Stars are symbols of hope, positivity, and guidance. They remind us that there’s always a way to navigate the darkness. Just like humans, stars have a lifecycle. They’re born and then they die and burst into stardust, sprinkling themselves around the universe.

We’re fascinated by them and their existence. But what I think is equally fascinating is our connection to them.

I was watching a PBS special about how we’re all made of star stuff with my kids. It shared how when stars explode, their stardust creates the basic elements of Earth and everything (and everyone) within it.

The elements make up the molecules, that make up the cells, that make up the skin, bones, and muscles that make up our bodies.

The elements on Earth were created billions of years ago before our solar system was even born. The origin of many elements - like the calcium in our bones and the iron in our blood - forged from the last breaths of dying stars.

I’m not trying to get too scientific but I feel like this is necessary for me to drive home my next point: you were created from light.

Greatness.

Brilliance.

In the most practical way, we are connected to the Universe. You don’t have to believe in God to know this is a proven fact, rooted in science.

Everything around is energy. As all matter is energy, it means that the Universe is simply an abundance of energy.

According to quantum physics, a quantum is an indivisible unit of something and everything is made up of quantized fields. The fundamental blocks of all matter and energy, that is the atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, photons, etc. are not particles but bundles of field energy.

And within that exists infinite possibilities.

You may not be a woo-woo person, but you can’t deny science. The magic within us is fueled by and connected to the infinite possibility of the Universe.

When we convince ourselves that we cannot evolve or grow, we forget the limitless possibility within us. The stardust within us that is our light. When we fail to rise to our potential or lean into our higher selves, we dim the light (read star stuff) within us. We were created with limitless potential and abundance.

Somewhere, someone sold us the BS that you only get to choose ONE path or ONE journey and you MUST commit to it. Or it’s a failure.

From childhood, we’ve been sold that our potential is defined by something outside ourselves. When in fact we were born with limitless potential within us.

I find myself constantly undoing some of this programming my kids are experiencing. having a perfect grade makes you a Star student. Being a low performer means you’re failing. We accept these narratives about our identities early on and spend our adulthood wondering why external milestones never offer fullness or satisfaction.

I’ve personally set massive challenges and goals for myself that felt amazing the day I reached them. Then I woke up feeling empty. Starved. All over again.

Over the years of editing the programming I’ve received from school, the military, and corporate working environments I’ve been able to pinpoint the discontent. I can spot when I seek out a new journey from a place of fullness or emptiness. It matters knowing the difference because it impacts how I experience the journey.

The confidence that you see within me now is the result of discernment. It’s because I know how to tap into my fullness.

This portion requires more content than a 1K word post will permit. And I already know this may be a little over your head if you’re new to some of this. So I’ll just offer two places to start:

Lowering the background noise is the hardest step. You have junk and noise built upon junk and noise. Some you’re actively engaging in (like toxic people and addictions). Others are playing in the background (negative self-talk and triggering interactions). Conscious and subconscious. I can’t tell you where you fall with each. I can tell you that you have to raise your level of awareness to identify them. When you do, you have to start editing and undoing as I did. This is how you’re able to teach yourself discernment. The Universe speaks to you through your intuition. That gut, pulling, magnetic attraction that happens when you are fully aligned and in flow. That’s your magic-in-action. But you can’t do that without undoing it all.

Increasing the volume of your inner voice is simply having a ritual or system to listen to your intuition with intent. You were born with limitless possibilities within you. That means that you have an answer to each and every problem that you will encounter already.

When you’re driving and lost (even when you knew where to go next), you often turn down the music or ask your passengers to be quiet. Because you know that by lowering the background noise, you will tune into the answer.

Your intuitive ability to solve problems is the same. You have to become aware of the distractions so that you can listen to yourself.

When you learn to do this, you’ll see how quickly your confidence grows.