By the time November comes around, I tend to have finished clearing out the excess from the physical surroundings. This allows me to turn my attention to the inner experience, trying to identify the “stuff” that no longer serves me on a mental and emotional level. This is not to say that I have great clarity on this matter. But at the very least I know where the uneasy feelings live in my body and can look at the discomfort with compassion, trying to understand what I can learn about myself at this point in time.
There are days where I feel very heavy and the only thing I can do is allow myself to enter some level of physical and emotional hibernation. As the trees shed their leaves, we too must learn to leave behind parts of ourselves in order to create room for new experiences and new ways of being. However, being in the midst of this process is the hard part for me. And I am tempted to say I am not alone in this.
As humans, we are programmed to look for safety and certainty. It is only natural to want to stay in our comfort zone rather than give up control and open ourselves up to the unknown. It is not wrong to do this, sometimes it is just what we need. Too many synchronous changes can be overwhelming. The trick is to offer yourself a daily grounding practice. This will help you know when it is time to rest, and when it is time to turn a page in your life. Our ability to find grounding in our innermost being helps us to feel free of our attachment to external circumstances and much more in tune with our real desires and aspirations.
Life becomes an adventure when our hearts are open and we are not afraid. Fear serves its purpose when it keeps us away from danger, and it would not be possible to survive without it. But we must learn to find courage in difficult circumstances and know when to put our fears aside and give ourselves the chance to evolve, to find joy and love. To feel alive and be the hero in our own story.
I would like to propose to you a very simple grounding practice to start your day, with these 5 easy steps.
Step 1
When you wake up, before you do anything else, take a moment to acknowledge that this is the start of a new day and see it as a gift. Check in with how your body feels, give yourself a hug and have a good stretch while still in the warmth and comfort of your bed.
Step 2
Open your window and take a moment to breathe deeply. Feel the air filling your lungs and nurturing your body. You can also burn incense sticks or palo santo and just enjoy the aromas for a little while.
Step 3
Put on your favourite music while you start getting ready for your day. Sing, dance, be joyful!
Step 4
Wear clothes that feel comfortable and bring you joy. Feel their texture on your skin and allow yourself to feel protected and caressed by their touch.
Step 5
Put on your favourite perfume/makeup, whatever makes you feel attractive and ready for the day ahead. Step out with confidence, curiosity and open your mind and your heart to what the day brings. Enjoy!