Day 40/366 days Towards Self-Mastery. Mood: mellow
When you know where you're going, you're sure of your direction, then each step will take you closer and closer to that destination.
The same is true of choosing to live authentically. Once you know what you truly love and how you truly want to live, then each step is a step in preparation for that authentic life that you dream of.
The preparation time is a time of learning. Observing our reactions, noticing our responses, being aware of our feelings, noticing our preferences. As we build on these small steps we come to a time of living in the big picture. Each steps builds on and forms that authentic self that we are rediscovering.
It's sounds as though it should be simple enough. Yet when we consider just how much our mind and our path is influenced by our family and society's rules and expectations, we find that a lot of those reactions and responses are not really authentic to us, but ones we've learned from others.
Many of the steps you take will be counter to what is expected of you, and many of those steps you might even feel uncomfortable with yourself as you begin to deviate from your norm.
Since committing to this daily reflection I'm becoming more clear about the direction I should have taken a long time ago. Yes I know, I'm "should-ing" on myself, and the truth is, all is well, except I'm just a little bit miffed that I got side-tracked again chasing dreams that I don't really want.
To live authentically is to know ourselves deeply. Self-Mastery.
It takes preparation, daily stepping into the unknown to rediscover ourselves, our responses, our reactions, our preferences.
Today's inspiration is about doing the preparatory work to live an authentic life
Each day is a blank canvas on which to begin the process of preparing for your authentic life.
Quiet your mind, spend time in stillness, connect with yourself before you connect with your journal, and the day and all that it brings. Don't rush this part. Then commit to express yourself in small and simple and authentic ways as the opportunities present themselves today.
This challenge has served me well today. And as a practice it is definitely one I'll adopt. For me the key is checking in each morning and connecting with the desire to shape my life in this community. To build my practice here as my priority, with the online work spending a little time in the background.
Yesterday I mentioned that I was experiencing glimpses of my true authentic self again. How that will alchemise into my life here is still unknown to me.
Conscious in my interactions at a networking meeting this morning, mindful of what was true for me, I enjoyed the presence I brought to my time there. And I also noticed a mis-step when old habits came to the party. This awareness is important, and often the first step in realising a pattern that I want to change.
Then home to rearrange my clinic room to bring in more light, spaciousness and a more welcoming feel.
When I take decisions that change the direction of my life, my whole body needs to adjust. Your's does too. We need to be kind to ourselves at these times. Take things slowly, one step at a time, allow ourselves to savour each new discovery, and blend each new experience into our authentic self.
My day was punctuated with naps, Qi Gong, a gentle walk.
Living authentically. As with all good things, it takes time.
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.