Declutter & Lean In
It's Sunday morning and I wake up around 8am. I've forced myself not to look at my phone until after yoga, meditation and journaling. So by 930 I sit down with a cup of tea to look at my emails.
Mind you, my personal inbox always has at least 200 unread emails. But they're way back in the 500 odd emails that rest in my inbox. So I check my emails - flight agencies, random newsletters I've signed up to, people selling me courses, business coaches giving advice, journaling instructor courses.
I delete all the newest emails.
Not a single one of actual importance.
Later that day, I'm chatting with a friend of mine, Sarah. I mentioned something about a woman who is particularly successful in the online world. After a moment, Sarah responded; 'I don't follow or listen to any one anymore. Not business people, not yoga teachers. It's all distraction. I just do my own thing.' (she was referring to her own yoga/oils business).
That advice struck me. Because, being a curious woman, I tend to Google a lot, sign for a lot of newsletters, follow a lot of people on Facebook. As someone who tends to think other people know better, I can be swayed to watching videos and reading other people's work.
TO THE DETRIMENT OF MY OWN WORK.
So, today I implore you to do what I did and spend some time de-cluttering. This could be your physical environment - we've all seen those clutter shows on TV and read about the importance of decluttering.
““Cluttered home, cluttered mind.” ”
What I'm actually inspiring you to do today is to declutter your online world. Go through your inbox and delete all the newsletters you receive but never read, go through Facebook and cull or unfollow all the people who are distracting you.
Here's what really stuck with me after chatting with Sarah and being super-inspired by her comment;
//How much time & energy do we waste in reading those emails or even just the fact that we have to delete them?
//How much do we give our power away when we read a lot of magazines, articles and advice from other people instead of turning inwards?
Once you've decluttered, spend some time in meditation & then journaling - SPEND SOME TIME LEANING INWARDS.
What does this decluttering experience mean for you?
What does it mean to trust yourself more and turn inwards for advice?
Write your way home,
Katrina
#LTFI (lean the F in)
Photo by Kara Michelle on Unsplash
What Intuition Sounds Like
Years ago, in the midst of feeling completely lost, utterly useless and down in the dumps, I went researching (it's what I do).
Into the Google Search bar I typed;
'How to tell the voice of fear from intuition'?
See, when you are so caught up in your head and you've let all your voices have free range for two decades - well, there's a whole lot of warring going on up in your head.
At this confused and complicated time of my life, the voice of Intuition was not apparent to me.
Want to know why ?
Want to know what I learned from my research?
(and I sincerely wish I could link that very blog but I can no longer find it)
I found a beautiful blog and one sentence struck my core and remains part of my biggest message today;
Fear is the loud voice shouting while Discernment (Intuition) is a hand on your back gently guiding you, 'this is the way.'
Intuition speaks softly, in gestures, in symbols. Intuition requires your attention, your silence in order for it to be heard.
Intuition requires practice. Like a muscle it must be built. If you are now, like I was then, so caught up in the voices of your mind, you have trained your Rational thinking mind to be strong. You have flexed that muscle.
Now you must learn to flex your intuition.
How?
1. Daily card. Pick a card in the morning (Oracle Card) - choose just one and Journal on what you think/feel it means.
At the end of the day journal on what actually happened.
2. Guessing games - play with fast games where you don't think too much about it first. What colour is the car that's about to come around the corner ?Who's the next person who will call you.
3. Take yourself on an intuitive trip. Could be a 20 minute walk or a half day drive... or longer... simply go where you feel drawn. At every intersection take the turn that feels best for you. Play with this. Enjoy the process. Trust that you are heading in exactly the right direction.
4. Trust yourself. I know this can be hard and the best piece of advice I've ever read about this is --- don't beat yourself up if you're Intuition is wrong, if you get it wrong. Practice Self-Compassion here.
Write your way home,
Trin
How to LEAN IN to your EMOTIONS
// Feel It //
Lean IN.
We have to feel what’s coming up for us.
