fulfilling life that aligns with your spirit
Self Care: A Guilty Pleasure Or Critical Factor In What You Are Manifesting
Published on 5 Apr 2010 at 7:55 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under Feature Articles,Personal Development Strategies,Spirituality & Inspiration.
Last fall, I wrote about taking a pretty bad fall while on my morning power walk. I partially tore a ligament on my right ankle that is almost healed. It’s the third time I have injured that same ankle. For the first two-three weeks I had to surrender to a great deal of rest. With my office upstairs in my home and no laptop, the amount of online work I typically do was pretty much put on hold. I was only able to sit at my computer for very brief periods of time.
Having to stop doing so much was uncomfortable and I got bored! No, I’m not an adrenaline junky . Having to slow waaaaaaay down showed me how much I was outrunning some of my stuff because I was so distracted by do-ing, I wasn’t feeling or be-ing with my SELF or with Source/God/Higher Power.
It was eye-opening to realize how much of my time is invested in being BUSY doing something, especially when it has to do with business. Why was it such a surprise? Because I am continually getting on my client’s case to include lots of self-care for fun, nurturing, re-energizing, and decompressing so that they can really show up for the people and responsibilities they care about. Â
Now, I have a lot of opportunities to schedule my time any way I want every day and I add many things that really feed me: daily meditation, connecting with friends, some volunteer work, and the part of my business that really juices me. In fact many times when I am so pumped with creative juices flowing that I can be working (it doesn’t really feel like work, though) and the hours whiz by. Those are very happy times for me to bring my voice and heart out in what I am doing. Inspiration and intuitive insights are flowing and it’s a blast to capture that in my articles, teleseminars, and programs.
Then, there are times when I feel the pull to stop working and do something relaxing. It often comes at times when I am pushing or trying to force something to happen that isn’t flowing. Boy, can I be a dog with a bone that just won’t let go. Other times I can feel the pull to let things drop and turn it over to the Universe, trusting the Creator to handle things on my behalf. Do I always listen? No.
Co-creating with the Universe can be tricky. In a recent conversation with my mastermind group we were discussing what it really means to dance with the Universe. My friend Kimberly said that she believes that we are responsible to do 5% of what is being created and the Universe handles the other 95% (the how part). And that means we give 100% to our 5% responsibility to action.
Ok, I’ll go with that.
For the last several months I have been in a high creative period working on my new 8-week program, From Spark to Flame: Awakening Your Courageus Heart beginning April 14, my new book, and an online summit I am coordinating for July-August 2010. All of this is fun, fun, fun even with all of details to coordinate, market, write etc. Definitely my 5% I believe!
I’ve also had some minor medical issues that required two out-patient procedures. So, with my ankle healing, this medical stuff, working with two healers, completing two detoxes , and my projects, I thought I was doing pretty well in balancing my self-care and supporting my health. After my last procedure about two weeks ago, I was wiped out for several days with low energy, poor concentration and a desire to rest more than usual. I had a strong sense it wasn’t all from the anesthesia. I’ve been investing a lot of energy for months and even though I put time aside for self-care, I wasn’t really resting and decompressing.
So, as I sat at my computer for some guidance, I asked my daily question, “What is mine to do today? Where should I be putting my energy?”What I intuitively heard in response to my question (no I do not hear actual voices speaking in my head), was, “Self-care.”
 I thought, “Huh? I have been taking care of myself, haven’t I?”
“No. Do more.”
My sense was what was really being said was to take more walks, sit on my deck side in nature, listen to music, have more fun, commit to more time for meditation and communion with Source…….”
I said, “Ok, but I have a lot I need to handle right now with my upcoming program launching and even with the help I have there is still so much to handle. If I don’t do it who will?”Answer, “I will”.
“But there are certain things that can only be handled on this plane” (meaning all the practice stuff that has to be done and you can’t really do that….)
Answer, “Who says?”Well, that caught my attention as I thought of the rules I have that say things have to happen a certain way. And that can sure apply to my rules about when I can take time off from my business. In the past I would skip out in the middle of the day to go to the movies, lunch with a friend, shopping or run errands. Playing more!
Taking breaks can be a great way to resume a project with fresh eyes and renewed energy. It’s not slacking off – it’s all part of being in the flow! My buddy Anita kids me about that all the time when I come up with an objection to do something a new way by asking, “So Lorraine, whose rules are those?”All the shoulds, shouldn’ts, have tos that create rigidity and stress.
Thinking about this inner dialogue, I realized that what I was being encouraged to do was trust the Universe more in the “how” things were unfolding perfectly including following my guidance to slow down, take a break, and let some balls drop. It’s easy to forget that The Universe is continually conspiring on your behalf and what manifests isn’t solely dependent on the actions you take. Yes, you have your 5% part and the other 95% doesn’t require you getting in the way and trying to drive the bus.
It’s easy to forget all this when we’re feeling fearfull and worried about money, our future, health, relationships, business. We become impatient, kick in high do-ing gear and don’t value self-care enough to create space for stillness, contemplation, and nurturing; critical factors in having a prosperous and rich life that aligns with our soul path.
Self-care is not a guilty pleasure. This is part of personal growth and development. Taking the best care of YOU supports you in showing up in your life with your best SELF. In fact, committing to daily spiritual practices that sustain your connect with Source is the most important relationship you have!
I’m reminded of one of my favorite poems by Robert J. Burdett
BROKENÂ Â DREAMS
As children bring
their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams
to God
Because He was my Friend.
But then instead
of leaving Him
in peace to work alone,
I hung around
and tried to help
With ways that
that were my own.
At last I snatched them back
and cried,
“How can You be so slow?”
“My child,” He said,
“What could I do?
You never did let go.”
So, ok God. I hear ya. I just wanted to write this post and now I’m getting offline to enjoy the rest of my day. You take it from here…..
Turn fear into courage in my new 8 week program: From Spark to Flame: Awakening Your Courageous Heart Release your fears, cultivate a deeper connection with your SELF and Divinity to experience more faith, trust, and courage to have a more abundant and joyfull life. The program begins 4/14 and I am offering a very special tuition for a limited number of registrations. Space is very limited. Register for the FREE preview calls
Richard | RichardShelmerdine.com on 28 Apr 2010 at 3:00 am: 1
I agree with what you are saying with the 5% only being from us. We just have to put full effort into it. Being playful is essential here too.
lorraine on 2 May 2010 at 6:41 am: 2
The playfullness is so key Richard
Thank you for the reminder! I often get nudges from my spirit to lighten up!