| Self on the Shelf Pssst. I see you over there. I see you with your lists and your chores, your job duties and your obligations. I know how heavy the load feels some days. You want to do right by everyone. You want to help make the season bright and merry and maybe even magical. You want to feel that same buoyancy of spirit that you felt when you were younger, less worried, and more carefree. You’ve taken on a lot of roles. It’s quite commendable that you have committed so much energy to your job, family, and friends. But, my dear, you need to take care of yourself, too. You can’t put your needs on the shelf while you tend to everyone around you. You need to sit down and eat while the food is still hot. You need to rest. You need to give yourself some daily self-care, not just when you have a lull in the midst of the chaos. Like the flight attendants always remind us, in case of emergency, you must first put on your own oxygen mask before you help others with theirs. You need to stay centered, which is impossible if you have spread yourself too thin. I’m not discounting the things you feel called to do or the things you really must do. If you are a parent or a caretaker or somehow responsible for the well-being of other people, I know you want to do your best for them. But you can’t afford to lose yourself in the mix master of responsibilities by putting yourself last. Maybe you’re a dynamo who can totally handle all the seasonal stress AND regular normal stress with unwavering aplomb, but even you need to put your feet up at the end of the day and settle your go-getting spirit so you can regenerate more of that energy for tomorrow. Oh, and by the way, you can’t spend another year putting off things that matter to you. I mean, you CAN, but you shouldn’t. Maybe you just need someone to say it again, so I will. You matter. Your dreams matter. Your hopes and wishes are based on things your heart wants. Your heart needs a turn in the driver’s seat to steer you to where it wants to go. Since your heart is informed by your soul, and your soul is here having a human experience, there needs to be some deep consideration about where you are heading every now and then. If you exit off the highway of your life’s goals to attend to everyone else’s dreams, how will you ever arrive at your own soul’s destination? The good news is that you ARE in the driver’s seat. You have the ability to decide where to go. I’m not suggesting that you blow up your life and run away, leaving behind burned bridges and the smoking rubble of important relationships and responsibilities. But I am saying to prioritize what you want, too. Make a plan for how to get from “here” to “there” and follow through. It might be hard at first, but you have such an amazing spirit and so many positive qualities to share with the world, the results are going to be worth it. I want you to find a quiet, comfortable spot to sit for today’s meditation. Bring a nice cup of tea (or beverage of your choice) if you want. Close your eyes and relax. Breathe deeply, hold it, and release. Repeat at least three times. Now, envision just one thing you wish you could do for yourself. Is it taking a vacation? Is it pursuing a career shift? Is it moving to a new home? Is it undertaking that new skill you want to delve into? Imagine yourself doing the thing…whatever it is that you are wanting. Try to use each of your senses as par t of your vision to make it as real as you can in your mind’s eye. I want you to feel yourself on vacation or doing the job or stepping into that new home or picking up the tools of your new craft. Have a drink of tea and allow yourself to daydream. How are you going to get on the road to that vision? What is the path you can take to get there? What might be an obstacle on your path? How are you going to get around that obstacle? Have some more tea. What else do you want to do? Surely you have more than one dream…what are they? Continue to relax and daydream about these burgeoning plans. Remember they are all real possibilities if you choose to pursue them. Speak your desires out loud, sending them into the Universe. Be specific. Have some more tea and rest with the hope of dreams coming true. Send out gratitude for all of the things you cherish about your busy life, and continue relaxing until the tea is gone. Finish your imagination session with three more deep breaths. I hope you feel rejuvenated and hopeful after today’s mediation. Try doing it again when you feel like you need to take a break. Take care of you, my friend. As ever, namaste. Amy |
INSPIRATIONS THIS WEEK
We’re feeling inspired by these incredible and thought provoking pieces:
- ChatGPT proves Al is finally mainstream – and things are only going to get weirder
2022 has been the year that Al tools have become accessible to the public. 2023 is
going to get strange. - Study suggests psilocybin increases mindfulness, especially when accompanied by mystical experiences
A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology investigates the relationship
between psilocybin, mindfulness, mystical-type experiences, and serotonin receptors in the brain. The new findings indicate that when taking psilocybin, those who report
mystical-type experiences are more likely to have increased trait mindfulness. - Environmental photographer of the year 2022 – in pictures
This year’s Environmental photographer of the year competition showcases some of the most striking images of the natural world
That’s all for today, y’all – remember, taking time to focus on you is an act of love.
We hope you found this helpful – don’t hesitate to reply with any feedback on how we can improve future Mindful Moments! We can’t wait to hear from you.
See you next time!
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