We distract ourselves by “doing” in myriad ways;
// social media (raising my hand here!! I’m scrolling for something unknown... because what needs to be made known is within me)
// TV
// surfing
// hiking
// working
//cleaning
// seeking out friends
// generally being busy
// what’s your distraction method of choice ???
But, but, but
When we suppress thoughts or emotions they come back with a vengeance. Scientists have studied this. The results are in. This is Fact.
We have to feel what we’re feeling; allow it time to shine so it can fall away gracefully.
Lean into what you’re feeling.
Explore it.
Feel it.
Then watch as it miraculously dissipates along with its control on you.
So -- here's some tips on leaning in;
1. As you go through out your day, pay attention to what you are feeling and acknowledge. 'I am feeling Angry'. Keep in mind you are a human having an emotion. You do not become your emotion. Eg. I am Angry - as often as you can focus on shifting your thinking away from being an emotion to being a human having an emotion. Note what this shift brings up for you.
2. Find a comfortable, quiet place where you can be alone and undisturbed, sit with your eyes closed. Focus on your breath. Ask yourself, 'What am I feeling,' allowing whatever comes up to arise - even if it is tears. Begin to label or name what you are feeling. Sit here. With all of these feelings.
3. Write to your emotions - engage, for example, anger in a discussion on the page. What does Anger need to say? How can you work with Anger? What does Anger need? Promise Anger you'll be a better listener from now on, rather than hiding from it or suppressing it.
Write your way,
Katrina
Let go of these to FEEL BETTER about yourself...
Got that knot in your chest? Feeling a little (or a lot) meh? You know, mopey, procrastinating, watching series on netflix back to back, feeling stuck, moping around the house...
You've got a project you want to work on - application to study, a book you want to write, a business you want to start but you can't get yourself together enough to actually start (or continue) the damn thing.
I guarantee you'll feel BETTER if you quit engaging in the following behaviours;
1. COMPARING (Yep, Comparisonitis is a bitch and a sure-fire method to keep you feeling small)
2. JUDGING OTHERS (Judging others generally means you don't accept that characteristic or behaviour, or you exhibit the behaviour or characteristic but aren't aware so you project it, or there could be a level of envy or resentment)
3. Listening to the voice of FEAR rather than DISCERNMENT (hint: fear shouts while discernment whispers)
4. Playing the BLAME GAME (you could be avoiding accepting responsibility... among other things)
5. Engaging in VICTIM MENTALITY (what about me???)
6. PEOPLE PLEASING -- Get your FREE DOWNLOAD, 3 steps to stop people pleasing by clicking here
Becoming more aware of yourself - your thoughts and your behaviours - will enable you to see if you are engaging in these kinds of behaviours...
If you're reading this and identifying these behaviours but you're wondering, how the hell do I shift that? Start by just changing your state. Turn off the TV and on the music - dance, practice yoga, jump around. Take yourself on a walk, a jog or a swim. Get under a cold shower if you have to!
Pull yourself out of your slump because honey, no one else can do that for you!
“Pull out your pen and paper and remind yourself of who you really are”
1. Begin with a fountain of GRATITUDE. Acknowledge and appreciate all the good in your life and about yourself. Be specific. Eg. I'm grateful for the hair on my head, my blue eyes that see well, for my healthy body, my legs that walk me everywhere, my body that bends when I practice yoga... and on and on and on....
2. Write about everything you have achieved and accomplished so far.
3. Write out your dreams in positive, active language as though they are a reality NOW. What do you want in all areas of your life? How do you want to feel, who do you want to be, how do you want to spend your time?
(if you're feeling really down and this is wayyy too far, take it a step back. eg. Instead of staying "I earn millions of dollars" if you currently don't have a job and that seems ridiculous write about how abundant the world is and you know that there are lots of people in the world who were once in your position and now have millions so you can do it too. That you know you have a wealth of abundance within you to create and share)
4.. Write one action you will do today that will take you closer to this dream. One small step.
Go and do that one thing. Go, now.
