Lilly is just flabbergasted by myforgetfulness. Thank goodness for such
smart cats and a rabbit!
Oh, MY! If I had not been visiting this beautiful blog, I would not have remembered that Thursdays are now enCouragingBliss days! Thank you, Carla!
What kind of Blisschick am I!? (Don't worry...I am just teasing myself.)
If you haven't gotten involved yet in enCouragingBliss, you can read here and here to get the idea.
Last week my goal was to work on one small part of the most damaging of stories that I tell myself, and that story is that I am lazy. I decided to try to do less and see how that feels. Now, Marcy got a crazy bad flu during this past week, so doing less actually became a necessity as we needed to slow way down and take care of the ailing artist.
I realized that I am fine with doing less, with paying attention to the essential, when I have some noble, external reason to do so. The challenge, for me, then is to learn to prioritize like this just because.
Just because I am worth it.
Just because my creativity is worth it.
Just because my life is worth it.
So, as we move toward the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday only next week, my enCouragingBliss challenge is to settle into quiet.
How are other people doing with their promises to themselves?
I want to say yes, to Jennifer, we will gladly call you out! We believe in tough love in these parts! :)
Both Tess and Joy made promises that were centered around food. I think promises like this are so important. We have to start in the concrete now if we want to make soul-altering changes.
A lot of people mentioned yoga and being present in the now, including cutting back on activities in order to fine tune and focus their precious energy.
When you consider the fact that in the Northern hemisphere, we are getting very near to spring, this idea of conserving energy is essential. Soon, we will be called upon, like the earth herself, to put out a lot of energy.
The sun will shine earlier and later, creating longer days during which we are enticed to do more. The air will be warm and will call us to the outdoors and more physical activity.
Before we know it, we will be caught in what can be the crazies of summer.
Distractions of all sorts will loom large and shiny. Distractions that can easily take us from our center.
What could you be doing for yourself right now to prepare?
5 comments:
When I feel a multitude of tasks pulling me in various directions simultaneously... and I feel that overwhelming panic rising in my throat (like it did about 10 minutes ago), I try to remember to Breathe! That's it. Just a simple reminder to let go of the breath I am holding onto and breathe. Then I make myself a lovely cup of mint-green tea and read BlissChick!!
Thanks for the enCouragement!
I start at my schedule and say, what can I cancel? What can I rescheudle? What can I just stop doing?
And then when I do that, and my schedule is still too full, then I try to set priorities... what really does need to get done but not TODAY? It is hard at times because it seems that of all the things there are multiple priorities and they all are #1.
SO I try to just say, get Three of those top things done today. And I find I feel better and get a few little ones done too. If I proceed this way, keeping saying no while diligently trying to just get three top things done TODAY (each day) I find that within about a week and a half, the pressure starts to lift.
New things pop in all the time. Yesterday, a sudden funeral. The few days before, I had a really bad headache and stomach ache that forced me to lay down for a good part of the day. Today I had to turn down going to someone's party for the second time and I felt guilty and horrible -- like they understood the first time but not the second.
Sigh. It really is a trick.
Late last night I emailed my friend about feeling *spotty* - just not getting anything done consistently - it was a day for noticing that I hadn't done this, or had missed a day of that, hadn't gotten arount to any number of intentions, etc etc etc. In an offhand way I mentioned what I was working on some art,just posted a new one, and had finished this really original mystery, which was why I was up emailing so late.
She called me this morning to remind me to honor myself - that working on my art and reading was just what I needed to do. Both of them are central to who I am. And to concentrate on what I have done.
So here I am the next day responding to the enCouraging Bliss - this week I want to to honor myself and what I do accomplish. Maybe is isn't everything on my intention list. Maybe I'm missing something here or there. But honor myself and how I spend my time - rather then fretting my time away.
What I can be doing for myself right now to prepare = cutting the 'crap' out of my life.
I am in the final year cycle (numerology wise) in which much will continue to leave my life. Things/people/places that no longer serve me will go away - some by themselves, and some with my help.
I need to pay attention and help this process along. I do not want my resistance or codenpendency (there's that word again!) to prevent me from letting go. I do not want to carry unhealthy stuff forward into the magnificent future that awaits me.
Karmacoy, thank you for the lovely image of you drinking tea and reading blisschick!
Sydney, Yep, life happens. This is something I am constantly struggling with -- my desire for things to stay enough the same that they don't interfere with my set schedule. Of course, this is ridiculous, but knowing that doesn't make it any less difficult. Like you said, sigh...
Rebecca, what a great week's long experiment -- to pay attention to what you DO do.
Lisa, "Get the crap out..." I like that! :) During a time of grief, this, ironically (or not), can be easier to do, you know? Like the grief takes your blinders off...
Post a Comment