As I wrote about in my blog last week, we live among and in various cycles. Paying attention to these cycles, be it the seasons, the moon, your ownā¦ helps us live in a bit more harmony.
But as someone who has a lot of fire in her constitution, I donāt find it easy when Iām in the ebb of the cycle and not in the flow. Ā So Iāve come up with ways of making those times more easeful.
First thing I do when I feel Iām in a time of reflection vs action is that I take some time to do just thatā¦ reflect. I find I mediate more and spend more time in nature away from my phone. Ā I *try* not to attach expectations to the reflection time but often what ends up happening is that ideas start to come to me. I feel like reflection (I call it meditation too) is essential in helping us answer the questions we ask all day long (what should I do with my day, vacation, business, life, etc.). We are always asking questions to ourselves but how often do we stop to hear the answers? Ā Itās also a great time to visualize about what you want and send out those vibrations to the universe. Cause we all know about Newtonās Third Law right?
Second, I make sure I spend time away from my computer to just journal. Ā I have many journals for different purposes so I pick one and have it close by and sometimes even take it with me when I go out for a hike. Ā I sit away from my desk and just write, free form, no plan for 10-15 minutes or so. I learned this technique from friends who put me on to Julia Cameronās The Artist’s Way. I also use my journal to plan out any ideas that come to me. Right now Iām planning how to create a clickable calendar of yoga poses and breathing techniques for my members and also a 3 week free challenge to help us fall into Autumn with grace. Ā I write all these ideas down on paper, away from my computer.
A third thing Iām finding Iām doing during these times is resting more. Oh myā¦itās only in the last couple of years that Iām really learning about the power of resting during the dayā¦ and now Iām embracing it. My 35-year-old self wouldāve balked at the idea of a rest during the day!Ā I love the practices of restorative yoga and yoga nidra in the middle of my day. I usually rest for less than 30 minutes (20 usually) and while sometimes I fall asleep, a lot of times now I just go into this really deep rest state. It feels so good cause a) itās the time the body uses to heal and b) itās another time I often find clarity on something Iām wondering about.
And finally, maybe itās avoidance of feeling uncomfortable in this state or maybe itās just what occurs from all of the aboveā¦ I just do something. Just one thing. Do a social media post about my business, review a project plan, write an email, clean up my inbox, etc. I just take a small step in the general direction I know I want to go in, it always makes me feel better.
Iād love to hear from you. Ā Do you have any suggestions for what to do when you feel you are in the ebb instead of the flow? And what do you think of my ideas above?