“For far too long we have been seduced into walking a path that did not lead us to ourselves. For far too long we have said yes when we wanted to say no. And for far too long we have said no when we desperately wanted to say yes… When we don’t listen to our intuition, we abandon our souls. And we abandon our souls because we are afraid if we don’t, others will abandon us.” – Terry Tempest Williams
The last thing anyone needs is one more thing to do.
What is needed is connection and a deeper reserve of self to be present and clear.
Still the hours get longer, and the unexpected demands rise. We cram in more to create better for others, barely reaching the finish line of each day as lists of “should” and needs blur and grow.
Recently I have been pondering what does need to happen and what doesn’t, and am I honoring the difference. Not all requests need to be accepted. If I make those decisions in quiet (hard to find, yet can be created), outside the demands of the day or others, it seems to go better. Whereas, if I roll into every day, reacting to the inevitable chaos of the ever-changing moment, the needs seem to grow while my clarity and calm dissipate. I had to remind myself of what I already knew, what I teach: clarity comes from within, and it is found through stillness. More importantly, we have to choose it.
Simple reminders help us make that choice for stillness:
- Working faster or harder is not sustainable over the long haul, and we are in marathon times.
- Non-stop doing goes against the feminine design and aperture.
- Being and allowing are the foundations of creativity and clarity.
- This shift often starts with setting better boundaries, and those boundaries start from within.
You say you don’t have time to sit? To stop?
I hear you and yet, the time you create for stillness gives back – it does not take away.
Let me tell you about a mother of three, who ran her household with so much love for everyone: crafts, hugs, meal planning, and activity running – all to the devotion of her children and her husband. She ate what was left from the kids’ lunches, rested when she was finished prepping for her kids’ next activity; she lulled them to sleep and celebrated their mornings, doing her best to give her husband all the space and support he needed to work tirelessly at his job that provided for them all.
That left her far behind and no matter what little motion of self she made, she was seeming to slip further and further away – until she made a choice to change.
When asked why she signed up for Sit in Your Center, she responded: “This year I am making myself a priority.”
The truth is often so simple: One morning you wake up and realize that there is very little of you left.
All too often, the result of this realization is:
- You signed up for the meditation app.
- You planned the date dinners for your spouse.
- You maybe even attended a women’s event, yet once there you were feeling like you weren’t quite the right fit.
- The results didn’t work for you, so you, like many women figured: “I must be doing it wrong.”
This phenomena is common with women. We default to being the “problem” rather than separating out the structure or expectations. Meaning, there truly are only so many things we can do in one day, and we must make those choices in our work, in our families and in ourselves. This discernment between external and internal obstacles is easier to perceive when we have the space to see it.
There is a profound peace that is available when we stop pushing down the feelings and experiences that we don’t understand, enjoy, or even more surprisingly did not have the time or space to feel. Our life is so rushed that we are often carrying unnecessary emotional weight from moments undigested, preventing us from being full where we are now, leaving us more tired, more anxious and feeling a little defeated. Slowing down, sitting and reconnecting to ourselves + our bodies can help restore balance.
Sit in Your Center is about reclaiming this balance. The answer is inside you, because our bodies carry wisdom available to us if we are present to listen.
The way to live in balance amidst the responsibilities of today is to live in alignment with your vision and values, not living in sacrifice in hopes that it will correct itself later. It won’t. Sacrifice imprints sacrifice.
Life is going to hand us hard things we don’t want. How we handle them is our choice.
It’s easier to choose balance when we come from center.
Join me for the next Sit in Your Center online retreat for women where I have created a sacred place for you to reconnect to your own innate wisdom and realign with the life you are worthy of living, one step at a time. The next Journey Together, live class circle, opens May 25 – June 19th. Learn more + register here.
Attendee Testimonial:
“Sit in Your Center is a much needed invitation to help you connect with your body on a deeper level. You will learn about the power your body can give you when you understand how to truly connect with it, with your true self. Every woman will benefit from Kate’s unique knowledge and insight.” — Jen, N.C.
