At the start of each year, I pick a theme to help set the tone and remind myself of what I desire to create in my life.
For 2013, I have selected two: Ease and Surrender. Ease because I have a history of buying into work hard instead of work smart. Surrender because I want to be in flow and work with what is, instead of against it.
When I set these intentions, it felt really good. It felt like a step forward – moving more into alignment with Spirit. Little did I know how much this choice would bring challenge with it.
January has been one of the most challenging months I’ve had in a long time. I should say, challenging in a different way than I am used to. It has been very full and demanding of my time. Not only professionally, but personally. It seemed like all at once bodyheart was expanding with new programs and events (yay!), my house was falling apart and at one point sewage was running down my front yard (gross!), my dogs were needing lots of attention as they adjust to each other and their new dynamic, and somehow my self-care was getting lost in the shuffle (big boo!).
Everything was time consuming. Nothing seemed to have an easy fix. And it just kept happening over and over. It felt like getting knocked over by a wave, only to get back up to get knocked over again. And again.
I found myself saying, “This is supposed to be my year of ease! Where is it?”
My recent trip to Vancouver offered a break. A break from my regular life and routine. It also provided me a mighty awareness. What I realized in the space away from home is that I created an expectation around what ease was supposed to look like.
Ease was supposed to look like no traffic. Like a new puppy that takes to potty training in a day and also instantly loves my other dog. Like plumbing and internet that are reliable and issue-free. It looks like having 48 hours in a 24 hour period. Basically, it looks like life on my terms…where obstacles come in when I’m ready for them and only one at a time.
Hello Fairyland. It’s so nice to meet you!
It’s pretty laughable really. It’s like I was asking God to conform to my vision. Silly, but totally what I was doing.
As I pondered the concept of ease, what I discovered was that it is really a state of mind. We can find ease within any circumstance, if we choose. And, there’s the rub. We have to be conscious enough to actively choose it. Like so much in life, right?
Moving forward, when obstacles come up my new plan is to ask myself, “How can I find the ease in this?” I believe my mind is very obedient. It’s like a computer, actively searching for the answer to my questions. And, I have a feeling that simply asking that question will be enough to shift how I’m holding whatever is currently in front of me.
Now, I’m asking you. Do you have any tricks for finding the ease in the challenge? I want to know. What works for you? Leave it in the comments below.
Thank you for sharing.
Love,
Amber
Ease is a state of mind…I remember to attend to the issues, and leave the rest to the Universe. When I am not at ease, I think I can control the outcome! Takes practice to live at the level of ease! And I can beat myself up if I think nothing is easy…that just adds to the strss. Thank God we only have to really stay focused during a 16 hour period, one moment at a time! Hugs
My mantra for the last year has been, “I’m NOT making this into a problem”. It works brilliantly, and I’ve realized how many (like all?) my problems are of my own making. When I don’t get attached to resistance, getting upset, making people/circumstances wrong, and turn my attention to something that feels good, problems don’t “hatch” or they solve themselves. That’s ease!
Amber, this was a fantastic read. It can be so easy to get swept up in the stress of running your business and life that one of the first things to go can be your self-care.
I loved your idea of asking yourself, “How can I find the ease in this?” Which doesn’t mean it has to be easy, just that you have the mindset of not making it ridiculously hard for yourself!
I definitely agree, it’s about making that conscious choice and knowing that a lot of the times, most challenges become a reflection of how you react to them.
Amber Let me say it was a pleasure meeting your new puppy this past week and just to let you in on a secret, my sister smiled when they jumped up on her bed.
I try not to focus on challenges but rather remind myself of how blessed I am. My mother-n-law always used the phase. “this too shall pass” . Reminds me to keep moving forward.
It was great to meet you, another kindred spirit, in Vancouver last week. Funnily enough, my chosen theme for 2013 is Freedom and Ease. Not so far off yours. Perhaps it’s a flavour for this year for many of us. I am learning that freedom and ease are a feeling for me and a way to navigate my path in life. The way of my heart and soul is free and ease-filled but not always ‘easy’. At all my choice-points, I get to ask myself, ‘which is the path that brings me that feeling?’
Closing your eyes and taking a deep breath. That helps.
Vicki, Juniper, Jenna, Debbie, Lucca & Allie – Thank you so much for sharing your strategies for more ease. I’m really inspired by each of you and am so grateful you are in this community! xo-A.