It is time. It is time to let go of suffering and sadness and fear and anxiety and embrace the space of love and gratitude. I’ve often asked myself why I sabotage myself by continuing to stay in familiar yet horrific circles of pain and fear. What has me so tied to the circle that it seems impossible to move out of it? One of my current circles of suffering includes recognizing when I don’t keep my word about something. An example might be when I say to myself, “I’m not going to eat potato chips any more.” I have a thing for salt and when I open a bag of chips I found myself eating and eating and eating. Another area in which I haven’t kept my word is when I tell my two sisters who live in the Midwest that I will communicate with them weekly and I do not. I feel angry and frustrated and have self-doubts – all of which keep me from loving and accepting myself.

I do believe it has something to do with the familiarity of it. What does the other side look like? Who will I be without the pain and suffering? It just might be as simple as having an identity crisis. As Marianne Williamson, author, states, “Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.”

What does that mean, to be powerful beyond measure? I believe it has to do with embracing love and gratitude every moment of our lives. Is it possible? We do have a role model that many of us are familiar with. Jesus walked the earth in infinite love and gratitude. He chose to look upon everyone he met as a loving son or daughter of God, in total acceptance. He embraced women who were called whores and men who had leprosy and treated everyone in a warm, loving, kind and generous way. He created a human family of love out of love.

Perhaps we have a fear because Jesus ultimately died on a cross. If we follow in his footsteps, will we also die on a cross? My heart says no. If we all choose to be love and accept ourselves and others, there can no longer be fear. Love and fear cannot coexist. Fear is what put Jesus on the cross to begin with, the fear of how powerful we truly are in that space of love and gratitude.

So, I invite you to take on a new identity with me this year, one of love and gratitude. Try it on for size. It feels warm, loving, kind and generous. It is light. Love is at the heart of truly living. We have the opportunity to be love, radiate love and create one large loving family where each of us is totally accepted.