In following this idea, I gave myself a past-life regression so that I could see for myself exactly what needed to be released.  In the process, I recalled two significant lifetimes which showed me where my blockages were.

The first lifetime was one in which I was a beggar who lived in total deprivation as he devoted his life to God.  He lived a very repressed life and was even proud of it.  At the end of his life, in which he died on the streets, he realized that he could have chosen a different experience.  He could have chosen to still be of service without having to deprive himself so rigidly.

The next lifetime I recalled had immediately preceded this one.  This one proved to be a much more cathartic for me.  I was a very lonely woman, but extremely wealthy.  She had no friends or loved ones - only one servant who, despite her rude treatment of, was dedicated and stood by her side until the end.  Her heart was completely shut down and she was a very cold woman.  At the end of her life, she deeply regretted not having had love.  She chose to keep love out of her heart because of fear of rejection and pain.  I'm sure it was because at one time early in her life she experienced deep pain and loss in love, and vowed never to feel that pain again.  At the end of her life, she was overcome with grief at having to die so lonely and without love.

These lifetimes provided some necessary answers for me in which choice played a role.  In either lifetime, I was never really limited or restricted - only my beliefs and thoughts were oppressing me.  I simply couldn't see that I had the power to change my experiences by changing my beliefs and thoughts about what could or should be.  In my beggar lifetime, I chose to believe I should deprive myself in service of God.  I chose to believe that was the "right" thing to do.  In my lonely and wealthy lifetime, I chose to believe that I couldn't take the risk to open my heart to love.  I chose to believe that was the "wrong" thing to do.

The reason I'm sharing this with you is to show you that you, too have chosen a set of beliefs and thoughts - either given to you by another or that you have simply chosen to take on yourself - that limit you.  Some of which may be carried over from past lifetimes.  Either way, you have the choice to let the old sets go in exchange for new ones.  Now is a powerful time to do this inner work.  Be mindful of your ego-mind telling you what's "right" or "wrong" when reviewing these sets of beliefs and thoughts.  There is no "right" or "wrong" - there is only choice.  See if that choice feels true for you.  If it does, take a risk, open your heart, and follow it.  You can do it!