Day 359/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
As we come to the end of this full year experience of reflecting on, and following the Simple Abundant path, I'm reminded of the choice that I made. Not, one day I made a choice, but the choice I make every single day.
To live the life I have now.
To step into today and see what life has in stall for me.
To take life as it comes and feel into the nuances and flavour of every moment.
Too many years were spent attempting to live the life I was planning, searching for, reaching to. Too many glossy magazines with promises of a better experience than the one I had in my lap.
It's surprising how much is missed by focussing on what isn't.
Today I have in my fridge strawberries and blueberries that are very ripe that will make a delicious ice-cream. So today I make ice-cream.
There are Christmas gifted plants to plant out, and while I'm at it, a few tidying up chores to do in the garden.
I don't have to think about work, or household chores today. It's a holiday kind of day. I have until the 2nd week in January to live each day spontaneously. That's a gift right there.
So going forward, which life will you live. Will you continue to strive for a life that you don't have, or will you settle for the life that you do have?
Will you notice its gifts and appreciate its loyalty?
Will you give thanks for what you've accomplished, for being alive, for having what you have?
Or will you worry and strive and plan and project as you focus on the life that someone else has dangled in front of you. A life that maybe they have achieved. Maybe, but probably not. A life that is sold to you by the marketing gurus who know how to press every single button of desire that you possess.
The appreciation of the life that is, has been one of my most precious gifts to myself.
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.