"Don't Just Do Something, Sit there."

​My deepest wish is that this note finds you transitioning into the new year with more ease, grace and love in your hearts.

I am personally finding great comfort in the spaciousness I'm feeling as I move into 2017. The "to do list" seems to be disappearing when I'm in flow and allowing space - tasks are easy, enjoyable and finish quicker when I wait for the right time to do them rather than pushing "to just get it done" (This one is still an ongoing practice. ha!). I've been finding a new delight in cooking, specifically soups that I've never had before - finding meditation in the chopping of vegetables and allowing the aromas to permeate deep into my being. 

It hasn't all been peaceful days of comfy bliss - I've also had days of wrestling with my demons - doubt, guilt, anger, and fear is always the big one. There are a lot of unknowns in my world at the moment, but here are a few things that have helped me during these moments of struggle.

1.) Allowing Creative Flow - I recently went to an Intuitive Painting Group in Tacoma and it blew my mind! To step into a space where your heart and breath are the leaders (Reminds me of the Breath Circles - nudge, nudge). There was no lack of abundance and no judgement neither positive or negative. It was meditative painting where no thought was involved - just a constant question to the heart - "whats next?" Allowing the mind to take a back seat and the heart to lead. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this was a daily existence?  It's very freeing to create with wild abandon, making a mess, all while laughing and sometimes crying at what comes forth.

2,) Get Outside! (or at least look outside) - yes it's rainy and cold, but there is something that makes me feel so alive when I bundle up, rain gear on, and go for a walk - feeling that brisk air enter my lungs, the cold wind on my cheeks, hearing the trees sing and seeing them sway in the breeze. The simply act of walking moves so much energy in my system. Then of course the deliciousness of coming home to the warmth and perhaps a hot cup of tea. Even on the days when I can't work up the nerve to brave the weather outside (which has been this last week) it's been so nourishing to simply sit in a chair by the window and bask in the glow of the moonlight. It's been a brilliant one these last few days, even amidst the clouds!

3.) Just Be - this is a hard one for me, but the more I can sit with it, the more I see how it affects my life in very profound ways. I've pushed and pulled most of my life. It can be unnerving to simply be - agitating actually, especially when it can feel like there is so much "to do". It can be hard to listen to my heart when I'm out doing errands and I "just have one more", but my system is done. Or I have a preconceived notion what I will get accomplished in a day and nothing seems to get done, in fact the list gets longer, WHAT?!?. But in those moments of low energy, stress, annoyance, etc - stopping what I'm doing to take a little nap or just sit down for a while, close my eyes and breath - really feel into my body, my system, and simply being quiet - really helps.

A quote from the book Making Space by Thich Nhat Hanh:
"Often we tell ourselves "Don't just sit there, DO something!" But when we practice awareness, we discover that the opposite may be more helpful: "Don't just do something, SIT there!"

Sending Love and Light,
Terri Lynn