“You are the greatest achievement of your own life.”
-Sarah Rees Brennan
Sometimes keeping a commitment feels harsh. We push through an obligation, feeling fatigued. Can you relate? As defined by the Oxford Dictionary, commitment is “an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action”. Inauthentic goals are similar.
Difficult times present themselves when we’ve lost track of life’s flavor, not noticing our affections (what grabs our attention) or uniqueness. No one lives the same life in the same way. We’re here to be ourselves and this sometimes creates conflict. The external world shouts louder and we listen too much!
Last year my daily palate was a mixture of disharmonious colors. I found myself giving more than receiving, misconstruing emotions and thoughts floating around in my head and often taking on too many tasks. Luckily, despite external distractions, through consistent self-care and many moments of quiet reprieve I still accessed and made progress on what mattered most to me. You can, too.
Of course “living in alignment” is so much easier to write than actualize! Nevertheless in 2023 lets explore dedication to a new cause, one not considered enough, your inner yearnings. The other definition of commitment is “the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc…” This year stay loyal. listen deeply and take action from your truth.
As much as we tell ourselves that we’ll do X, after the kids are in college, you’ve received that promotion, the mortgage is paid off, rarely does the external world cooperate in orchestrating the perfect timing. No, we’re responsible for creating our lives and there’s so much “super power” that surfaces when we’ve committed, aka, stayed loyal, to following our bliss.
How might we dedicate ourselves to living true lives within societal, professional and relational demands?
Here are a few suggestions for launching a love for your life:
Accept the invitation
Invite yourself to the “create my life” table and invite others as well. When we listen to ourselves first then we’re able to help others access their priorities, too.
Pause often
Usually this means that you’ve turned your phone to “off”. There’s little “noise”in the background. You’re able to listen and discern the thoughts in your head and the deeper communication from your heart. Perhaps the true pause happens after a workout, walk outside or yoga class, when energy has settled and you’re fully present. In a spare moment even taking a few breaths to settle your mind can create authentic awareness.
Create opportunities for flow
Identify when you’re living in the right balance between challenge and competency. Pay attention to the stress-level and how your body feels. Honestly you will know when you’re in flow because there’s ease and joy in the task and or activity. It’s that simple. There’s no reason that you can’t have more flow, everyday even, in 2023!
The “cause” this year is YOUR INNER TRAVELER and choosing endeavors that GIVE YOU ENERGY with less striving, more trust of the unknown and care for yourself.
Feast on beautiful you and your life. Oh so Happy New Year!
“Love After Love”
The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
-Derek Walcott (1930-2017)
Thank you to Lindblad Expeditions Naturalist and Certified Photo Instructor, Sean Neilson, for the cover photo. Sean generously shared his many beautiful photos onboard the National Geographic Resolution.
