Living an intentional life means we become weathered and shaped by our experiences. Through cycles and seasons, trusting and awakening we can meet challenge or even the pain of the more coarse experiences of being human mind, body, heart, spirit — and move forward to discover a truer self with new strength.
How do you take what’s left after heartbreak, betrayal or loss and mine for its wisdom?
Where do you return to when seeking refuge?
A natural tendency to ride a continuous closed-loop system of thoughts running in the background etching a kind of discomfort unique to each of our experiences. If we took a breath and looked at our tendencies and patterns could they simply dissolve? Perhaps. Would we be met with feelings and emotions we don’t have time or energy for? Perhaps. Making space to see and feel the patterns that keep us ruminating or in pain also makes space for easeful relationships to our internal landscape and external world.
Make space
Guide your attention to your breath. To this moment and this one. The very point we where we create from and return to can be a simple or for some a more complex return to breath. Personal practices have been my most steadfast allies and constant companions for twenty-five years guiding me to the interior life and essential self back to my values. The self underneath despair, loss, self-doubt.
We can call it special or sacred, but that we notice our guiding values returns us again and again to that which heals, balances and restores what has been ruminated into rubble that we can’t find or feel our way out of.
What guiding values do you seek refuge in? If you had to choose five values which would be your core allies in times of challenge?
If you haven’t had the time or space to connect with your values start with the breath you’re currently on. Sense the soft breath at the base of the nostrils. The cool inhale, the warm breath of exhale after the body has warmed it. Land here. Stay for awhile. Re-view what connects to your interior life, your essential self, that which guides you.
I’ve moved my newsletter to Substack to offer insights and gatherings to those who are interested and unable to attend in-person offerings. If you’re like me and seek all the support you can get, I will be adding more here on this platform on regular basis with tools to steady mind, regulate body (nervous system), and connect hearts in gatherings.
My initial 2025 offerings can be found here and additional in-person offerings will follow shortly. If you’re interested, stay subscribed. I’ll be sharing updates and resources.
I hope to see you on the path.
Nina