Every morning as I’m making tea, I love reading the messages printed on my teabag. This morning it said,
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. -Lao Tzu”
I recently got back from a retreat weekend in North Carolina on a beautiful lake surrounded by hills and mountains. It was just what I needed after a long winter here in the Northeast. I spent most of my time there outside -- hiking, sitting by the lake, practicing yoga and reading. Just what the soul dr. ordered. :)
Recently I’ve found myself caught up in my daily schedule, out of touch with my creativity and flow. I was in a cycle of doing rather than being, so for me the weekend was all about slowing down -- away from technology, city life, day-to-day obligations -- and relishing in simply being; allowing the days to unfold as they wished and stepping away from the comfort of my daily schedule.
How often do you take time to just be?
Being doesn’t have to be about going away on a retreat weekend. Being can mean sitting where you are right now and simply witnessing what’s going on in this moment, without judgement. For me, spending time in nature allows me to access that being more readily, though it’s available anywhere, anytime.
As I was sitting on the dock one morning, I was totally blissed out by the peaceful lake, the rising sun, faint bird chirps and gentle wind on my face. It just was, and it was perfect.
The sun wasn't rushing to rise, the birds weren't rushing to wake up, and the water wasn't rushing to flow. Nature doesn’t try and control anything; it simply happens in a beautiful ebb and flow and evolution, and we are part of that.
The same energy and qualities a peaceful lake or steady trees embody are the same energies and qualities within us. We’re human, yet we’re also one with nature, one with the Universe.
So why do we insist on rushing things? Our mornings, our relationships, our careers and more?
Well, we’re human, and part of the human condition is trying to seek control.
But, the more we let go of control (whether it be through rushing or something else), the more we can get in tune with the natural flow of life. The more we can turn inwards and tune into the flow of our bodies. The more we can recognize the Universal support readily available if only we’re willing to see it. The more we can live intuitively and witness the magic that unfolds without much effort at all.
It’s about trusting the unfolding of life.
I live in a city where the general vibe is rush, go, hurry, faster. There can always be something to do, places to be, people to see. I love it, and yet among all the stimulation, I’ve found it’s become more challenging at times to be, not do. So, often I must consciously choose to slow down.
Slowing down on purpose can be challenging and sometimes even scary. From this space our brains aren’t as distracted, leaving us with our own thoughts and mental chatter. If this is a new practice, it can even be jarring to the system. That’s why I love easing into this practice.
Take a few moments out of your day - even just 5 minutes - and allow yourself to just be. Notice where you are -- the colors, the textures, temperature, smells and sounds -- and witness your thoughts without judgement.
Holding space for yourself in this way can help tune you into your Self - the true you - and raise the volume of Her voice. This practice is like a muscle; the more you do it, the stronger it gets. And the more you listen to that inner you, the more you can flow through life from a place of deep trust and knowing you’re always supported and exactly where you are meant to be in any given moment.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
Where can you let go just a little bit more? As we loosen the grips on expectations, our careers, our relationships and more, the more space we create for magic to happen throughout our lives.
How will you hold space for yourself this week?
