I wasn't really sure what to write about in regards to my theme of "flourshing" today until I got a wonderful "I'm proud of you and the work you are doing on yourself" text from a very dear friend. It got me thinking, well, if I'm trying to inspire others to flourish and prosper and be at their peak of condition, then maybe I should share what it is that I am doing on a regular basis to flourish--it might be of help to someone. After all, I seem to be transforming in a pretty awesome way--and people have been taking notice!
So, what the heck is that I'm up to that is allowing this positive transformation to take place?
1. Probably the single most important thing that I'm doing is listening to the voice of love inside of me and allowing it to be my guide--my only guide. This voice of love honors and validates my feelings. It is creative. It trumps fear. It is positive and hopeful. It gives me strength. It knows me better than I do. It is trustworthy. If you make no other positive changes in your life in 2012--make this one!!!
2. I make self-care a priority. My job is kinda tough. I deal with severe psychosis and mood disturbances (not just my own :) all day long 5 days a week and it will energetically wipe me out if I don't take care of myself. Once I'm wiped out, I become vulnerable to physical and mental illness. I can't let myself get to that point, so I take care of me by balancing time with friends with time for reflection and rest. I don't always get a good night's rest every night but I make it a priority to get better rest after a poor night's sleep so I don't get to the point that I'm running completely on empty. I ask people for help when I need it. I lean on my friends and other supports because I know I am worthy of it. I eat healthfully...usually :) I'm admittedly a little off track at the moment but I'm allowing myself to indulge a little--which is also part of self-care. I dance often--like, really often--wherever and whenever I can. I engage in other activities that feed my spirit like writing this blog as well as making art for myself, making art for others, baking, cooking, meditating, reading, playing games, walking, Facebook stalking (kidding about that last one...sort of. ha!)
3. I study study study!! I am a student of life but also an eternal academic. I have been doing so much studying lately. I have been devoted to learning more about how to leverage the Universe and how to become better connected to my inner guide and spirit by studying the teachings of Gabby Bernstein and Mike Dooley. It's great stuff--it's what kick-started me on this whirlwind transformation process. In January I plan to start A Course in Miracles as part of an intensive spiritual practice. In addition to all that goodness, I am finishing up post-graduate coursework at Hopkins in Clinical Community Counseling so I can get my license as a professional counselor soon! I have so many plans for my future with my career and I will never stop doing what it takes to get where I want to go next. And being a good therapist is important to me so I will keep studying to improve my skills. The work I'm doing personally that I mentioned before I have no doubt will help with that too.
4. I take breaks - I don't take breaks from listening to my inner voice and self-care but I do take breaks from work and study. Every couple of months, a perfectly-timed trip to Alabama to hang with my folks comes around. The timing really couldn't be better because it is always around the time of a trip I planned well in advance, that I become exhausted, burned out, and I start to shut down. So I go allow myself to be pampered by my ma and pa while I do absolutely nothing but stuff my face with my Mom's amazing meals and treats, watch the Military channel with my Dad, and wrestle with my Jack Russell, Tenzin. It is blissful. Those aren't the only times I take breaks though! I also give myself permission to melt into the couch after a particularly taxing day or for entire Sundays at times when I know I have very little left in me.
5. I am super social. I realize that this is not for everyone--because some people are introverts and some people are extraverts. Well, I have always been kind of on the fence between the two but in the past year or so I have fallen over the fence into Extravert's yard and it has been such a wonderful change. I am at a point now where I get energy from being around others. I'm not entirely sure how it happened--I think I just started building up slowly to having a pretty full social calendar and it's become so important to me. I feel like a person cannot grow in isolation. Sure we need time for healthy solitude--but it's possible for me to have too much of that. When I have too much time to myself, I get up in my head and bad things start to happen. When I make lots of connections with wonderful people, I flourish. In doing this, I have many opportunities to share my big bursty heart and to receive that wonderful love right back. I am able to have a positive impact on others and guess what? I get it right back! Whatever goodness I put out there--I just get it right back! I live for this exchange!!
Okay...that's about it. And I can tell you what has stifled my growth in the past is pretty much doing the exact opposite of everything I mentioned above.
Now your turn! I would love to hear from you--what do you do to keep on a steady path of flourishing?
xoxoxo,
Brooke
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