May mantra is “OM Gam Ganapataye Namaha” Mantra is sound meditation. The Sanskrit language is unique as it’s a vibrational , sacred language evoking a pathway to inner peace, connection and transformation. This mantra, or any prescriptive mantra is ideally chanted 108x, using a mala 📿 necklace as it has 108 beads, for 40 days. You can also, instead of a formal sit down practice, chant the mantra all through out the day; out loud or in the mind. The idea is that; repetition builds mastery. Since Sanskrit is an energy based language, we are creating energy through spoken word and intention each time we chant. The energy builds upon itself creating a vortex of transformation.
Why chant? Who is Ganesha? The idea of the deities, avatars or great ones in the Yoga tradition are aspect of ourselves in which we already are, or whom we hope to become. They are symbols, and where the mind goes, energy flows.
Ganesha is the elephant deity, and the symbol of “the remover of obstacles and protection.” As this does not guarantee life will become easier by connecting with this mantra energy, but rather draw our mind to solutions and clarity to our perceived problems rather than swimming in fear, disconnect and hopelessness in our minds and hearts.
Mantra is intention, just like any other form of meditation or visualization. Before anything manifests in reality it must first be created consciously or unconsciously in the mind filters.
What we think we become. All is energy, including thought. Where the mind goes.. again.. energy flows…
We always have choice: To stay in fear and hopelessness, or move towards the light and love in which we are. 💜
Whenever I am feeling out of sorts, lost, ungrounded, anxious or looking to shift perspectives I tend to seek out the natural world as my teacher.
Nature teaches us many wisdoms. For one, it shows us how small and insignificant our perceived problems are. The vastness of a mountain or expansiveness of the ocean is a reminder that all is as it should be, it’s our concept or ideal around an “issue” that is causing suffering.
“We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.”-unknown
Tuning into the change of seasons, watching the ever expansive sky; sunrises, sunsets and the billions of stars illuminating the night teaches us that there are cycles to the self and life. That nothing stays the same, that part of our purpose is to embrace these cycles, as each transition is a step forward to the awakening of our divine purpose and gifts.
One day, a while back I was struggling with a perceived issue that seemed so big and insurmountable to me at the time. We took a day trip into the Sierra Nevadas in Northern California. We stopped at a lake; brought some food and drinks and stayed for the afternoon. I was mesmerized by the sunlight reflecting off the lake creating thousands of baby diamond light flickers off the water. My mind became still, as I embraced the moment.
A insight rolled in, as they usually do once I allow my mind to quiet down.
“Everything is perfect, in divine time as it is. It’s your perception of reality that is causing you great discomfort and suffering.”
The insight was exactly right! Isn’t it our war with reality that makes us suffer? In that moment, ha! It was just a moment, I was able to let go and feel peace as I allowed and aligned with a open hearted trust, “things are in their divine place and as they should be.”
But of course the ego chimed in, my mind chatter revved up and I began having an internal debate with my soul, basically. Isn’t this so human of us to fight our true nature and divine truths?
As at times I embody that same wisdom, it’s like having daily amnesia, I forget that all is on time and on purpose. Nothing happens in Gods world by mistake. I also realized if we don’t like the reality we have created for ourselves, we have the power to change it. However whatever reality or story we find ourselves in, there will always be lessons and challenges.
There are blessings in each circumstance. Seems like a paradox, well because it is; often the things that bring us to our knees in life are nothing but doorways connecting us to the freedom within.
Trusting the unfoldment of our lives. While doing our best to not resist or fight life’s circumstances or ourselves.. Rather, quiet the mind, takes some space and step into nature; if only to marvel at the magnificence of the natural world, while embracing the divine being that you are.
All is as it should be. You are safe, you are loved.
I’m a big fan of healing, growth and transformation. I believe it’s why we are here; soul in a body. To overcome obstacles; the biggest one being ourselves and learning lessons to help us to evolve and awaken. In the middle of a Yoga practice a inner voice spoke, “Work for what you want, while loving what you got.” Hmm, I thought. Where did that insight come from? I guess it was something I needed to ponder..
