Sacred Sunday: Recognizing the Magic in Our Light

We're all worthy of miracles.

What I once felt ashamed of has now become the reason I celebrate myself and recognize my worth—a transformation I believe many of us experience on our journeys. For so long, I wrestled with loving parts of myself that others had used to humble or diminish me. I thought these traits were flaws—that I had a lot of growing up to do or fixing needed. But that wasn’t the full picture. They saw something in me I couldn’t yet see in myself. They saw a light, and for them, that light felt magnetic yet a little too revealing for their comfort.

I used to feel embarrassed about being too loud when I was passionate, happy, or excited. My random singing, the way I talk to myself, or the quirks I once tried so hard to hide—they were just examples of me showing up authentically. Looking back, I now realize people were amazed by how comfortable I felt being myself, especially in a world that rewards conformity and assimilation.

I’d get a lot of people wanting to be my friend or get close to me, only for it to feel disingenuous. Or I’d get random comments from strangers about how confident I seemed, and I couldn’t always tell if it was intended to be a compliment. I didn’t feel confident, so what was making me appear so? Some parts of me were simply too unconventional, too unapologetically different, and society’s response sometimes felt like a passive-aggressive “How dare she be okay with that?” rather than a "You go girl!"

For the first two decades of my life, I believed I was too weird, too loud, too selfish, too lazy, too sensitive, too vulnerable, too deep—too much. People would start to get to know me, past whatever idealized version of me they had in their minds, and then suddenly pull back or start to act weird toward me. I thought my quirks made genuine and authentic connections too difficult for me to attain or maintain. I started to think, “Maybe I am the problem.”

Then, I came to understand that I’m not neurotypical, and with that understanding came profound acceptance. These differences aren’t flaws just because others are too afraid to stand out in their own authenticity. Maybe they’re awkward or even a little embarrassing sometimes, but they’re part of what makes me beautiful.

There are people who love me for every bit of my odd self, but more importantly, I’ve learned to love every part of myself.

My childlike spirit—the same essence that once left me questioning my maturity—is now a reminder of my vitality. It keeps me youthful, even when others mistake it for naivety. I’m not scattered; I’m multifaceted, brimming with gifts that can’t be confined to a single box. I feel deeply, both the joys and the sorrows of life, because that’s the nature of a heart and spirit open to the full spectrum of living. I have a high justice sensitivity and react strongly to situations of unfairness because I believe in living by the golden rule and treating everyone with the love, kindness, and respect every human being deserves.

Reflecting the Light: A Dance with Shadows

When you carry a light, you inevitably attract shadows. My kind, empathic, and sometimes overly understanding nature has always drawn people to me. But not everyone who enters our lives aligns with our hearts and values. Some are drawn to your energy because they’re searching for what they lack, while others simply like to test your character. While their behavior isn’t a reflection of your worth, it can still take a toll on it.

I’ve always felt validated in being a good friend, daughter, sister, girlfriend, and person in general. People would often tell me how supportive and understanding I am, how I help them with their problems, go out of my way to uplift and celebrate them, and pour my love into them whenever and however I can. Even growing up, I got along with everyone I met, no matter the clique. I was probably friends with someone in every social group at school, and once, I even had two girls fight over who would be my friend—it was wild! I was shy, and none of my friendships started because I personally initiated them, so the magnetism was always pretty evident.

I wasn’t always perfect, and I still aim to improve on how I can show up for others—especially when dealing with my own issues—but I always try my best, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. In many ways, this would be why I’d be confused and hurt by certain situations where my efforts would go unappreciated and unreciprocated. I don’t act with underlying intentions of trying to use the people around me for personal gain, I’m just here to spread love.

For a long time, though, I questioned myself. My relationships often felt one-sided, confusing, or even competitive. Whether with family, friends, or partners, I assumed we were all raised to treat each other with the same respect, care, and understanding. But time and time again, I found myself on the receiving end of treatment that felt insincere, fake, or outright unfair.

I’d ask myself, “What am I doing wrong to keep attracting this?” I would replay every interaction, eager to take accountability and apologize for my part. But when I would bring up mistreatment on the other end, I was often met with deflection, denial, or manipulation. Suddenly, I was overreacting, attacking, or being too sensitive. I would then be told that I needed to be even more understanding, to take the high road and forgive—because if I didn’t, then I became the problem.

In therapy, we talk about this through the representation of Karpman’s Drama Triangle, where I once held a victim mindset, and as I find myself trying to break free of its constraints and rescue myself, those attempts end up with me becoming the persecutor to the original persecutor who now plays the victim to avoid taking accountability or dealing with their guilt.

