If you could see yourself through my eyes, you would be unstoppable

My Love Project expanded into a book and this is a poem that flowed while writing the book. It’s my love letter to you.

If you could see yourself through my eyes, you’d be unstoppable.

Who is it that’s holding you back?
Who seeded the voice in your head?

Who told you
that
you don’t deserve to hear the song of your soul?

Who told you
that
you can only
work the job you have now?
Only live
where you live now?
That
life is set in stone.
From here on in
there is
no more change.

Who told you?
Who planted the seed
that
grew into the voice
that
holds you back?

I want to take it away for you.
I want it to stop.

I see your sparkle.
I see how you carefully dim your light

I want to step in.
To carry you.
Who has been so cruel so as to train you to dim your light?

I want to hold you.
I wish I could take your pain away.
I would sit
with my hand on your back
and we would cry
for as long as it takes.

Until you realize you have wings.
That you are a bird in a cage and the door is open.

But.
I know.
If I were to do this for you, you would be cheated,
You would not know
that you can fly.

No.

So I sit and I wish and wish some more.
Who is telling you
That you can’t?

How can you stop listening?
Can you see yourself through my eyes?

You inspire me so.
Your talent runs deep in areas
that I will never learn.
I can only admire.

I admire you.
If you could admire yourself the way I do, you would be unstoppable.

I accept you as you are and as you want to be.
It’s ok to be mid-evolution.
Does the flower hate it’s bud for not yet being a blossom?
Is the caterpillar hiding from the world until it’s time to be a butterfly?

No.

And neither should you.
Please,
I beg of you:

Stop listening to the voices.

The poem above came out while I was writing the manuscript for my first book. It’s inspired by many conversations I’ve had regarding my Love Project — the practice of being in love with yourself — which all started with my article on medium a little over a year ago.

One friend in particular was asking me about how I worked to rearrange life so I can have more time and space for my creative passions. It was so straightforward (to me) that they are in the perfect position to do the same, but they kept coming back to this story listing the reasons why they can’t. The first version of this poem was written the day after that visit.

So I ask — where do these self limiting perspectives come from? To be in love with our self results in shifting the inner critic to a supportive and compassionate voice. The very beginning of my Love Project was simply to say I love you to myself. The book I’m publishing tells my story of a closed upbringing where I was taught that love is something we need to work for to deserve. The biggest part of my healing has been this practice.

The voice is still there — the one that tells me not to share this story, or that posting a poem is lame. But now, years into my Love Project, the supportive compassionate voice that wants me to be my best makes a better argument.

Jessica Evans is authoring life changing books and dabbles in being a process oriented business consultant to support her artist lifestyle.
Follow along at jessica-evans.ca or on instagram @ jessica.evans. writes