Often when we are on a path of personal growth and discovery it’s easy to get caught up in the mindset, “Once I arrive at this new destination, then I’ll feel whole, complete..or fill in the blank.” It’s almost like the forward sight towards our goals is negating how far we have come to arrive in this moment.
That’s why it’s important to love where you are, while working towards what you want. I don’t know about you, but feeling stuck or stagnant in life is a uncomfortable feeling. Yes, at times it’s important to slow down. We don’t always need to be taking on some big self help project to move forward in life.
However, the little steps matter. For example ask yourself what you would like to work towards. Maybe you want to learn a instrument, get more fit, shift career paths or travel. Whatever the end goal is, what are small steps you can take each day to guide you to that destination?
Forward momentum cultivates confidence, self efficacy and personal empowerment.
Often we give up on ourselves to quickly! We lose faith, the process is often long and arduous. Sometimes even boring! We think what’s the use! I’ll give up, it’s easier to stay here.. What happened to the dream, the desire? And it can be self defeating if we don’t even like where we are, because we are comparing it to some unknown, unmanifested fairyland in our minds. You might think “I don’t like where I am now, but once I arrive I’ll feel better.” Or even worse! We compare ourselves and progress to others! Doh! That usually doesn’t work well and can impede our growth and progress. While spiraling us down the abyss of self sabotage and defeat.
Rather shift the energy. Name, even better write down 3 things you are grateful for in the present, and another 3 things you love about yourself in the present. Take a moment to appreciate how far you have come, How hard you have worked. Connect to your strengths and gifts. We are all blessed with unique gifts! Stay in the moment while keeping your minds eye on where you want to go in your life or self.
Be firm in your resolve while being kind with yourself. There is no destination to the inner work. The growth and transformation journey carries on to infinity.
I have never seen someone not succeed by taking action, but I have seen dreams dwindle by giving up. Trust the process and yourself. I can guarantee it’ll look different, especially the outcome! Love where you are, while working for what you want.
Joshua Tree national park is one of our favorite parks for many reasons. It’s sunny, dry and has a spiritual aura about it that leaves you in a blissed out state of being. We also found a hidden gem called the White Water Preserve. I’ll share more on that piece of paradise soon.
Our first experience with Joshua Tree was back in 2019 during the super bloom. I highly recommend traveling through the park when the dead desert floor is beaming with life and color. This time around, no super bloom, but nonetheless had a wonderful day exploring the park north to south side. Keep an eye out for the super bloom experiences! They usually happen in March or April, but not every year. If and when there is a rainy winter, the likelihood of a super bloom happening are high!
Super bloom 2019
The best way to tour the park is with a vehicle. There is camping inside the park, and free BLM camping at the south end right outside the park. If you are more of a hotel motel kinda traveler you can stay in the towns of Yucca Valley, Twentynine palms or as far out as Palm Springs (about an hour away).
Our first trip we stayed in Palm Springs, this trip we traveled through in our camper van and camped in the Palm Desert. You can easily spend a week or more hiking and exploring through the park. We only had one day to tour and we brought our doggo Gypsy.
Dogs aren’t allowed to walk within 100 yards from the road, which means you can’t take them on many of the hiking trails. We had a doggy backpack and were able to walk a bit with her on off roads that allowed dogs. If you don’t have a dog, the park is free to roam. They also have a dog boarding place right at the north end of the park. More information about dogs in the park on their website https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/pets.htm
Since we have been here before, and did most of the hikes we wanted to in 2019. This time around we enjoyed simple .5- 1 mile nature walks exploring the trippy, out of this world landscape. The north end of the park has most of the Joshua Trees and funky boulder and rock formations. The south end of the park you get to see Cholla cacti, Ocotillo’s, mountains and some smaller canyons.
Definitely pack a lunch, snacks and drinks and enjoy your day or longer stay! Soak up the incredible landscape, it feeds your soul with much healing, awe and wonder.
The next weekend we discovered an absolute gem in the Palm desert called the White Water preserve. Here, you can hike with your beloved furry family member on some of the trails.
