Musings from the Journey
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Building resilience through the small moments.  I'm going to keep this one short and sweet today.
I recently listened to the We Can Do Hard Things podcast, episode 385: "The Science of Healing Heartbreak with Florence Williams." As we all find our way through sorrow in our life, the findings shared in this conversation were particularly noteworthy to me. A key takeaway: awe and wonder build resiliency and help heal our hearts, minds, and bodies after heartbreak. Your Assignment: As you go about your day, seek out details that bring you a sense of awe. Nature is often a good place to look, but you might find it with loved ones, or even simple pleasures like a piece of chocolate or cup of coffee. When you notice that wonder-filled thing, pause. Inhale and exhale deeply for a few breaths. Soak in the nourishment of that small experience (even if other things in your life are not so great right now). If you can access a little bit of gratitude, savor that, and feel it in your heart. Then when you feel ready, continue on with your day. Repeat. If this speaks to you, try to find at least one moment of awe each day. Listen to the full conversation if you want to hear more. Let us know what a moment of awe you had recently in the comments. To a more beautiful existence, Sarah
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It's a core workout!  Over the height of the pandemic, there were a lot of things in flux in my personal life. I was on a phone call with one of my wise elder friends, and I made a comment about hoping I would find more balance again soon. He said something that totally reframed how I thought about it. To him, balance wasn't about being in a place of calm and stillness all the time. Balance was the process of finding your way back to center when you lean one way or another. Given the nature of things, we are always recalibrating back to center, because life pulls us in one direction or another.
I've been thinking about this a lot lately, as I'm trying to stay engaged and sustain for the long game. There have been times in the past where practicing balance feels like standing on a paddleboard in calm, smooth waters. We can take in the serenity, and there's little stimulus from the outside. Now, it feels as though we are deep at sea, the waves and winds whipping and making the paddleboard rock unpredictably. Are those pirates in the distance? Oy vey! It's like living in a Hollywood movie that I wish was still fiction. In rocky waters, practicing balance means staying afloat (or getting back on after getting knocked off), and maintaining a pace to get where we want to go. We can't change the conditions around us, but we can choose how we respond. Let's keep our eyes on the horizon, catch our breath when we need to, and keep paddling. We might also realize we aren't paddling in that direction alone. Perhaps, we even spy some gentle giants swimming beneath us and guiding the way. When those moments of waters smooth as glass revisit us, and the wind is at our back, we will soak it in. What are some ways you can practice balance, and keep your eyes on the horizon? Here are some ideas:
What speaks to you to help you come to center? Share in the comments. I will end with a few words that I heard recently when I tuned into my ancestors and leaders for social justice past: "Don't stop. Keep going." Paddling with you, Sarah |
Sarah Barlow
Reiki Master Teacher and Owner of Embrace Your Essence Sign up for our E-Letters Here
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