Over time, I’ve come to understand that not everyone lives in their truth or values connection, depth, and self-awareness the way I do. Some people avoid accountability altogether, twisting the narrative when you call them out or try to set boundaries. It’s easier for them to criticize those who already stand out than to look in the mirror and confront their own issues with themselves.

For those of us called to break generational cycles, become spiritual healers and guides, or walk along divine paths, this is an all-too-familiar story. Our light often attracts envy, jealousy, or conflict, but it also has the power to illuminate truths—about people and the world we live in. If you resonate with this message, then this might be for you:

Standing Alone, Standing Strong

There’s a misconception that standing alone means you’re difficult or flawed. People love to say, “If she doesn’t have friends, there must be a reason.” And there is.

Standing alone sometimes means that you refuse to settle. Not all relationships have the foundation of mutual trust and respect, and not everyone is willing to celebrate your light without trying to dim it first. More often than not, I’m simply guarding my peace.

What we attract in life isn’t always a reflection of what we deserve. Many loving, generous, selfless people in this world are treated terribly in this world. Light has a unique magnetism. It doesn’t just draw things in from the dark; it clarifies, shining on what’s real and what’s not. Life has a way of layering illusions about ourselves, others, and how we connect within this puzzle of a world. Yet, I choose to see things through a different prescription, even when it feels isolating. I refuse to shrink myself to fit into spaces that demand I dim my brilliance or blindfold myself to the truth.

Embracing the Magic

This all makes me think about my connection to the Disney movie Encanto and the main character, Mirabel. She stood out in her family because she was the one without a gift. No matter what she did, how she tried to help, or how she showed up in her own unique ways, she was always treated like she was in the way or causing problems.

Mirabel didn’t recognize the gift, already within her. She felt like it was too late for her miracle, believing she’d never be that one-in-a-million person who experiences magic in their life.

*This song is great for clearing the throat chakra, I know because I end up bawling like a baby every time I try to perform it during my shower concert

But that gift within her, the one that triggered her family so much, was a light that revealed her family’s unhealthy dynamics and cycles: the way they performed and masked for one another, especially to meet her grandmother’s high standards, simply wanting to avoid the wrath of her disappointment.

“Under the surface, I'm pretty sure I'm worthless if I can't be of service…

…Give it to your sister, your sister's older
Give her all the heavy things we can't shoulder…

But wait, if I could shake the crushing weight of expectations
Would that free some room up for joy or relaxation, or simple pleasure?
Instead, we measure this growing pressure…”

Surface Pressure

“It's a heavy lift, with a gift so humbling
Always left Abuela and the family fumbling
Grappling with prophecies they couldn't understand…”

We Don’t Talk About Bruno

“I make perfect, practiced poses
So much hides behind my smile”

“What could I do if I just grew what I was feelin' in the moment?…
What could I do if I just knew it didn't need to be perfect?
It just needed to be? And they'd let me be?”

“I wanna feel the shiver of something new
I'm so sick of pretty, I want something true, don't you?”

“What can you do when you know who you wanna be is imperfect?”

“Making waves (making waves), changing minds (you've changed mine)
The way is clearer 'cause you're here, and well
I owe this all to you”

What Else Can I Do?

(Let’s all take a moment of silence to collectively thank Lin Manuel-Miranda for his musical contributions to the world)

Magic is all around us, and we are filled with it, too!

I used to struggle to understand how people could ever be envious or jealous of me; my physical life didn’t seem like anything luxurious or magical. I struggled just like everyone else and didn’t even value my own life at some points. But now, I see the magic within my light.

Believing in it, in myself, has empowered me to create a physical life that feels just as magical and special as my dreams. Every day, I see it manifesting through my growing joy, confidence, and self-worth. I feel more capable than ever, and as I stand strong in my identity, I’ve noticed how others see the shift too.

I am worthy and deserving of magic and miracles. We all are! It’s as simple as believing in your light and not letting the shadows scare you away from it. Destiny swapping is real—people can pull you away from a more divine life by simply convincing you that you’re something you’re not. But we all have the chance to be that one in a million. Our environments and the opinions of others don’t have to determine who we are or where we go in life.

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The beauty of carrying light is the ability to see it in others and helping them to unlock it. I’m learning to trust myself to stand strong in my identity around connections that don’t align and to honor my boundaries unapologetically. Because, in the end, I was given this light to share it, so I have to protect it.

To anyone who feels pressure to shrink—to silence your quirks or passions—let this be your reminder that your light is sacred. Those traits you feel ashamed of? They’re part of your magic. Shine, even when it feels hard. Your light is divine, and you were given it for a reason.