We hiked a 3.7 mile trail called the Canyon View loop trailhttps://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/whitewater-canyon-view-loop-trail This was just a perfect hike! What I mean by that it had a fantastic balance of mountains, desert, rivers, flora and fauna. It’s just challenging enough to feel like you got worked, but no so over the top where you feel dead by the time you reach the mountain top. Did I mention you can bring your doggo?
Our little 20 lb. Frenchie crushed the hike! She loved it. I was super impressed she bulldogged through all 3.7 miles, we were half prepared to carry her 1/2 the way. We definitely wore her out for the rest of the afternoon though.
The Pacific Crest Trail also intersects the whitewater preserve; and there are many other options for hiking and exploring in that area as well. If you are traveling during the weekends, make sure to get there before 9:00a as parking is limited. It’s also the desert! So it can get hot! Best time to visit is early spring, late fall and winter.
As an added nature bonus, If you are cruising through the city of Palm Springs check out the botanical gardens! I have never seen such a wide variety of cacti and desert plants from different regions. If you are into unique plants and colorful hummingbirds this is a must stop in the desert. Ps: You can bring your pup too! http://www.moortenbotanicalgarden.com/
A wild adventure took us to Lone Pine California for 5 nights, 6 days. We found this location sort of by accident, if anything is ever truly an accident. We were heading south; moving from the Sacramento area to San Diego and looking for a few epic stopping points along the journey to our new Southern California homestead.
I found this location while scoping out free to cheap BLM camping near the desert of Southern California. Popped up on my Pinterest page one evening was this gorgeous shot of snow capped rugged mountains and out of this world boulder rock formations. I explored further and it guided me to the town of Lone Pine California to a place called the Alabama hills.
The Alabama hills is a destination for cinematographers and movie buffs alike as hundreds of movies from the 1940’s to present were filmed at these iconic desert meets the mountain locations.
There are 2 camping options there; The Alabama hills recreation area and Tuttle creek campground. Both are owned by the bureau of land management (BLM) in which you can camp up to 14 consecutive days for free to upwards of 5$ a night. Rates go up a bit at tuttle creek during high season April-September.
We decided to stay at the Tuttle creek campground as it seemed less busy than the Alabama hills recreation land. Also for that 5$ a night you got pit toilets, garbage cans, fire ring and a picnic table. The other location is authentic bare bones boondocking. Both are wonderful options.
Since it was off season, February- the water and sewage dump station were not available. We packed in all we needed; water, food and propane to have a comfortable stay.
We posted up in site #26 towards the back of the campground. It had absolutely gorgeous, unobstructed views of the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The grounds were maybe 10% full of campers, it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.
The first couple nights the weather behaved. It would be in the high 50’s-low 60’s during the day. The evenings were another story; 27-38*. We traveled in a camper van with heat, which made those evening temps more manageable. But nonetheless, it got cold!
This is a interesting landscape! It is a valley that sits right between the Sierra Nevada mountains and Death Valley national park. The location is the dry side of the Sierra mountain range. Very low humidity, and dry sweeping winds that chap your face and lips raw in a matter of days.
We were able to work from our campsite. The Verizon signal was decent and the wifi was very good. On our days off we played at the Alabama Hills recreation area and did some lovely hikes with our dog Gypsy. The day we hiked, was probably the nicest day we were there, almost warm! We hiked the trail to the famous arch that framed Mount Whitney. There are tons of little arches forming too. It’s fun to scope out the landscape and see if you can spot any arches in the rocks; large and small.
The last 2 nights of our stay, a bitter cold, unforgiving windstorm rolled in. It shook our van all night, and on the second night it froze our propane lines. We all dog piled up with wool blankets to stay warm. We ran out of heat, and our van got down to 48* at night. In the morning we had to cook breakfast outside in the 30* temps.
The fun part of the windstorm was that we watched the 80’s classic “Tremors” while the wind howled and shook our van. Tremors was filmed right at the place we camped and explored in the Alabama hills area.
