Be Willing to Do the Work

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Welcome to Roots of the Rise with me , sarah Hope . This week I've been unpacking something I say at the end of every episode Know who you are , love who you've been and be willing to do the work to become who you want to be . Know who you are , love who you've been and be willing to do the work to become who you want to be Today . Let's talk about that last part , what it really means to do the work . Nothing grows without help and without a little destruction . Cynthia Ocelli said it beautifully For a seed to achieve its greatest expression , it must come completely undone . The shell cracks , the insides come out and everything changes . To someone who doesn't understand growth , it would look like complete destruction , and that is why healing and growth can feel so hard , because it often is destructive . You will inevitably leave something behind Parts of yourself , old patterns , beliefs , jobs , homes , relationships . Growth requires letting go . Now it doesn't have to be a bloodbath . We don't need to burn down every bridge . We can learn to do it with grace , but in the beginning that is rarely how it goes . Early on , we often don't know how to communicate effectively . Maybe we are learning how to identify what we're feeling , what we're needing . Often we don't even know what we really want . Yet . All of that is a shout out to nonviolent communication . I'll link that episode below . We make choices that fit who we are in the moment at that time . But as we grow , those choices don't always stay aligned . Often they don't , and that's hard because we have to grieve what we're leaving behind while we are reaching for something new . So when I say be willing to do the work to become who you want to be , what I mean is becoming who you truly are , who you are meant to be , takes effort . Work does not happen passively . You can dream all you want , you can know your purpose till the cows come home , but without action nothing changes . Actually , I should correct that and say without correct action grounded action , supported action nothing changes .

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There's a story about a man who believed fiercely in God and one day it started to rain and the authorities issued an evacuation order . But the man said God will save me and stayed in his house as the waters rose . Rescuers came in a canoe . He refused God will save me . The waters rose even higher . Now he's stuck on his roof . A helicopter came . Still , he refused God will save me . Eventually he drowned , and when he reached the gates of heaven , he asked God why didn't you save me ? And God replied I sent you an evacuation notice , a canoe and a helicopter . What more did you want ?

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The point is help comes , but you still have to take the step . You still have to agree to the help . Life is full of signs , synchronicities and outstretched hands nudging us towards change , offering support , inviting us into a more life-affirming , more aligned way of living , or inviting us into a more life-affirming , more aligned way of living . But at the end of the day , it's still on you . No one can do the work for you . This is why I can't remember why I was talking about this , in what episode .

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But this is why , when my clients come to me and they say oh , I don't want to burden you , I don't want to tell you this stuff , I don't want to ruin your day , I don't want you to take on my baggage , I always say don't worry , I won't , and I mean it . You know I will offer love and empathy and support and tools . I will hold your hand while you cry . I will be a safe space for your pain , but I will not carry it , because it's not mine to carry and it's not mine to fix . Only they can do that .

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And guess what ? You are not responsible for anybody else's happiness or healing or growth . You are only in charge of your own . This even applies to kids . Yes , we as parents need to help them be the best versions of themselves possible , but we can only do so much . In fact , there's actually research on this how being overly helpful can hurt kids in the long run . One of the most empowering things we can do is to stop doing things for them that they're capable of doing themselves . That's how they develop belief in their own abilities . This is from the parent speak book I was telling you about in some other episode .

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You know we rarely say good job to our son . Instead , we say look what you did . You did it Because we want him to know deep down that he did it . Personal accountability , personal responsibility , that if he wants something , he has the power to make it happen . He is the creator of his own experience . And that's something we often forget as adults , often because we were not taught as children . We forget that everything around us , the life we live , the situations we find ourselves in , is in large part shaped by our beliefs , our choices , our actions . Doing the work means showing up again and again , even when it's uncomfortable , messy and hard . That's how we grow , that's how we rise .

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So if we want to change our reality , if we want to grow into something new , the path forward at least the way I see it is threefold . We need to expand our consciousness , release subconscious programming and integrate our newfound wisdom into our day-to-day life . Let me break that down

Component One - Expanding Consciousness

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for you . First , we need a way to expand our consciousness . Einstein said something along the lines of we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them , which means if we want different results , we need different thinking . We need a practice that helps bring the subconscious into the conscious , that helps us see what we couldn't see before .

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For me , that practice is meditation . Not just any meditation , heart-based meditation . You know , not all forms of meditation create the same kind of change and they don't all work at the same pace . Heart-based meditation is what I've practiced for the last decade and it's what I keep coming back to because it works . I haven't hit a plateau . My awareness keeps expanding . I keep evolving . Yes , there are other tools I use to support the process , but the bedrock , the foundation , is this meditation practice , if you haven't already go listen to the episode on it , I'll link it in the show notes below .

