What struck me most was how determined they were to address their challenges and make a stand for the love and joy they longed to experience. After all, unfulfilled desires do not want to be put on hold indefinitely. If we don’t tend to them consciously and fulfill them within our inner worlds, we feel the demand for fulfillment in the form of painful emotions, bodies, and relationships. These deep inner urges—such as feeling seen, heard, wanted, accepted, worthy and good enough—are fundamental. The longer we wait to commit to their fulfillment, the longer we feel insignificant—as if somehow we must not really matter. But the moment, we make a commitment to experience within ourselves just how much the Divine truly loves us, those inner urges start becoming fulfilled—first internally and then in the external world. Yes, it typically takes some time, but persistence is a sacred energy. As I got to know the women attending the retreat throughout the weekend, I was deeply moved by how quickly they created sacred sanctuary for themselves and opened to new depths of self love.
| 