By Friday morning we were ice cold and sleep deprived. We had a wonderful stay, however it was time to head further south to warmer temperatures.
On our way out of Lone Pine we stopped to get some comfort food at the Alabama Hills bakery and cafe. The cafe got great reviews and didn’t disappoint! Decided to splurge a bit, ordered the breakfast burrito and the peach-berry coffee cake. It was a great way to end a wonderful adventure through the rugged, eastern tip of the infamous Sierra Nevada mountain range.
No wonder so many old west flicks were filmed here. By the end I felt like a real modern day cowgirl exploring the final frontiers of the west.
What is it about taking risks that is absolutely liberating and a bit scary at the same time?
That sense of aliveness that comes from stepping into unknown territories and new frontiers. Risks are dreams waiting to be realized and consciously created. The willingness to take a risk, or chance is the ability to trust that whatever happens is guiding you more near to inner growth and joy no matter what the outcome.
Everything begins as a dream, from our deeper self. We are the dreamer dreaming our own dream. A risk is a intentional action that acknowledges future uncertainty about deviation from an expected outcome. Risk measures the uncertainty one is willing to take to realize a possible future gain. Taking a chance on changing careers, moving somewhere new, investing in ones education, starting a new business all begin as a dream, a vision from ones heart and being.
I don’t believe our life dreams are random, they are leading us to our divine purpose and gifts.
Without risk there would be little growth for forward momentum, as nothing is certain or stays the same. To have choice to stay the same, or move beyond is a gift to our souls purpose. I believe within each human lives a dream that is asking to be known, seen and worked towards. That thing inside that feels “oh so right”- a true alignment with our mission is what moves us forward beyond current realities.
3 levels of taking risks:
Level 1: Dip your big toe in:
How do we know what and when is a good time to take a risk? Dip your toe in the water. Start by taking small risks. Play with the edges, get just a smidge uncomfortable. Learn to trust your instincts. Get curious about the outcomes, studying risk is a great way to begin. Be playful, explore and see how each time you take small steps, that can help you build more confidence in yourself and the universe in which you are co-creating with.
Level 2: Turn within:
Ask yourself what you really want for your life. Life map, what would it take to get there? What are your biggest fears and possible obstacles, and what would happen if you stayed the same, or grew into this new dream? Straight up journal and meditate on this, begin to listen to your soul and trust your inner compass, your true north.
Level 3: The leap of faith:
You have done the work to lead up to this moment. You have taken smaller, intentional risks, explored your edges of comfort and learned to be open to different outcomes.
You are ready for the leap of faith! The bigger step towards your dreams aka: souls calling.
Maybe you want to invest in your future with additional schooling, a new home, relationship or career. You are happy and comfortable where you are, you also feel there is something bigger waiting for you.
Jump into the abyss of the unknown! Yup, it will be a wild adventure, you will fall and pick yourself back up; becoming stronger and more resilient. You will meet people along the way that will help you realize your dream. Even the perceived “obstacles” are opportunities for you to grow, and awaken your potential. You will question your decision at times, and remember the days you were comfortable and content. Through this all, you will also feel alive, excited and learn things about yourself you had no idea existed.
You will create your dream, and it will look different that you imagined- most of the time “better”. You will arrive at your new reality a bit scuffed up, polished and even brighter than before. Like a coal under pressure that becomes a diamond.
It hasn’t been easy, but looking back you have grown so much as a person. You have made new friends, and built more confidence in yourself. You may, or may not have “arrived”.
At this point you realize that the dream you dream is a story inside you waiting to lived, not achieved. That each risk, large or small; bring your closer to living your life more fully, with presence and deep intention. With each risk, your heart opens to more grace and possibility. You learn that whether you take a risk intentionally or not, life itself is a risk as well waiting for you to play with it, exploring and learning great lessons along the way.
Risk; is the ability to tune in, listen and create our lives consciously with mad faith, moving from the place of desire to grow and create expanded joy in our lives, fearlessly.
