And the work of values

Some of the most valuable work we as humans do in this life is the work of undoing the stories that have been packed onto us since we were born so we can create a life that feels authentic and aligned.

It’s important on a micro level, and a macro one.

As an individual on Earth experiencing our own lifetime, self understanding, healing, processing, knowing and acutalization is its own reward.

When we learn how and why we react to certain situations, we can make the choice to pause and notice the story that is part of our narrative.

When we practice processing our thoughts and feelings instead of reacting to everything that is coming at us all the time in our busy day-to-day lives, we can see things more objectively and detach from what we’re making it mean.

When we make a habit of this inner work, we learn to trust ourselves more and we suffer less.

When we can mitigate our own suffering on the small things in our lives, it has an impact on the bigger things, too.

This is why inner work is important on a macro level, too.

Because our relationship with ourselves informs every other relationship we have.

When we're less reactive, we show up differently for the people around us. When we can hold space for our own complexity, we extend that grace to others. When we stop operating from old wounds and inherited narratives, we break cycles — in our families, our workplaces, our communities.

Imagine what the world would look like if we were all less reactive.

It’s not lost on me that the news (horrors) that are unfolding daily are a reflection of someone’s values. Power. Money. Systems built for the privileged, by the privileged.

Even through it all, I’m still convinced that the stories we undo in ourselves have a ripple effect and create permission for others to do the same.

Inner work helps us discern what we really believe — not just what we’re taught. When we return to ourselves we recommit to what we value, and find and use our voices instead of accepting the rhetoric of the majority.

This is how we grow. This is how change occurs.

The work of undoing isn't one-and-done. It's an ongoing daily practice that often results in the realigning of our values and commitments.

The practice of undoing can look different for everyone, but there are some commonalities, too:

It looks like pausing before we react and checking in with our selves.

It looks like examining a belief instead of defaulting to what we think we know.

It looks like choosing the discomfort of evolving instead of going along with the status quo.

It looks like gut-checking ourselves for alignment instead of doing something out of obligation or worry about what it “looks like” to someone else.

It looks like speaking your truth and standing up for what we hold most dear.

How we practice is how we change. And, how we change is how the world changes.

What do you value most? Is it obvious by your actions?

Pledging allegiance to humanity,
Michelle

P.S. I’ve called within the last few days. You?

P.P.S. Ready to undo some old stories and live more freely and fully? Let’s work together.

P.P.S. My Arcana 2026 closes soon, check it out!

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Peace in Practice