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Be You. To the Full

by Di Russell
Apr 17, 2026
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Have you ever experienced the raw joy expressed by a child —
the kind that simply steals your heart?

I find myself so drawn to it. Captivated by it.

I experienced it again this week with one of my grandchildren.

They had an idea… and shared it with such enthusiasm.

"Do you like to drive a red car, Meemah?"

Of course I replied, “Yes — absolutely — a red car sounds great!”

Looking so pleased with themselves, the direction came back,
“You drive the red car, I’ll drive the pink car… and we’ll drive together.”

There was nothing to get from that moment.
Just joy.

We experienced it… and then it was gone.

And I found myself wondering…

Why is it that children are so good at that?

Could it be that they haven’t yet learned how to think differently to who they truly are?

Because it’s not just what they say or do…
it’s the energy they’re in.

It feels like freedom.

♡

Can you remember the last time you felt that way?

Or even… if you ever have?

So free to just be yourself —
without any concern about what others might think or say.

There’s something in you —
a Life Power —
and it’s always looking to be freely expressed.

It’s not something you have to find…
it’s already here.

And yet, somewhere along the way,
we start holding back.

Second guessing.
Trying not to be too much…
or trying to be enough.

For who?

I can remember how old I was when I first became aware of ‘fitting in’… or not.

And here I am, 55+ years on…
and thankfully, enjoying being myself — more freely and fully than ever.

Because the real cost of holding ourselves back isn’t just in what we don't say or what we don’t do.

We quieten our imagination.
We override our intuition.
We let ideas pass us by.

It’s like something in us slowly goes quiet.

And life can start to feel… a little muted.

A little contained.

And that’s not really living.

♡

I’ve really been noticing how much of this is tied to how we move through our days.

When we’re tight…
rushed…
trying to stay on top of everything…

we don’t hear much beyond the noise.

But when we let go, something softens…
even just a little…

there’s more space.

And in that space, something opens.

A thought.
An idea.
A sense of what feels right.

Not loud.
Not demanding.

Just… there.

Maybe that’s why those moments of joy with children feel so wonderful.

There’s no holding back.
No managing.
No filtering.

Just expression.
Just being.

And perhaps that’s not something we’ve lost…

but just something we’ve moved away from —
and can return to.

♡

At DiLive, everything we do is to support people who are passionate about living a life they love — using their three gifts of Life, Mind & Faith.

The first expression of DiLive to come uniquely through me (back in 2017) was The Retreat: Beautiful — be you to the full.

After 9 years of allowing this to grow and deepen…
I’m only more aware — and in awe — of what it opens up for those who step into it.

We have one place left at the May ’26 retreat… is it yours?

Until next time,

Be you, to the full.

Di 💛


If you'd like to stay connected in other ways, you can explore

💛 The Morning Shift  - in person sessions

💛 Great Minds Pods - small group coaching

💛 Thrive Lifestyle Community - online

 

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