I started the year feeling very unsure. Uncertain of where I wanted to live (Australia? America? Sydney? California?)
Undecided about what to do next regarding my work. (Commit to my 7 week courses? Workshops? Finish the e-course?)
Unclear about the dynamics within some close relationships and feeling quite homesick for Sydney while I was in California, yet longing to be back there when I was back home in Sydney.
I took this as a sign to slow down and stop. The answers I was looking for were never going to emerge from a state of confusion. My lack of clarity also highlighted how right now is not the right time for big decisions to be made.
So on 1 January, I set the intention to surrender. To let go. To trust.
Most of all, I wanted to strengthen my inner connection to myself again. Something about surrendering to the notion of being ok not knowing and having faith that everything will be ok, no matter what I choose.
Today marks the halfway point in my 40 day daily practice (sadhana) and I wanted to share a couple of gems that have emerged for me with you.
Leave Empty Space. Everyday.
Yep. Since 1 Jan, I keep at least 2 hours of the day free. For magic. For the spontaneous urges to manifest into an unexpected reality.
For impromptu bumping-into-friends that extend to coffee catch ups and lunch dates.
For a long bath where I can catch up on my favorite tv shows while munching on crisps. (so decadent)!
For being able to go to the beach and swim in the glorious ocean 10 days in a row.
For the extra cuddles and kisses that my twin baby niece and nephew bestow on me.
For the soulful conversations that I can have with ease without feeling rushed about running late for something else.
Put the FUN back into FUNdamental things
I make it a point not to schedule work (or any) appointments on my phone otherwise I get sucked into the Instagram vortex).
Last year my diary was full to the brim of to-do lists, work tasks and professional meetings.
This year, I’m also scheduling in the fun things I like to do in addition to work commitments.
There’s now room for me to doodle, as well as make note of what I’m grateful for each day. Somehow the day now looks more balanced. And FUN!
The little things are the big things and over time, they turn into annoying tasks like the phone and computer updates that need to be done regularly.
Ensure your updates are up to date
The throwing out of clutter (eg clothes, crockery + books) that accumulates and stops the natural energetic flow of new opportunities coming your way.
The update of your altar helps you focus on your intention with the pictures, images and symbols that best represent your current dream.
In fact, that’s the first thing I did when I got back home. I walked into my bedroom and was greeted by an altar that represented many aspects of a life I had left behind last year.
It depicted images of intentions that had already manifested, as well as symbols that no longer held the same meaning for me so this was the first thing that got updated. My vision board was the 2nd thing.
Despite believing that New Years resolutions just don’t work, I can’t help but reluctantly embrace these new found resolves that are already helping to shed so much light and lightness in my life.
It’s nice to make room for the clarity I yearn for to land in a space that is open, nurturing and spacious. It’s so much more gentle, loving and kind. Free from the stress and hustle that makes me anxious. I’m kinda liking the new chilled me.
Hey patty.
Thanks for sharing this.
Your words are very timely, as usual, as I have just come back from a couple of weeks in the amazing south island of NZ.
What a beautiful and relaxing place that is. The whole time you feel like the mountains are embracing you as you travel up the west coast of the island. It is a very soulful place and feels unspoilt by too many humans rushing around like lemmings.
So I got back to Sydney and did my first job for the year. All good but compared to NZ it all felt a bit empty and soulless.
So, as I have been holding on to thoughts and feelings from NZ. But, I also realised that it doesn’t have to be this way.
So yesterday I had a massage and went to see a great movie (Birdman, go see it if you haven’t. You will love it. Mexican director Alejandro González Iñuáritu, who also made ‘Amores Perros’ – Awesome!)
Anyway, my challenge is not to expect to experience NZ every day this year. But rather move my attitude to feel like I felt in NZ myself. I mean, its up to me to make the soulless soulful, if you know what I mean. Not wait for some mountain to inspire me, but to be the mountain for me and others.
NZ and California are still there and we can visit them whenever we want to. We have not ‘lost’ them. They are in us and we felt the connection. Yipeee!
My intention this year is to bring what I look for outside of me ie, beauty, peace, calm and meaning into my everyday life so that there is not a separation between the feeling I had in NZ and the feeling I have shooting a boring corporate video. A challenge I know, and I will tumble and fall along the way too no doubt, stuck in traffic, running late, pissed off at lack of communication, etc. The challenge is to right the ship when this happens and remember the warm embrace of the hills and mountains of the south island of NZ.
Lots of love Patrizia and have a great year 🙂
Domingo
yes, Yes, YES!!!!!! Oh how beautifully said Domingo – I love so much of what you wrote. From – ‘NZ and California are still there and we can visit them whenever we want to. We have not ‘lost’ them. They are in us and we felt the connection. Yipeee!’
‘My intention this year is to bring what I look for outside of me ie, beauty, peace, calm and meaning into my everyday life so that there is not a separation between the feeling I had in NZ and the feeling I have shooting a boring corporate video.’ – truer words could not have been written any more eloquently.
I too want it to come from within me. So I don’t seek it from outside sources. Wow. Thanks so much for your words. You’re amazing. Big love right back to you brother. xxxx
I loved this post! I am really working on slowing down, surrendering and being okay with calm, relaxing moments. I will say that leaving empty space for me is hard, because I have two kids and when I try to leave space, something always comes up with the kids. Oh well. This is my life right now, so my space is more about making more time for things outside of my business. Trips to the park, fun reading (instead of only business books), meditating and hopefully more peaceful days.
Being a mum – now THAT’S the ‘real’ yoga of service. 🙂
I can absolutely relate! I find in my own business I get the most done when I have lots of “unscheduled” time. During this time I follow my natural rhythms. Sometimes its a nap and a bath other times its client work and marketing. Leaving time for flow makes me so much happier.
Especially now that there’s a baby on the way 🙂