Happy Leo Moon! I'm psyched to announce that every new moon I'm offering a free worksheet full of ritual and journaling prompts to tap into the new cycle of energy. This month think courage, courage, courage and heart. Head here to download the worksheet.
The Itch for Change
Transition is hard. So is settling in. It feels like when we're at home, we long for shift. And when all is fresh and new, we long for finding home. A few of my clients lately have been struggling with feeling like they're in a place that isn't their "it." Others are struggling to find a job that is "it" while kind of hating or really hating their current work.
The truth is that we'll always be in transition in one way or another (because isn't the beauty of life that it's not static). At the same time, we may have the right work settle in at some point. Or we might find our "aha" city that just feels right.
When you're in a transitional "I want change now" sort of space, try to see this "not it" spot as a lab. How can you try on different roles in your town before you settle down into what may actually feel like that ultimate home? How can you create little projects at work that let you test out what you might want to do full on some day? There is a beauty in the transition. It is that in some sense, we're not fully committed to a job or a place and so we're not obsessed about showing up perfectly within it. Because of this, transition is the perfect place for play. For trying on. For testing out. So go ahead, and love that in-between feeling up by getting clear on a few tangible ways you can play in it. Let your life here now be your lab.
On Pausing
Sometimes I get so fiercely attached to things I want to make happen that I fall completely out of balance. I network, create, build, write, and then a few weeks later, I realize I'm burned out. As a yoga teacher, coach, and lover of the good life, I used to think that balance was the key to survival. That somehow we always had to rest on the fine line between intensity and ease. And we do. We really do. But I think the reality is that this balance comes at a large scale level.
If we really want to pursue what we love, we have to fall into periods of imbalance. Of full on, work hard, dig in, even sometimes sleep less, sort of commitment. And then, when we're burned out, we need to balance out by taking a pause. I'm recognizing that I've been going hard. So hard that I haven't even had time to update this blog. So now it's time for a pause. A few days off to recover. Luckily we have a trip on tap to snorkel with some sea turtles next week.
Take a moment. Look at where you are between ease and intensity. Do you need a rest? Or do you need to push a little harder to create what you're longing for?
Keeping It Simple
Sometimes dreams unfold in the simplicity of life. I'm here puffing my own rice for homemade protein bars, grinding oats for honey oat flour bread that'll be baking all afternoon, and chopping coconut to dash on top of both. All of this to make some plane food for a 12 hour journey to Uganda tomorrow. I've not only fallen in love with not being able to run to the grocery store to grab anything I want, but also with the way I'm seeing the simple details of my life reflect a great big dream I hold onto.
I have a "one day" dream of living on land, having an urban farm of sorts, and making most of my own stuff from scratch (flours, honey, tinctures, herbs, veggies). Here in Madagascar today I'm doing a little warm up for that by making all these treats without easy access to gluten free flours and bars. How can you start moving towards your big dreams by bringing what your dreamy day-to-day might look like into your here and now?
Wise Words from Paolo Coelho
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
Going Solo
Here in Madagascar we're having a wonderfully rainy Saturday. The sky is grey, the breeze is full on cyclone style, and every hour or so a huge burst of water falls from the clouds. I couldn't be more excited. Rainy days here mean I have the excuse to stay in, write, do yoga, clear energy, and work on plans to grow my coaching business and workshops.
Living in a place where life is much slower I've learned there is deep value in time alone and inwards. Back in the US I'd wake up at 6am, get sweaty either on a trail or on my mail, eat breakfast, head to work, teach at the jail, cram in a few evening meetups, hop to yoga, maybe see another friend, then crash. Even on Sundays I was up and at 'em bright and early.
While I do miss having a big community of friends and a schedule full of life sparking things, I am so happy to now have this gift of settling into time alone with myself. The more that I take time to sit with the uncomfortable sense of unplanned solo time, the more I see my creativity and intuition skyrocket. I don't think this is a coincidence. To tune into life's whispering messages we need to slow down. We need to get quiet. And most importantly, we need to turn our energy into a receptive one. When we go go go we are always outwards, always pushing. When we slow down, we crack open.
Question of the Week
This post kicks off a weekly question I'll share on here to ask yourself. Here we go go!
Deep Breaths
I've been realizing lately that despite waking up bright and early here in Madagascar, I will go hours without taking a deep breath. 11am rolls around and I then remember I have lungs to fill. I know that my energy runs better when I'm breathing. I'm happier. I'm more aware. I'm able to write and create and move more easily. But somehow I still forget to breathe. I have a feeling the modern world of screens has something to do with it. I get lost in this little world of my computer, my mind sparking with energy, and let go of the rest of my body.
Breathing is the easiest way to check in with the present moment. It is the perfect pause and for me, also an easy way to meditate when I can't get a seated one in. This week, my intention is simple. To breathe, breathe, breath. And then to breathe some more. And not just lightly breathe. But inhale for four counts, and exhale for four. Want to join me?