My friend Caroline and I were out shopping one day when we noticed some items on a half-price table. Immediately our eyes went to a stunning Serafin angel that had been marked down. I picked it up and noticed a label: "Broken - half-price.”

Though we looked carefully, we couldn't find the flaw. We took it to the counter and asked the sales clerk to show us the break. She too could find nothing.

"Maybe it was put on the table by mistake.” I said.

The clerk went to the back room to ask her manager. When she finally returned, she said "My manager said that it it's on the half-price table, then it's on sale.”

"What about the break?” we asked her.

"My manager says if it's marked 'broken.' then it's broken. Do you still want it?”

"Yes, yes, we'll take it.”

Were you labeled "broken” at some point while growing up? Were you humiliated and dumped on a half-price table for all to see? Were you awkward at something? Not good enough? Too much trouble? Did some adult calculate your worth and give you a price tag? Those labels are rubs on your rock of self esteem.

Sometimes we may feel like broken angels, but we're not really broken at all. There's nothing wrong with us, but the labels from the past are a heavy burden. We've convinced ourselves that they were right after all. Those labels bruised our spirits. They were the voice of authority that as children we felt we couldn't challenge. But you can now.

Appreciate that you are unique. Even your flaws and imperfections are unique. Connect to your spiritual genesis, to the fact that you have wings. Your Magnificent core cannot be harmed by anyone. This is what esteeming the self is all about.

The Tibetan people h

ave a traditional greeting. When they see each other, they put their hands together palm to palm, fingers pointing up, in front of their chest, bow and say the words "Tashi deley.” The words mean, " I salute the Magnificence in you.” Imagine what a kinder, gentler world it would be if everyone greeted each other in such a holy way. Tashi deley expresses a deep reverence for one another. It is what our world needs today. It would help us realize who we are if the people around us would, at least on occasion, reflect our Magnificence.

When we're not seen for who we are, we disconnect. We mourn. Remember that when you put yourself down, whether consciously or unconsciously, you are denying your Magnificence. And when you deny your Magnificence, you give others permission to do the same.

If we become aware of our hurts, learn to feel our pain and heal it, we become whole again. And when we're whole, we feel worthy. When we're whole, we can afford to give our love unconditionally. When we're whole, we don't see the flaws in the angel, we just see the beauty, the Magnificence.

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