For most of my life I have ran from my feelings and my own sensitivities. what I mean by running isn’t necessarily a physical manifestation, it can show up in the form of distracting oneself. Distracting oneself with addictions, over working, busy work, exercise, perfectionism, social media, and other outside things to avoid or numb out uncomfortable sensations and experiences. What I have also learned that this is a coping tool for traumas small and large, a way to emotionally be ok. And honestly, it works well, until it doesn’t any longer. Eventually this pain or suffering is asking us to look at it, and love it.
I share this because I know I am not alone in this wanting to distract oneself from self defeating inner dialogue, stressors, disappointments in life, and patterns of pain. This does not make us bad or broken, these experiences makes us human learning to navigate the human condition. Being human is a art and science, and a lifetime of inner work, practice and remembering who we are.
It has taken a lifetime to learn about myself (still learning, always) my patterns and tendencies of wanting to distract from life. For years I used alcohol to numb my inner sufferings. Seeking outside resources to fill that God sized whole within. Getting sober in 2012 was my first step in this wild adventure of awakening and healing. I believe the path of awakening evokes a clearer vision of the things that hold us back from our greatness and potential.
Walking through the things that trouble us, or hold us hostage in our own minds and hearts can feel like a hindrance, however they often are gifts in hindsight. Obstacles are often perceived as annoyances, however they are put on our path to strengthen our resolve and return us to our power within. Things are being revealed to be healed, within that knowing we can find freedom, and come back to our healing through authenticity.
Along my journey of personal and spiritual development I have learned some key lessons that have guided me in becoming “unstuck” and helped me to move forward into healing and happiness.
1.) Be still, slow down and get quiet. This is a tough one! It took me many, many years of inner suffering to learn that the the only way out is through. To this day, I still try the old outdated coping skill of distraction, only to find myself swirling and spiraling in my own self demise. When I choose stillness practices such as meditation, breathing, yoga nidra, journaling, self inquiry or simply lying on the floor- I feel myself begin to heal on a heart and visceral level. I feel myself beginning to integrate and return to my intrinsic wholeness. The shift within feels like balance, peace and serenity. Nothing outside of me fills me up more than these simple, yet profound practices.
2.) Compassion and unconditional love for oneself. This is a practice that I believe is one of the most important and potent ones. Learning to cultivate a loving, kind compassionate relationship with one self, can change the trajectory of our life and the experiences we have with others. Being gentle with ourselves along the way is huge for cultivating compassion, and loving kindness towards oneself and those we hold dearly. Thích Nhất Hạnh quotes: “When the baby is crying, the mother picks up the baby and she holds the baby tenderly in her arms. Your pain, your anxiety is your baby. You have to take care of it. You have to go back to yourself, to recognise the suffering in you, embrace the suffering, and you get a relief.”
3.) Surrender. Resistance to reality is futile! One of my favorites spiritual teachers Stephen Cope quotes, “Through practice, I’ve come to see that the deepest source of my misery is not wanting things to be the way they are. Not wanting myself to be the way I am. Not wanting the world to be the way it is. Not wanting others to be the way they are. Whenever I’m suffering, I find this war with reality to be at the heart of the problem.”
Being true to ourselves, aligning with “what is”, can transform the way we interact with our world. By not embracing what is, we are fighting, resisting and communicating to the universal intelligence that we don’t trust life and we know better.
I try to remind myself during times of anxiety and self doubt, “I do not know the big picture.” But if I believe, like I believe that all works out is for the greater good for all involved, I can relax deeper and find peace and trust in the mystery.
Surrendering to a power greater than ourselves is not giving up, In fact it is the strongest thing we can do. By surrendering, we are trusting in this power to help guide and care for us.
By surrendering, we are getting out of our own way in which expands our perspectives and encourages peaceful solutions to our problems.
Learning to acknowledge when we are distracting ourselves from our pain and uncomfortable emotions is a practice. To hold ourselves with care, patience and kindness as we move through challenging situations within ourselves is a life long practice of mindfulness and loving acceptance to what is. We don’t see the world as it is, we see it as we are. Ghandi most famously quotes, “be the change you wish to see.” Our growth and expansion as beings is one of the greatest services we can do for humanity.
