If you feel like you’re in a constant state of waiting for something just around the corner, you’re not alone. If you feel simultaneously untethered and bogged down, you’re not alone. And if you feel like you’re seeing life with completely new lenses and wishing you could return to the old, you’re also not alone.
In case you haven’t gotten the memo yet, these astrological, seasonal, and social circumstances are pushing (not nudging) us to prioritize our holistic health, relationships, and access to necessary resources.
To that end, they’re emboldening each of us to recollect our personal truth and step into that integrity.
All right, I know you may not feel ready. And you might prefer to go down kicking and screaming. But if the one thing you could truly control amidst the chaos is your own mind and actions, then why not take the reins?!
It’s scary. I get it. Some days I wake in the wee morning hours to ride a roller-coaster of wind-like thoughts. I spiral into a state of panic over the things I cannot control but have been duped most of my life to believe I can.
Thank goodness, when the dawn breaks and I see how the ethereal sky meets the grounded mountains, or I see how the birds not only welcome but adapt to the irregularity of the season, I remember the truth.
It’s those moments when I remember my truth: I am made of nature. Just like every other single thing out there. If I wanted, I could embody lightness like the sky, steadiness like the mountains, or adaptability like the birds.
I get to choose how I show up in every moment. Nobody else gets to decide this for me.
Albeit, when I’m on the 3 a.m. roller-coaster, it sure doesn’t feel like I’m the conductor of my mind. But that’s where the wisdom tools come in!
In addition to teaching strategies like breathwork, daily routines, or seasonal food approaches, I often use reflective practices that encourage folks to dig deep. Sifting through the detritus to unearth the truths that lay hidden in our minds is a means to understanding. And only through understanding can we begin to practice controlling our own minds.
To that end, I created the P.E.A.C.E. Process to elicit mindful responses to what really bothers us, in relationships, workplace irritations, or social injustice. The ultimate goal is to develop greater awareness and personal resolve so we can bring more beneficial outcomes. Try for yourself…
- What assumptions and expectations have I been holding tightly in the face of [insert the object / scenario that bothers you]?
- Could those assumptions be hindering me from standing in my integrity?
- What values have I been carrying and why are they important to me?
- Are my values helping me to engage with the world as my best self?
- What’s the beneficial outcome I desire for those involved?
- What would I need to do, or not do, to be able to influence that outcome?
Surrendering to a process like this can feel really uncomfortable for some. I’m reminded of a few mindfulness classes I’ve taught to children and teachers. Some folks just stared at me for a while like I was speaking another language. Yes! Getting to know our own minds and explore our mind-less habits is exactly like learning a foreign language!
Others in these classes would ask “do I have to do this?” Nope, there’s always a choice. But, when the choices presented to me are (A) continue riding the panic roller-coaster, (B) burn myself out by trying to control the world around me, (C) suffocate from the detritus I’m hiding inside, or (D) reflect on how my mind works and practice healing strategies, I’ll choose the latter!
Sure, as I reflected in my last letter, studying the mind or Self can get a little messy sometimes. But in the last few weeks I’ve watched a lot of people’s lives get overwhelmingly messy at the hands of others. I’d rather take those reins back. Harness my integrity and prioritize what’s important for my wellbeing and those in my community.
This is your invitation. Please join me or share details about an upcoming event or service with someone who may benefit. I’m here to connect, here to be messy, and here to grow.
In kindred company,
Sarah