Be the Hunter, Not the Hunted

Has it felt like you are at the beck and call of life circumstances lately? Does it feel like your relationships, personal struggles, and deep-rooted issues are coming to the surface to hunt you down and destroy you, one moment at a time? Is your attention being drawn away from those you love and the things you love doing?

Has your focus on your journey and creative expression taken a back seat to the demands others place on you? Do you feel like you are being recruited to be everyone’s savior, support, and healer?

There is a difference between supporting someone and letting them drain you dry of every ounce of life and joy you have. Healthy self-support means not ignoring your own needs and journey, and it involves shedding feelings of misplaced guilt and shame for burdens that are no longer yours to carry. Release the belief that you are unworthy of love and let go of the notion that others’ needs are more important than your own. This is not compromise in a relationship; this is abuse and self-neglect.

I encourage you to see through the assumptions others make about you, the expectations placed on you, and the tantrums or extremes people use to get what they want. See the truth, so you can sidestep manipulation and refuse to become prey to the hunter.

We can believe the truth: we are smarter than the hunter. We recognize old patterns and can now respond more creatively to develop new and improved relationships with others. You do NOT have to be drawn into the drama of others or their repetitive struggles.

You can become still, with intent and a willingness to see the truth. When you are open to being shown another way through your inner wisdom, light can flash into your heart and penetrate your awareness. Enjoy the still moments alone to sit with your thoughts and learn to listen to your intuition. When you can do this, you can respond to others from a place of love and truth. You can reply with honesty—free from guilt or apologies—releasing unhealthy patterns of people-pleasing.

I encourage you to embrace self-empowerment, freedom, and self-love. Accept the wisdom of nature, like the owl’s ability to hear what is not spoken and see what is hidden in the darkness. Trust beyond appearances, and listen to the rhythm of life as the owl does.

Imagine staring up at a deep indigo sky, with a full moon shining above. The stillness of the night surrounds you. Peace is all you sense. Then, you feel the brush of wings moving through the air, and you look up to see an owl pass by the moon. The power and grace of the owl remind you of its strong instinct and sharp vision, even in the dark.

The owl finds its way to you, sitting at your feet. Suddenly, you begin to see truths obscured by lies. You see past manipulation, whether it is conscious or not. You will no longer be hunted, preyed upon, or disillusioned.

Affirm to yourself, “With unconditional love, I will be inspired to gracefully be the hunter and not the hunted.”