would ripple to other areas of my life. There were so many emotions I numbed out that were now rising to the surface; this is where the Reiki sessions were indispensable. I had an outlet to process all of these different feelings that were previously stagnant. I felt so safe during these sessions and let go of so much. 

Speaking of stagnation, I realized I was desperately clinging onto the aesthetic of my student life, before I lost my light. Problem is I was a student back then! Before this process, I was still out here throwing tapestries on walls as my decoration - no offense to tapestries - with a kitchen that yelled I depend on Postmates for survival. Kiersten and Maureen helped me find an aesthetic that is functional and mirrors the life I have accomplished as an adult that still rings true to who I am. It was time to step into my strong independent badass woman life, and thanks to Surroundings Within, I did just that. 

…You are only as well as your home allows you to be