Welcome

Welcome home cojourners. I'm glad you're here for another episode of the Homecoming podcast. I'm Dr. Tama Bryant, here to facilitate your journey back home to yourself. I'm a licensed psychologist, minister, and sacred artist, and so glad that you are joining me on today. We like to

start with poetry, and today's poem is by Rumi, and it reads, first, lay down your head, then one by one,

let go of all distractions.

Embrace the light and let it guide you beyond the winds of desire.

There you will find a spring and nourished by its sweet waters,

like a tree you will bear fruit forever. Yes, my goodness,

Rumi's poetry is so powerful, and I was inspired by reading that poem to focus on today's topic,

how to bloom, how to bloom.

It is so important that we think about not just healing from stress or strain or trauma,

but for us to really think about becoming, evolving, being in full bloom, to blossom,

to be the fullness of who we are, to be our authentic selves. Some would refer to this as positive

psychology. Some would think about it as empowerment or thriving or

liberation. And so I invite you to consider on today first a moment of imagining what will you

look like when you're in full bloom? What will you live like,

love like, think like, talk like when you are in the full manifestation of your gifts,

of your graces, of your wisdom, of your knowledge, and

that being an ongoing process, meaning that even if I am the full bloom of myself today,

on tomorrow I will be an even fuller, more authentic representation of myself as we continue

to grow, as we continue to learn, as we continue to heal. And so I want to talk to you about a number

of factors that could help us bloom, a number of factors that can

help us grow and develop and realize and manifest the truth of who we are. Not my wounds,

...