Write your way home,
Katrina
Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash
Seeking, solstice, your answers lie within
All the answers you seek exist already.
They are not in another online course.
Not hidden between the pages of a self-help book or your Facebook Feed. (Trust me, I've tried looking for answers there for years!)
Your answers are not in affirmations (as great as they are).
Your answers already exist.
You just can't hear them because you're so busy grasping outwards.
Trying to find the answers.
Filling your void with courses, study, food, parties and anything else that you can find.
Which, in fact, only fills the void with pointless noise.
Noise. Noise. Noise.
Not answers.
Your answers exist.
Trust me.
Your answers are being whispered by your soul, daily.
But that's the thing about our souls.
They speak in whispers.
The voice of discernment does not scream and yell.
No, no, that's our friend FEAR.
(False Evidence Appearing Real).
See FEAR likes to carry on.
Because fear is, well, afraid.
What do we do when we are startled in the
dark?
We yell.
We scream.
'Watch out!'
'What was that?!'
'Ahhh!'
Fear doesn't really know any other way to speak.
Fear tends to carry on SO extravagantly, SO loudly that he drowns out our discerning voice of soul.
How do we turn the volume down on Fear?
We sit still.
We breathe.
We listen well.
What better time to do so than winter solstice?
Today is the shortest day of the year.
Winter is well and truly here and what better space to tuck up with a hot water bottle, a journal and pen some words on paper.
What better time to snuggle up and listen...
To..
You.
To have chat with your inside people.
Meditate.
Journal.
Reflect.
Here are some questions for you to ask of your higher self... your soul... <3
What do I most need to hear right now?
What is the one most important action I can take today?
What is my highest value right now.
What do I most need to learn?
With heart,
Katrina
Nuns, habits and... prostitutes?
A trickle of water slides down the passenger window
sluggishly like the morning traffic in lanes beside me.
On the curb stiletto heels
black pleather, 4 inches catch my eye.
Her back to me yet easily i see black makeup
sliding down her cheek...
her cheek worn like an outdoor settee
in far north Queensland sunshine
beaten by the sun, the rain and the sun again.
The traffic before me surges forward;
no faster than the drip snaking down my window.
My eyes peel from the lady of the night
fingering clothes in a second hand store
to the whites of a holy woman
walking by her.
Head to toe she is covered, down to her thongs
in clean, pressed white.
Her habit covers head and reminds me, once again
'Practice makes habit'
and oh, how our habits
Create our reality.
What we do day in and day out lines up to create our lives.
Here's a fun activity to show you if your life is aligned with your values.
Take your journal and some quiet time to reflect...
What do you VALUE? What is important to you in your life?
Forme it's family, friends, my time, words, writing, travel, adventure, good food, good wine, laughter, creativity, sharing. As a few examples
Once you have listed a handful of values, I invite you to answer the following questions
In an average week, where do you spend;
Your time
Your money
Your energy
Now cross check where you spend your time, energy and money with your values. Do they align?
Take a moment now to write a reflective paragraph. This might include an action step or action steps if your values did NOT align.
Remember, what you do every day is the life you are creating and who you are becoming.
With heart,
Katrina
By candlelight; writing & ritual
Writing, just like prayer, yoga or a morning routine can be likened to ritual. Similar to creating an altar to pray before or rolling out a mat for yoga you can create sacred space for writing.
In fact, I invite you to do so and watch how your practice changes.
The ceremonial use of light is familiar to most religions, faiths and beliefs. Be it candles, fire, or the rising and setting of the sun. Light, fire, like all elements is seminal to ritual.
I often light a candle before a journaling session.
The candle light, to me, symbolises illumination, energy and life force.
Lighting a candle also adds to a sense of ritual around the writing process.
It's also a beautiful bookend – light the candle before you write, blow it out when you finish.
I love simple rituals, simple activities.
Next time you write, why not try a candle or incense?
If your candles are scented or you choose incense – there's a whole set of reasons to delight your olfactory system while you write.
xx