As a response to the past few weeks, I find myself thinking alot about how and where I spend my time and focus my energy.
When I teach breast health and relaxation workshops, this is often something we move through together, or people take home to work with. An important support to revisit on a regular basis in considering your overall health and wellbeing.
What about YOU? How do YOU spend your time?
As we begin to consider the ways we want to step forward in our lives, perhaps in a new way, it feels like a good time to move through this exercise.
Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day
– N. Stair, 85-year-old woman from Kentucky
Before you approach this practice I encourage you to take some time to move your body, in whatever way best supports you. Turning to your yoga mat, putting on some music that makes your soul happy, going for a walk in the forest, or inviting another form of movement into your body. Sometimes the safety of your practice gives you the opportunity to release and process wherever you are right now – you have to start where you are.
Once you’ve cleared a bit of space inside of yourself, grab a piece of paper and let’s do some self reflection.
I invite you to draw 2 big circles – one is for your reality now, and one is for your ideal.
Take a bit of time to silently reflect and explore the different roles you play in your life, and the ways you divide your time. Be honest here, remember this is just for you.
You might want to make a list of the things you engage in on a daily or weekly basis, maybe including things such as;
Play / Family / Work / Exercise / Relaxation / Time alone / Creativity / Spirituality / School + Study/ Time with friends / Sleep / Prayer / Travel / Chores / Rest / etc….
Now we’re going to divide our circle into a visual reflection of how we spend our time.
Focus on your first circle, drawing pie pieces representing the amount of time you engage in different activities throughout your day. The size of each piece should be representative of how much time you spend in each activity. You can either base it on a 24 hour period, or a weekly snapshot.
First I encourage you to write out your actual life experience, then take a few minutes and just sit with that circle of balance.
How do you feel?
Now, I invite you to fill in the second circle with your ideal – how could your pie look different to better support your ability to feel more rested, happier, and more whole. What can you do to make your actual your ideal? Set some goals of what you can change to make that happen.
How could you manifest more balance?
In what ways, if at all, are you taking time out for you?
How can you honour all “those roles” into an integrated whole?
Remember this is it, this is the only time you get to experience this life in this particular body, what do you need to do different to honour YOUR needs, YOUR life – this is not being selfish, this is being self respectful.
I honestly believe we are all meant to be happy.
It’s a good idea to post your ideal circle somewhere to keep you on track with your priorities, this will help you to stay inspired and as a reminder to carve out windows for the things that feed your soul. Maybe check in next month and see how things in your circle of balance have shifted – or not.
Remember your life is how you perceive it and how you experience it, and the way you spend your time is ultimately always up to you.
I wish you for so much health and happiness
I wish for you to be filled with loving kindness
I wish for you to be peaceful and at ease, I know it’s not always easy, but I wish this for you
And I wish for you to be happy, from deep inside.
With so much love
Amber
xo
Wishing you wellness in body, mind and spirit on your own unique journey, emerging in your own time and honouring the narrative of your life.
If you’d like to practice together, I offer weekly live online zoom classes, and as an additional support for you to practice on your own schedule, but together, I’ve created a video library and a monthly video subscription