We all have the power within, to heal, grow and thrive. Be still, take a deep breath and know that no matter what, you are loved, and are right where you are supposed to be. 💜
2020 was a incredible year for upheaval, awakening, change and shedding light on personal, cultural and global issues, dysfunctions and imbalances. In my life time, I have definitely gone through my own trials and transformations, but to do so along side the world at large was a wild, crazy and enlightening experience.
From a global pandemic, political, economical and environmental challenges. I don’t think anyone could catch a break or a breath edge wise. We all were truly hanging on by the seat of our pants, with lots of “oh fu@&s!” and anticipations.
In my little world, I lost jobs, switched careers, taught Yoga online, quit teaching yoga, started a you-tube channel, taught yoga again with masks and social distancing, rebranded my business, started a new job wellness coaching at a doctors office, got married, went on honeymoon, bought a sprinter van, traveled all over california, gained weight, lost weight, landed somewhere in the middle. I had a few health scares, my dog had a health scare, I made mistakes, I forgave, sold and gave away half our belongings, and planned and packed a move to Southern California in early 2021.
I don’t know if I am a glass half empty or glass half full kinda gal.. it depends! But I do believe in balance, universal sovereignty, and the power of love and believing all will work out for the greater good. This year was a mega soul booster, propelling us in to new dimensions of seeing and new paradigms of being.
I don’t expect the clock to strike 12:00a tonight and poof! 2021 all my problems and anxieties will disappear. But I do feel a flood of hope, new beginnings and healing coming into being. I am grateful for my family’s health and well-being, and all the challenging lessons and upheavals in 2020. Which in hindsight, guided myself and family closer together and moved us forward to our place and purpose.
I am looking forward to new adventures, challenges, blessings and whatever 2021 is ready and willing to dish out. Cheers to a year that propelled our growth and a humble bow to a new year drawing us more near to hope and healing.
I’ll end the post with a poem that helps reflect upon and digest 2020 in a metaphorical nutshell, Enjoy!
I believe deep within our beings, is a light that is connected to the all. Through this light, we can transmute information, connect to different levels of consciousness and tap into our innate knowledge and wisdom.
It took me a while to learn how to trust myself and knowing. to be honest, it’s a skill I’m still acquiring and fine tuning. Being empathic and sensitive is a gift, but can feel like a burden. To feel everything so intensely, and to see clearly can actually be quite a muddy and confusing experience. Tapping into our intuition takes practice and patience. Learning to discern intuition from fear or fantasy is a focused dive into the abyss of the soul and psyche.
A lot of my life I remember being very sensitive and raw. Life just hurt. I could feel life and energy traverse through my being as a young girl. This made me shy, and a bit of a quiet loner. Looking back, I believe it was hard for me to distinguish my energy or thought from “the other”. It made it challenging to listen to myself, trust my intuition, when I had the noise of everyone else inside my mind and heart.
When I was a teenager, until I got sober at 30 I used drugs and alcohol to numb my sensitivities. It worked! For a while.. until it caused more suffering than feeling all the feels.
Deep in my being, I knew it was a gift. A intuitive nudge. I began studying yoga, metaphysics and the healing arts more in depth through out my 20’s and 30’s. This exploration guided me to understand my empathic qualities and to discover there are others out there that struggle and THRIVE with this same experience!
As I get older, I am able to hone in and harness the gift of sensitivity in a helpful way to myself and others. Being sensitive is like a energetic exposure to the world, a raw receptivity. More information comes through. It’s like my personal “antenna” is sky high; picking up on random info from all directions. The dial of the soul, calibrated, fine tuned to subtler frequencies.
We all have this ability to tune in.
I believe this ability to tune in with our sensitivity is our intuition. And our intuition is our soul speaking to us. How do we discern the information that’s coming through? Often our intuition is not something we “want” to do, yet feel “called” to do. When I check in and try to discern if the feeling, sensation or message I am getting is intuition, fear or fantasy? I ask my body, I see where I feel it. I try to sense it’s intention, and “where” that sensation is coming from.
