After giving it some thought, I realized that what I really wanted to focus on, as I practiced the art of falling backwards, was strengthening. I'd always resisted the notion that I needed to be stronger; I'd survived and was surviving so much; wasn't that proof enough that I'm strong? Yet the more I looked at it, the more I realized that after overstretching myself for so long, like a muscle that's been exhausted, I do need strengthening. The oil in the candle needs to be replenished.
The desire to strengthen goes deeper, too. Lately I've been connecting with the warrior and the champion inside myself, ancient archetypes. Diana, goddess of hunting and childbirth, suddenly makes sense to me now that I'm a mother. I'm not even into archetypes, yet these connections are suddenly powerful for me. Being a warrior, being a champion; they're both about drawing on something greater than oneself, channeling strength and wisdom and heart.
So taking the lead from O Magazine, I decided to strengthen my body, my energy, and my spirit. A quick review of the magazine yielded areas that need attention: there's the financial coach (Suze Orman), the relationship coach (Dr. Phil), the life coach (Martha Beck), and the health coach (Dr. Oz). Then there's the fun stuff, clothes and makeup, lifestyle things, creativity and meaning. I'd have to take stock of my finances, my relationships, how I approach my life, and what I do to stay healthy, plus some things that are just fun.
I believe that our body and mind are connected, and the health of this connection reflects the degree that our spirits can shine. My challenge become, what can give me a net increase in energy, and promote that body mind connection? And what if I put my attention where Oprah suggests I might need it? (I mean, she's figured out a few things, right?)
So I began to look for the things that would strengthen my body, my energy, and my spirit. Some I pulled from the "20 ways to..." lists (I'm sure you'll recognize these) and others came from my own reflecting.
- Meditate
- Sleep enough
- Exercise
- Get fresh air
- Change from coffee to green tea
- Eat more fruits and vegetables and whole grains
- Laugh
- Nourish my relationships, including with myself
- Be loving:
Practice forgiveness
Practice tolerance
- Be present
- Honor the time I have with family and friends
- Slow down
- Do the hobbies that bring joy to me - cooking, skiing, camping, art
- Balance my body & mind
You know the story of how the rocks all fit in the jar? How if you put the big rocks in first, then the little rocks, then the sand, that it all fits? My sixth grade teacher demonstrated that one for us. This challenge is about making a shift - my job, my social obligations, my chores, and striving to have enough of what I need are no longer the big rocks. I couldn't fit everything in when those were my big rocks. This list is now my big rocks. It's scary to make my job, etc, the little rocks that get put in later, but I really want to see if this way, it'll all fit.
The challenge is in identifying the ways that I can bring the things on this list into my life, and how often I do so, and discovering what happens as a result. I'll be specifically deciding what actions to take, and measuring how often I do them, with a big dose of supporting myself, rather than pushing myself, defining the way. The result I'm looking for? To be healthier, to be more connected, to shine.
How will I know I've gotten there? Feeling (and being) stronger in my body, more energetic, having more fun, knowing myself to be more connected with the world on a soul level. To be and feel more engaged, in a way that brings me joy. I'll feel good about what I can get done in a day, and know that my priorities have been taken care of. And there's a big question mark, too. I won't really know when I've gotten there, because this is all about a process. At the end of the year, I'll have this blog, and I'll look back over it, at what I've discovered, at who I was at the start, and at who I've become.