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Rj Spina actually has a great metaphor for this stage of the process . He says that when we raise our frequency , when we expand our awareness , it's like being handed a ladder . Suddenly we can peek over the walls of the maze we've been trapped in . We can see the patterns , the loops that exits . But here's where I think his metaphor is incomplete , because sometimes , even after we've climbed the ladder and can clearly see the way out , our feet feel stuck . We don't know how to climb down and actually walk the path . We see it , we understand it , but we still can't move . And that's why we need the other two steps , the second of which is that it's necessary for there to be a process for releasing subconscious programming and emotional complexes , the things that we now have the awareness to be able to see , but don't know how to move past . You know , the good news about expanding consciousness is that we become more aware

Component Two - Release Old Programming

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The tricky part is that awareness alone doesn't always lead to change . In fact , sometimes all it does is show us just how much we need to change . Every now and then awareness is enough , but most of our programming it runs deeper . It's not so easy . I mean , we've all felt it , that inner knowing like I need to eat better , I should get more sleep , man , I've got to learn how to set boundaries , you know . So we can see it , but but we can't change , not because we don't want to , but because the old programming is still running the show . Want to , but because the old programming is still running the show .

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This second step , releasing that subconscious programming is where things like traditional therapy , somatic practices , emdr , inner child work , energy healing , mentoring , can really come into play . Honestly , I believe the most effective approach is a combination of methods , and that right combination is going to look different for all of us . And that right combination is going to look different for all of us . You have to be a little like Goldilocks , trying different things until you find what fits just right for you . But here's the hard truth .

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This is the stage where many people start to feel exhausted . They try 10 different psychologists , nothing seemed to shift . Or they pin all their hopes on one you know , really famous , supposedly a miracle worker , energy healer , expecting it to , you know , clear everything , and it doesn't . Or they cycle through pharmaceuticals , plant medicine , journeys , hypnotherapy , and still feel stuck . It is so frustrating , it is so disheartening . I mean , this is where I was until I found my perfect cocktail . I get it . You know , people experience what I call soul fatigue . It's this deep weariness from quote unquote , doing the work without feeling like it's working , stuck in that place of screaming at the universe what did I do to deserve this ? Why is it so hard ? Did I really sign up for this ? Often not always , but often it's because something foundational is missing Either step one hasn't been fully established that expansion of awareness or step three

Component Three - Integration

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is being skipped entirely .

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And this third element is so important . It's where so many people go wrong and it's integration . We have to learn how to take our expanded awareness , plus all the wisdom we're gaining , and integrate it into our moment to moment experience . It's not enough to simply see the old patterns , or even to release them . We have to replace them . We need to create new neural pathways , new emotional defaults , new behavioral patterns .

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This is about embodying the change , not just understanding it . We also need to integrate the higher energy centers , like our insights , our ideals , with the lower energy centers our grounded , physical , embodied experience . And for this , the heart is our greatest ally . I'll dive deeper into that next week , but for now I'll just say cultivating the facets of the heart is where real growth can happen fast . This is where we can deeply integrate spiritual principles like radical acceptance , presence , invincibility , joy , gratitude , alignment , forgiveness and compassion . When living heartfully becomes a trait , something embodied , not just visited occasionally as a state , you've got it . That's the integration .

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But this also takes work . You know , you might have an incredible therapist who's helping you see your patterns so clearly , but if you're not integrating those insights , if you're not supporting your physiology , for instance , then the change won't stick . Because the truth is , up-leveling takes energy , raising your vibration , becoming a new version of yourself , breaking free from inertia . It takes a lot . There's often massive resistance encoded into our programming . So if your body is exhausted , if your central nervous system is maxed out , good luck trying to transform . You will struggle . That's why modalities like energy healing , craniosacral therapy , acupuncture , when guided by the right practitioner , can be incredibly stabilizing . They can help regulate your system so you actually have the capacity to do the deeper work . Even basics like sleep are foundational . I promise I'll do a full episode on that when we're done with the chakras .

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And sometimes it's not even about not having energy . It's about how it's being spent . My mentor likes to use this explanation . Let's say you receive a hundred units of energy every day from the divine , from sleep , all the things . 100 units of energy every day from the divine , from sleep , all the things . If you spend 30 units resisting politics , 20 units resisting your body , hating your physical self , and another 20 units being upset about scarcity , about money , resisting money , you've only got scraps left . That's why we feel blocked , why we procrastinate , why it feels like now just isn't the right time . So here's a shift Take the straitjacket off the idea that this is something you have to do , that framing alone , the I should do this , triggers rebellion .

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Parental dynamics , old conditioning around tasks and obligations Instead . Just notice how does it feel when you do these practices , the uplifting practices , the meditation . How does it feel when you don't ? This moves the work out of the realm of shame and shoulds and into the realm of lived experience . When we realize we actually feel better when we do the work , when we notice our whole experience of life improves . That helps it to then become natural , self-sabotage starts to lose its grip .

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I'm not saying it goes away , because we can have resistance to even feeling better . That can feel foreign and wrong , but it does help , and one of

Cultivating a Growth Mindset

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the other most powerful tools you can have in your toolbox is cultivating a growth mindset . At its core , this just means disidentifying with outcomes . So what do we anchor it to instead , effort , attach your identity , your sense of pride and motivation to the effort you put in , not the result . Celebrate the process of learning , the process , process of becoming better . When effort is what matters most , it becomes so much easier to pivot when things don't go as planned . The challenge , though , is that most of our mindset lives in the subconscious . We don't usually walk around consciously choosing how to perceive ourselves or our experience . It's all kind of woven into a deeper self narrative , and that's why it is so important to do these three steps to expand your consciousness as a foundational part of this process .

