Rest.
Beautiful, deep, effortless, simple and life-giving rest...
What does it look like for you?
Sinking into the stillness of my restoration practise is pure bliss for my weary soul, and has become a part of my day that is non-negotiable.
It's not important how much time I spend giving back, nor how I choose to show up for myself, rather that I intuit what my needs are and honour them in a way that leaves me feeling recharged, reenergised and reconnected.
It might be a gentle walk on the beach one day and a restorative yoga practise the next.
It might be 10 minute meditation practise or a 2 hour nap.
The overriding point of prioritising time out is essentially to help me move me out of feelings of exhaustion and emptiness and into a space of vitality, ease, and fullness.
But what about the feelings of guilt that can arise when we slow down and consciously take time out for self care?
Ideas around rest in the current patriarchal paradigm see us put off taking time out to refuel as our conditioning points out that rest is indulgent, lazy or that we just don't have time for it.
If you could let go of those old thoughts, what might it look like to put your needs first for a change?
Change is undeniably one thing about our human experience that is inevitable....yet we can spend hours, days, weeks and even years struggling with letting change actually unfold in our world without a fight.
We cling, grasp, attach, and hold on for dear life to what we know (or think we know) because the mere thought of the unknown can bring us quickly and quite forcibly to our knees.
We live lives that are detached, unfulfilling, disconnected, soul-less, empty, adventure-less, dull and a tad too structured and over-analysed.
Spontaneity can become sporadic as we try our hardest to control all manner of things, but in the end the pursuit is pointless.
Only when we deeply understand that none of it is in our control - that our strong attachments will lead us to suffering - can we truly find freedom and what I believe is the source of a peaceful, happy and content life.
What do you think?
Here in the shadow light ceases to exist and all there is darkness.
Darkness threatening to consume...and so I let it for a time.
Here in the shadow all feels wearisome and heavy, like a weighted blanket is draped over my body and the effort to shake it from my shoulders requires more energy than I have to give right now.
Here in the shadow I can't escape...and so I stop trying to.
Instead I dive deep into the sensations in my body, the trapped emotions, the thoughts...
But is it ok to allow myself to feel all of it, or is it better to say a few affirmations, shove it down to that hidden silent place where it resides most of the time and get on with it?
Do I deny my shadow or embrace it?
Today I start with a quote from the divine Danielle Laporte...
"When you’re hammering yourself for being in pain again, gentleness is actually a breakthrough."
Can you really feel the potency of her wise words?
Do they resonate?
When I read this recently something deep within me reacted strongly.
It felt like a big wake-up call from the Universe, and when I allowed myself to really feel into the simplicity of the words, a tight knot residing for what feels like an eternity in the very core of my being slowly began to soften.
So you're telling me there's another way through the struggle?
One where I hold myself with love, tenderness and compassion?
One where I am gentle with myself???
