Today’s prompt in Kat McNally’s Reverb15 challenge, comes from Kathleen Jowitt.
“As the year ends, and we look back at the joys, achievements and disappointments of the past twelve months, it’s worth taking some time to recognise what our efforts have demanded of us and where our resources have been depleted.
Whether you have spent 2015 bringing some long-cherished project to fruition or simply trying to keep your head above water, it’s likely that this has come at some cost to you.
How can you replenish your (physical, mental, spiritual and/or emotional) resources? What do you need most of all at this moment?”
Ah the magic of Reverb – the things we’re called to reflect upon. This topic is something that I’ve definitely been thinking about. For the first time in a very long while, I’m aware of how depleted I’ve felt this year. But equally as interesting to me is the fact that the vast majority of people I know and have talked to are feeling this as well. It’s like we’re a global nation of humanity suffering from adrenal fatigue. And of course that makes sense – there is so much happening in our world that feels challenging, divisive, and daring us not to dip into fear.
AND that’s precisely why it’s more important than ever that we take exquisite care of ourselves; that we nurture and nourish and replenish. It is my true belief that it is possible for each one of us to be adding to the collective well-being of this planet; and that it’s not only possible but it’s our responsibility to be adding to the light quotient. How we choose to do this is entirely up to us, and that’s where the fun is. We all get to be our own unique flavor of a blessing manifest.
So as I’m assessing where I am and how I wish to be, it’s become clear lately that there are three overarching areas I’m wanting to pay more attention to. First is the general containing principle of my day – my schedule and how it needs to reflect my shifting rhythms. This is something I pay fairly close attention to, and I’m always tweaking things here and there, experimenting to find right-fit. But I feel called to examine this more than ever before. Secondly, I also want to be upgrade a number of my practices in how I take care of my body. This is always a challenging area for me and one in which I feel most resistance and stuck energy. And finally, I’m wanting to make some significant shifts in my home, releasing what’s come to feel like increasing clutter. Clearing stuff always invites in new flow and that’s nothing to be scoffed at, but this also feels like a re-commitment to my ultimate goal of having only treasure in my life.
I don’t actually know how this will unfold and I don’t have a step-by-step plan in mind. But these are the things I’m holding as important focuses as I begin to decide what I want my 2016 to look like.
That’s one of things I love about this time of year with the process of closing out the old and opening the way to the new. Those first peeks into what wants to be transformed. But I’m willing to be patient and see what else arrives, and then feel more deeply into what energies I’ll need to invoke to make those things happen, and then layer everything together.
Doing this slowly with intention is certainly one of the ways I replenish. There’s excitement in the visioning and the inviting, and yet I like to temper it with gentleness and surround it with spaciousness. Which is why I allow myself the whole of December to dance in this alchemical cauldron of what is and what wants to be.
The process of staying open and welcoming during this season of deep invitation seems to naturally invoke ramped up self-care, and of course that’s replenishing in itself. This is a time of salt baths, and anointing oils, flower essences and essential oils, meditating and mind-mapping. All deliciousness in my book.
What about you? What needs replenishing in your life? And what are the things you do to nurture and fill yourself? What are you doing to make sure you have the energy to shine brightly? Do tell – you know I love to hear. And if you’re inspired, do pop over and see how others are responding to the prompt.
Nodding along enthusiastically to all of this! (Life has been so much better since I started my new year at the end of November or the beginning of December!) Yes to spaciousness! Yes to noticing where we are! Yes to taking care of ourselves!
I love that we really ARE in charge of how we choose to navigate it all – finding what works for us and setting things up so we can thrive. Thanks so much for this prompt Kathleen, and thanks for stopping by.
Gosh, I need to find myself in each day. I feel like the days and the clock are running me. I need to turn this around because I’m exhausted by all this “running”. I need to simply be. I need to allow myself the chance to think, to write. Writing and nature replenish me. I need more of that.
It’s always a beautiful thing when we know what we want and can hold it clearly and then make sure it gets reflected in our plans for how to live our life. This is such a rich time to consider what we want and have the momentum of the new year to push us into action.
Unfortunately, what I need to replenish is my cash reserves, which I need a new steady job for.
Wish you luck and a very speedy resolution.
An ongoing theme for me seems to be that I need to learn to be able to just ‘be’. I tend to pack so much into one day and always striving for the next action step needed. Guess this would be where my focus shall be.
I hope 2016 unfolds a new mastery for you with this Elda. This “being” can be challenging when there’s so much cultural pressure to do and do more, with some kind of perverse badge of honor awarded for those who are busy to the point of great stress and overwhelm.