I recently re-learned the value in the exploration of the inner. In taking time to reflect, I’ve been craving this for a long time. Imagining heading off to a beautiful setting to ‘find myself’. In the end, I had to experience the jarring whiplash of coming off the rails at full tilt because it all got on top of me before I would allow myself the ’luxury’ of slowing down and reevaluating.
I significantly upped my work game last year and as I committed to my business growth and my personal expansion, I created several opportunities to step out of my comfort zone. This was exhilarating, new and exciting as much as it was daunting. I truly took a journey of self-discovery through my business and I loved it; but, as I was doing this, I was also being a Mom with a husband who works away a lot, and without realising it because I was so into what I was doing and creating, I was burning out. Again!
I could say I really ought to know better, but that’s blaming and shaming, and I don’t know about you, but those energy draining, judgemental emotions will very quickly cut me off from my connection to my deepest self. I was firefighting some issues with my son’s behaviour, which became ever more difficult for me to understand and deal with as the year went on. I simply wasn’t fully present in other areas of my life as my focus was on this energetic ‘push’ in my business. This was deliberate. I felt it was ‘my time’.
I do fully believe it’s time for women to rise. I fully believe that we must support each other and rise together, and I fully believe that our children need to see empowered women doing their ‘thang!’ I know it’s time, but I forgot something incredibly important, and not for the first time either. I forgot that in order for bread to rise and become delicious, rich, nourishing and full of depth, it needs to rest –– to pause to grow.
We, women, need to take a moment to pause. Life is full on these days. I know you know what I’m talking about. Add in parenting, perhaps taking care of elderly parents and all the other commitments of life, as well as building a business, and there’s no space left for self-care!
You can’t pore from an empty cup, so I invite you to ask yourself if your focus has narrowed if you’re feeling overwhelmed, tired, teary? Perhaps it’s time to take a moment of pause? Slowing down is infinitely better than coming off the rails completely. Nourish yourself in all areas of your life. You deserve to feel good. It’s allowed.
I paused, took stock and made a commitment to my happiness, my wellbeing, and my satisfaction in my life. This is the place from which I will move forward and whatever form the next chapter takes I will consider my satisfaction first.
[first published June 2019, https://www.sibellapublications.com/]