A couple of years ago I met a strong longing in myself that begged me to live life more fully. Life had begun to feel a bit flat.
You might know this feeling too. That sense that something is missing, even though everything looks “fine” from the outside.
This longing sent me on an exploration of what it means to feel more alive. An engagement with life that feels full, rich and flowing. A way of being rooted in ease, where you step into your own pace, honoring your body and energy, and stay connected to your loved ones, your community, nature and the universe.
A way of being more so than a way of doing. An opening to life. A meeting of your longings. A willingness to be with what comes your way.
While exploring this deeper engagement with life, I realized that what was often getting in my way were beliefs and values I had that weren’t mine. I hadn’t chosen them, yet I was shaped by them.
I began to notice other women running up against these same beliefs, often without realizing it.
I want to shine a light on what I noticed so you begin to question these beliefs and choose how you want to move forward.
This isn’t a complete list, but a starting point…
- Our mental intelligence is valued over our body’s wisdom. We’ve lost a deep relationship with ourselves. Communication with our own needs fades. We’re encouraged to push through and disregard, until we’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and burned out.
Our culture has neglected to teach us the skills to be in relationship with and support of our body. We don’t hear our body until it’s screaming at us. When we’re disconnected like this, life starts to feel muted. - Working and doing is valued highly over resting and just being. There isn’t time to rest. You’re lazy if you do. You can’t slow down or everything will fall apart. So you push through. Sound familiar?
You manage your time into the smallest increments to fit it all in, trying to be as efficient and productive as possible, yet never feel caught up. You hit the pillow exhausted, only to do it again tomorrow. Yet allowing for rest and meeting the body’s needs actually allows for doing things quicker. - Fun comes after the task is done. We are taught this, but it keeps us from fully enjoying our day. Two of the top five regrets of those dying are I wish I hadn’t worked so hard and I wish I had let myself be happy.*
Putting off your passion, pleasures, and curiosities until you get this one more thing done means they rarely come. Pleasure and play are the way. - Linear is valued over cyclical. We’re taught to rush to the outcome instead of being with the experience of getting there. But life isn’t a straight forward path forward. It’s filled with side streets, detours and surprising moments you could never dream up. There is so much missed opportunity to fully engage with life if we rush through.
Instead finding our own pace and enjoyment of these middle moments is key. Most of life are these middle moments.
Just beginning to notice where these beliefs show up in your life can make a difference. If this way of living is calling to you, I share more about working together here.
*From the work of Bronnie Ware: The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying