Uncover Your Inherent Goodness

Repeat after me: I am good.

In a world filled with constant distractions and busyness, it is easy to feel unsettled and disjointed. I often wonder if I’m doing things right, if I’m being the best wife, mother, friend, co-worker that I possibly could be. These feelings of doubt and comparison often leave me feeling dejected and alone.

But something I often miss—and something I’m sure many others miss as well—is a profound truth about myself that is always there: I am inherently good, just as I am. We are all inherently good, just as we are. We are good because we exist, and we have the power to be a profound source of goodness in the world around us when we embrace this truth and live out our purpose.

The question then becomes: How can we rediscover our goodness and live out that truth daily so that we might thrive in every aspect of our lives? What if the secret to rediscovering our goodness is to look inward? Practices like meditation and prayer are ways we can nurture our inner goodness and connect with the divine, the source of all good.

Meditation provides us with a quiet place for reflection and mindfulness, helping us connect to the present moment. Some of my favorite meditations are rooted in nature and Indigenous spirituality, offering a greater sense of encouragement, strength, and confidence.

This earth is a tiny island floating on stardust streams.
It is not the center of all that is
Though people may pretend it so.
It is only a little place, a back garden in need of care.

Intimacy begins in imagination
Compassion in recognition.
How small the distance from my heart to yours.
How near the sound of your breathing.

(Excerpted from “How Small the World” in Spirit Wheel by Steven Charleston.)

Prayer can also be a powerful tool that helps us connect with a greater source of good through sacred conversation and dialogue. No matter your vision of the divine—be it God, the universe, or the power of intention—prayer allows us to tap into this great source of goodness and to ask for guidance on our journey.

Good.
Very good.
Enough.
God’s own.

The truth breaks in.
It fills and blesses me with
a seat at the table and
holy permission to simply be.

My breath slows and I smile when
I get just enough air
between me and the world
to remember who I am.

(Excerpted from “A Blessing for Good Enough” in Ordinary Blessings by Meta Herrick Carlson.)

When we do catch a glimmer of that goodness and begin to nurture it, we embark on a beautiful journey of personal growth. At the core of this journey is the recognition that we aren’t perfect—nor are we meant to be perfect. Our missteps and our failures offer us opportunities to learn and grow and discover even more about ourselves. When we embrace our good and start to shed our feelings of insecurity and self-doubt, we can step into the fullness of who we are.

So as you explore the goodness within you and let your light shine, may your joy radiate out and bring us all a little closer to uncovering our own inherent goodness.

For more information about resources on meditation, prayer, and personal thriving, click here.