Ease
Like sliding into cool waters
Connected
Like baby + momma attached at the nipple
Trusting
Like a pup, belly up waiting for petting
Freedom to be
Like Mother Nature in all her powerful being
Creative
Like sun painting evening sky
These are the values
I align with
”Values”
How We Do December Wrong
I’ve been learning about and embodying this concept of shifting with the seasons.
Spring is equated with renewal, growth, increased activity.
Summer is made for fun in the sun.
Fall is a time of shedding; slowing down, beginning to turn inward in preparation for winter.
And in winter, we bask in quiet stillness and solitude.
Yet in our culture, fall and winter are often the busiest seasons of the year. Christmas parties, holiday traditions, excessive drinking and celebrating, overindulging and overspending. We find ourselves caught up in the chaos of a busy social schedule every year and we wonder why we’re stressed, overwhelmed, and sick.
We do December wrong.
I’m not here to tell you to no longer attend a single social gathering in the month of December. No way!
I am here, however, to invite you to examine if those social gatherings are truly nourishing and fulfilling you or are they leaving you drained? Are there some you attend out of obligation/ SHOULDs and can you let them go?
Most Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) are introverted, so maybe your ability to say “no” to social outings is greater than mine. But I am one of the rare extroverted HSP unicorns who does, in fact, love spending time with others. BUT…
This time of year is begging us for introspection, for more practices of self-inquiry and solitude.
Can you do both - find alone time and still be social? Of course.
How can you slow down this season? To be clear about who and what really deserves your attention and energy?
Photograph by Hannah Sharriee
There is Always Time
To listen to this guided meditation, please click here.
There is Always Time
There is always time for taking care of yourself.
There is always time for rest.
There is always time for connection.
There is always time to slow down, to settle into the present moment,
+ to simply enjoy what it is you’re doing, who you’re with, or where you’re at.
There is always time.
There is always time for more work, later.
But can you check in with how you’re doing right now?
There is always time for worrying, later.
But can you let go of some of that right now?
There is always time for anger, later.
But can you just soften a little right now?
There is always time.
What is one area of your life that you feel like you’re lacking in time?
That excuse you always have of,
“Oh I don’t have time to learn anything new.”
“I don’t have time to exercise.”
“I don’t have time to cook.”
“I don’t have time to rest.”
You don’t have time - to what?
What is that thing you’re always saying you don’t have time for?
There is always time.
You choose where you put your time, your energy, your efforts.
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Make time for the things that matter most to you.
There is always time.
Ease + Release - Body Scan
To listen to this guided meditation (recommended), please click here.
Today, I want to lead you through a body scan meditation. You may choose to read through this entire blog post first + then lie down to try the scan. Or you may read shorter sections + try relaxing while reading.
Lie down if you can + get comfortable – we’ll be here for a bit. I recommend placing a bolster or pillow under the knees to help prop them up + support the low back. You may choose to place a blanket under the ribcage to help open your heart space as well.
When you’re ready - take a few deep breaths to begin. You can keep breathing in this manner – slow inhale, easy exhale – or allow your breath to return to normal.
As we scan the body, try to release any judgments of doing this right or wrong. Try not to attach to any thoughts that may arise. If your mind starts to wander, that’s ok. It’s normal. Just allow your attention to come back to these words. Let’s get started.
Bring your awareness to your face. Is your jaw tight?
Can you soften the closing of your eyelids?
Notice any tension in the face + just let it melt into the earth behind you.
Next, observe your shoulders – are they tense? Can you focus the breath there? With each inhale, bring in ease; with each exhale, relax.
Next, be conscious of your heart space. Can you breathe fully + deeply into your heart? Is there any constriction or maybe walls surrounding your heart? Soften here.
Move your focus down into the belly – with each breath in, let your belly rise to the sky. With each breath out, it melts back into your center. Again, breathe in, belly rises. Breathe out, belly melts.
Now soften your low back - let it grow heavy into the earth. Note any tension in the glutes. There’s nothing to hold onto – no need to grip. Allow the earth to fully support you here.
Note any tightness in the hips. Can you bring your breath’s awareness there? Inhale – invite in a sense of ease and softening. Exhale – relax, let go, release.
Coming down into the legs – recognize how hard your legs work day in + day out to carry you around. Let them be soothed here. Inhale ease… exhale release. Soften the quads, the knees, your calves, even the ankles relax here. Release all tension from the legs fully.
Lastly, notice your feet. Maybe scrunch the toes, create some tightening – inhale – then slow exhale, the toes are free.
Pause here + take 5 slow, deep breaths.
Observe any lasting tension in the body. Bring a soft focus there – envision a bright red light circling that area of the body – as you breathe, that red light starts to travel down the body, out the feet, + into the earth. Pause. Ground down.
Release. Release. Release.
Take a deep breath. Start to invite awareness back into your body. Begin to make small movements – wiggle fingers, toes. Stretch the body long – deep inhale. Easy exhale.
R I S E mantra
<< R I S E >>
I created this mantra / acronym for when I’m feeling anxious and need to come back to the present moment. My hope is that this may help you too.
<< R I S E >>
RECENTER: notice the tension build in your body (usually jaw/ neck); label the emotion you’re experiencing; or name 5 things in the room with you.
INHALE: take 5 slow deep breaths in through the nose and out of the mouth.
SAFE: repeat “I am safe and loved.”
EARTH: find a way to ground down into the earth— often, physically by placing bare feet in the grass; sometimes less literally by dancing, practicing yoga, laughing via FaceTime with a friend.
<< R I S E >>