Many of us have been carefully taught that being autonomous is selfish. Have you ever been thrown into a wall of negativity and betrayal, fed by voices that say your actions as a separate, functioning "I" are selfish and wrong? That was the message Heather received from her family.

Your soul is your own and when you make decisions to nurture and protect it, you are making a choice that is self-centered and healthy. In fact, this kind of decision, in the long run, is generous, since it is through our soul that we make our greatest contribution.