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Dr Joe Dispenza's book Breaking the Habit of being Yourself explores all of this beautifully . He gives some of the clearest explanations I've ever come across about why change is so difficult . The book is divided into three parts . I'm sure I will talk about this more at some point , because it really is a wonderful book . Personally , I think the first two thirds are like perfection . The last third , where he explains his meditation mythology , just kind of didn't resonate with me in the same way . Nothing wrong with it , I just found it a bit excessive and more complicated than necessary . But his overall message is powerful .

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We get stuck because we're fighting change on every level . Our systems love homeostasis , they love familiarity , and the longer a pattern has existed , the more entrenched it becomes physically , energetically , mentally , emotionally , intuitively , even spiritually . To shift it can not only feel hard but scary , because if you've always been the overworker , who are you without that ? If you've spent your life avoiding conflict , what would it mean to start speaking up ? What would happen if you actually enforced boundaries with the people who hurt you ? What would it mean to finally go after your dreams ? Maybe you have a hard time even imagining a different version of your life . That's one of the reasons why I share my story so openly , both in workshops and here on the podcast , because I want you to know , know that it's possible to change . I've lived through depression , darkness , dysfunctional relationships , bad choices , selfishness , poor communication you name it and I've also now experienced the opposite Joy , deep and authentic connection , healthy communication , laughter .

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I share this not because I figured it all out , or because I never make mistakes , trust me , I do . Just ask my husband . But I share it because vision matters . It's like a preview of upcoming attractions . When you have a sense of what's possible , it becomes easier to take that next step towards change . Think of it this way If you get a brand new iPhone , like I just did , but you don't get a manual and no one tells you what to do , you might only ever use it to text and make calls . You have no idea it can shoot professional quality video or sync across your devices or who knows what else . I'm still figuring it out .

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The point is , if you assume this is all there is or you tell yourself it's just my karma to suffer , you're cutting yourself off from possibility . But here's the catch Vision is meant to inspire , not to create judgment , inner growth , envy or a feeling of defeat . The trouble arises when we take the vision of what's possible and start using it as a ruler to measure where we're falling short . That becomes destructive . And yeah , that's hard because we're human and judgment is part of the package . But when we can step out of that , when we can redirect our focus towards staying grounded in the process , keep , you know , putting effort in and trusting the unfolding , which brings me to reminding you that the first and perhaps most important component of all of this is to simply be willing to do the work . It's not enough to know what needs to change or even to feel the shifts begin to happen . There's a deeper , more persistent effort that's necessary

Transformation Is Possible

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I spent the last decade trying to heal on every level I could access , and when I discovered something that created real , lasting shifts , something that made the path easier , I stayed with it . That's why I became a heart-based meditation teacher , why I trained as a spiritual mentor , why I studied biodynamic craniosacral therapy . These practices , especially in combination , became the key that unlocked real transformation for me . They helped me dismantle the old limiting beliefs I carried from childhood and start rewriting the faulty programming I didn't even realize was running the show . I also sought out mentors and healers who could help me see beyond my pain , who could reflect my potential back to me and guide me as I learned to transmute hardship into understanding , pain into strength . Steve Hoskinson says trauma is unintegrated resource . That line finally clicked with me , because now it is my felt integrated experience .

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What once was utter destruction and desolation was actually a place of untapped power waiting to be reclaimed , and it's available for you too . It's available for every single person who chooses it , and another preview of upcoming attractions . It gets easier I swear to you it does . Once you find that winning combo that works for you , the patterns that were stuck for years can shift in months . Programs that you haven't been able to delete for decades will all of a sudden be rewritten . It can happen . It does .

Final Thoughts and Invitation

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So here are some questions for you . Do you have a clear vision of the life you want to leave ? To help with that , what are three things that stress you the most ? What are three things bringing you the most joy ? Are there any challenges you find yourself repeatedly coming up against ? What would happen if those were gone ? And once you have a clear vision of what you want your life to look like , ask yourself what will I need to give up to find my way to this future ? What will I need to embrace or cultivate to prepare myself to receive this future ? And what is my next step to co-create the fulfillment of this future ?

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Doing the work is what this podcast is all about . I am here to help you navigate that journey , offering support , sharing ideas , techniques , tools connecting you with visionaries and teachers who can help you figure yourself out . This will not be the last time we dive into cultivating a growth mindset or expanding awareness or releasing subconscious programming , but the key ingredient in all of it is willingness . It's the foundation upon which everything else is built . If you have any questions , reflections or just want to share your thoughts , feel free to click the message me button if you're listening on Spotify , or you can always email me at rootsoftherise at gmailcom . And don't forget to follow or subscribe so you don't miss next week episodes where we'll be focusing on the fourth chakra , our heart . I hope you have a wonderful weekend and , even though I've said it before , I'll keep saying it Know who you are , love who you've been and be willing to do the work to become who you want to be .