If there is peace around it, heart spacious with a resonance of knowing-it’s often my soul speaking. Even if intuitively I am being asked to live beyond my comfort level, or to do something new and scary.. there is peace around it, a deep sense of OK-ness.
If there is mad, frantic anxiety around a thought or message coming in.. it’s often ego not intuition. If I begin to get in my head, instead of in my heart around an issue. That’s definitely ego and fear not intuition. Lots of different stories created in the mind, fantasies and such.
This isn’t usually the soul speaking, rather a grasping from my ego out of fear.
However, sometimes visions- bursts of insight come through as truth. That is intuition. A message from the higher self.
Intuition is tuning “in-to-it” tuning into yourself. Listening, paying attention and acting from a place of alignment within.
Listening to your soul speak, trusting it and acting upon it is a practice. It takes getting to know oneself on a intimate level. A relationship with ourselves (and soul) is the foundation for all other relationships we attract and interact with in this lifetime.
A few powerful ways to touch in is through prayer, meditation, yoga or journaling. Quiet the mind, get still. Ask yourself lots of questions, get curious about what comes up. Notice where you feel the information in your body. What’s the energy around the information you are experiencing in your atmosphere of being?
The body is a physical storehouse for the mind, emotions and soul. Check in, listen and trust your knowing.
The intuition is a scared gift, a nudge to walk the path of your highest truth and self.
This year I have had the opportunity to dive deeper into what it means to heal and be well. A lot of my adulthood I felt like I have been recovering or healing from some thing. And I’m sure most folks can relate. Life is filled with uncertainty, and experiences that can throw us off our center.
I think so often when we visualize health we might start to think of the external manifestations of health. Possibly a lean and fit body, nice hair and nails, glowing skin vibrant, bountiful energy and so forth. And as all of this is definitely a marker on the path to being healthy it is not the whole picture.
There were times in my life where I was in great physical shape but in horrible spiritual condition. There were times in my life where my spiritual practices were on point but my physical health kind of got pushed to the wayside. There’s been a few times in my life where I did feel in complete alignment physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually- It took a lot of focus and intention however.
This year I focused a lot on my physical health, and not that I wasn’t focusing on that before I just leveled it up a couple notches. But honestly, it detoured me a bit from the inner practices of health such us creativity, spirituality, acceptance and more.
I decided to experiment recently, and let go of the reins some on my nutrition and fitness and start to introduce some of those other aspects of wellness to come back into the picture.
Within a few weeks time I began to notice a deeper state of connection and relaxation in my life and body. More congruency with my purpose and passions. I realized I was so focused on just ONE aspect of my health I actually was becoming a bit unhealthy through the imbalance of self.
Don’t get me wrong I still eat pretty clean and I have let up a bit on my physical activity besides Yoga and hiking. I have found that there are seasons and reasons to different parts of our health and wellness journey trajectory.
Ultimately to be well holistically, is a dance and a balancing act that is always in flux and shifting.
I believe to seek this balance within ourselves takes awareness, presence and reflective inquiry. A daily checking in practice to see how we are feeling and asking ourselves what part of ourselves might need a little bit more attention and what part of ourselves might need a little less attention at the moment.
The older I get The more I understand my strengths and weaknesses. There are some aspects of health that come pretty easy to me and other aspects I have struggled with as long as I can remember. We can use the strengths that we already have to nurture some of the areas we might struggle with a bit on our healing path.
Pulling from our inner resources, knowing that as we move forward into balance, it’ll probably be messy. There will be moments where we will feel aligned, and other times where we will be working hard towards balance and will question if what we’re doing is working.
Keep going, it’s working. In my experience anything that we put effort into, will reveal equal in it’s output. Sometimes we get caught up in the way we think things should look like Instead of being open to how things are unfolding before us as divinely perfect as they are.
Balance does not have a stagnant energy quality to it. It is ever moving, transforming, evolving in many forms and manifestations. I believe by checking in with ourselves daily, and asking ourselves “what do you need to feel more balanced right now?” We can move towards and into a abundant, vibrant, holistic state of being.
