I AM

Written by Monica Samuels

I AM | The Story Behind the Labyrinth

I AM is a sacred, powerful, mantra which can literally shape our very being, who we are, what we become and how we live our lives. 

How we speak will determine the path we walk in this amazing world. I see the I AM often expressed as the motion of a Ferris Wheel. One moment, we may feel as though we are on top of world. Suddenly, without warning,  we may plummet right back down to earth. 

As a child, I was taught by my mother and grandmother to never give up, to  be grateful for all the wonderful blessings I have received, and to be honest  with myself and others. I learned difficult times were actually lessons we  could use to become stronger and help us appreciate life. 

A few years ago, my I AM faced its sternest challenge to date. I totally lost  my I AM... I was constantly in fight or flight mode. Waking up every morning  was like boarding a Ferris Wheel, with no idea what kind of ride I was on for  that day. I rode that treacherous, unpredictable wheel for years until I  realized that the lesson I learned was to use my experiences to give back. I  decided to harness my hard-earned knowledge and begin helping others  facing similar challenges. It was up to me to either shift from fight or flight  mode to giving mode, or stay in misery. 

When your I AM feels broken, you allow your days to just pass by; you lack  enthusiasm or motivation to change. You fall into a bad cycle, around and  around like a Ferris Wheel. 

In 2019 we received a wakeup call. Our 91-day healing journey began. We  realized that we had to change. As a mother, I had to develop my I AM to allow me to build a strong and stable foundation. Only then could I facilitate  positive change for my family. The time-tested airplane metaphor applies:  you must put on your own oxygen mask before you can help anyone else. 

We made a 360-degree lifestyle change. Commitment to I AM was the key  to the shift. We reconnected with Mother Earth by grounding, changing our  diets, and resetting our bodies at a cellular level with the cutting-edge  technology we had acquired. It wasn't easy, but once you see progress  toward healing, it becomes easier to stay on the path of living well and  enjoying the present moment with your family, your friends, and your I AM.

Walking my Labyrinth at home and at my healing center is a huge part of  realizing my I AM. The labyrinth is a pathway to that sacred space - "THE I  AM WITHIN" 

The labyrinth represents the journey to our center and back again, out into  the world. With a labyrinth, there is only one choice to be made. The choice  is whether to enter or not, to walk a spiritual path or not. The labyrinth  requires a more passive, receptive mindset. The labyrinth allows us to  remember how sacred our lives are, that it is a solemn obligation to fully  develop and transform ourselves, to be the best we can be. The labyrinth is  a tool which allows us to focus our spiritual power, hone our intuition, and  develop the vision and courage to meet every challenge life throws our  way. We must transform the story of I AM into an adventure, where you,  the hero, may emerge healed, fulfilled, transformed, and victorious. 

Now I AM ready to share my before and after, from Summer 2020 to now— my present moment. I AM more grateful, more thankful, and more engaged  each day, as time goes by! 

Commitment and a positive mindset are all we need to move forward. If I  did it, so can you!