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Only with a clear mind can solutions emerge
Anonymous
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Annabel's Blog
Renewing the Spirit Last weekend I took a mini-holiday with my husband. We left the kids with their grandmother (thanks again Grandma Pat!). During our time away, we focused on simply slowing down, relaxing, doing nothing. I’m so glad I made the lists in my blog this month of things I do to feel physically and mentally renewed, because when we were choosing what to do with our time on our weekend away, I picked only activities that were on these lists. And our time away was completely rejuvenating.
However, there is one list I didn't include: the list of things I do to feel spiritually renewed. The things I do to fill my soul.
So, here are the top 10 things I do to feel spiritually renewed:
1. Meditating 2. Helping others 3. Practicing gratitude 4. Creative pursuits 5. Journaling 6. Yoga 7. Running 8. Being in nature 9. Attending church/spiritual services 10. Spending time with loved ones
The idea of soul/spirit/spirituality is different for everybody. It’s interesting to observe that a large part of my spiritual fulfillment lies in feeling mentally and physically renewed. In fact, the three of them are truly interconnected.
But I have also come to realize over the years that – regardless of my religious/spiritual beliefs – any kind of meditative or spiritual routine/ceremony/activity reconnects me with my soul. There are beautiful insights to be gleaned from all traditions. Whether I choose to adhere to a specific faith or not, I feel spiritually renewed when I am in an environment that encourages soulful contemplation. Weddings, christenings, satsangs, batmitzvahs, pujas, Easter mass, funerals.
This was confirmed a few days ago when I attended a memorial service for a friend with whom I had lost touch. It was a beautiful ceremony, a service that drew upon Christian scriptures (which I grew up with), but also included contemporary poetry and music. What struck me was the way the memorial spoke to each of the mourners (a diverse group) in some way. Each of us connected with different aspects of the service, just as our friend had connected with each of us in different ways. At a service marking the end of someone’s life here on earth, I felt a mix of emotions. Saddened by the passing of a person I’d known for many years, but thankful to be reminded of the many ways we can touch each other’s souls.
What do you do when you need to renew your spirit? May you clear space for some of these activities in the week ahead. |
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Friday, 30 April 2010 19:28 |
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Renewing the Mind A vast amount of information passes through our head in a single day. The mind is constantly sorting, sifting and processing thoughts, facts, and choices. As a result, many of us spend the majority of our day in our head. It’s pretty common to feel like the mind is cluttered, that we need to feel renewed mentally. Last week I wrote my top 10 list of what I do to feel physically renewed, and here is my top 10 list of things I do to feel mentally renewed. Top 10 List for Mental Renewal- Sleep
- Read
- Meditate
- Exercise
- Write
- Unplug (go offline)
- Take a holiday
- Get outside (spend time in nature)
- Simply sit (do nothing)
- Creative activity (art or play with my kids)
As I drafted my top 10 list of things I do to feel mentally renewed, I noticed that there is a lot of crossover between what rejuvenates me physically and mentally. It shouldn’t be a surprise that my physical state has great influence on my mental state and vice versa. But I definitely go through phases where I am paying attention more to one than the other. I have a few triggers that tell me I need to work on mental renewal. Feeling overwhelmed. Feeling distracted. Forgetting things. An inability to focus. All of the above are also by-products of motherhood and sleep deprivation, but I digress…! It’s in my nature to push myself, to take on new and exciting projects, to be involved in many endeavours. But I sometimes fall into the doing-too-much trap, and the first thing that screams out is my mind. It gets cluttered and foggy and sends me warning signals that it might just shut down if I don’t give it a break. And because timing is everything, these warning signals were going off this week. So, I’m taking a step back, looking at my top 10 list, and as I look forward to my mini-holiday I’m clearing space to mentally renew. What’s on your top 10 list for mental renewal? Are they similar to the things you do for physical renewal? May you clear space this week for all that your mind and body need. |
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Wednesday, 21 April 2010 00:00 |
Getting Physically RenewedWe all have slumps, dips, lows, times when we feel stuck. If we didn’t, and if everything was smooth-sailing all the time, life would be pretty bland. And we probably wouldn’t appreciate the highs as much. But what do you do when you’re in a funk, when you need a bit of revitalization? For the past few days - despite the sunshine and beautiful weather - I have not been feeling particularly refreshed or renewed. Usually, the arrival of spring is enough to energize me out of any funk. But lately I’ve been feeling depleted and tired. So, I thought I’d make some lists of my favourite ways to “get renewed.” Firstly, it’s a good reminder to myself of the things that should be a priority in my life. And secondly, it’s a great way to check-in and see where I’ve been slacking off. This week I’m going to create my top 10 lists of things I love to do to feel renewed physically, mentally, and spiritually. Top 10 Activities for Physical Renewal 1. Sleep 2. Yoga or Pilates 3. Run or walk outside 4. Take a long bath 5. Eat healthily 6. Breathe deeply 7. Get a massage 8. Go swimming 9. Go to the spa 10. Take a holiday Just looking at my list reminds me that I am doing most of these things but what I really need is some time off. When I'm feeling depleted and tired, it's usually a signal that I need a mini-holiday. I don't have to go away. Just a couple of clear days with no commitments. I'm a big fan of booking regular days off. And I usually do. It just so happens that I've booked three spa days in the last three months and have had to cancel them all because of emergencies with the kids. Life happens like that. But luckily, I have a three-day weekend booked soon. I’ll probably do a lot of the other activities on my list during that mini-holiday, so hopefully I’ll get a full dose of physical renewal! I’m glad I cleared space to check-in. Sometimes all we need is a little reminder of what’s important. What do you do to feel physically renewed? |
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Tuesday, 13 April 2010 19:59 |
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