Allow yourself to begin again

Last time I wrote you, I encouraged you to try out the phrase “this too belongs.” By making peace with all that comes into your life, by “allowing” instead of resisting, you get to choose how to respond. That choice grants you a measure of control over your life, even when you don’t like what is showing up.

How did that work out for you?

Photo by cyrus gomez on Unsplash, edited

I didn’t realize it at the time, but my message was one I needed to hear during my hip surgery and the weeks that followed. The word “allow” surfaced when I was poked with multiple sharp needles (ouch!). With deep breaths, I exhaled the word “allow” when I learned my discharge would be later than expected. The many inconveniences that are involved in any interface with the medical world gave me lots of opportunities to allow what was, and to reclaim my inner peace.

As my recovery process unfolds, the opportunities continue! I am challenged to allow my fitness level to be where it is now, instead of where I left it several months ago. I get to allow my motivation to be where it is, which is basically missing in action. 

And now, at the end of the calendar year and the beginning of the slow return of daylight in the Northern hemisphere, we find ourselves at a most auspicious time, a time to allow ourselves to begin again. Being a beginner is good for the soul, even though the ego hates it! Being a beginner allows you to try new things and make mistakes because we’re just beginners. Adopting the beginner's mind is one way to quiet the inner critic and keep perfectionism at bay, an endless job. 

Last year I had many new beginnings: I tried this art technique, that time management skill, this exercise routine. There were quite a few starts and stops! Do I have some kind of character flaw? Do I suffer from lack of discipline? Nah. I’m listening to what my body needs, allowing what my soul longs for. 

How was your year? What brought you joy? Do you want to continue doing more of that? What did your body need? Does it need less of something? What drains your energy? What does your soul whisper to you in the silence?

Photo by Jim Romero on Unsplash

I just learned about a way to review where you are, and to discern where you are headed. Referred to as START, STOP, CONTINUE, it invites a look at all the areas of your life and evaluate what you want to START doing, what you want to STOP doing, and what you want to CONTINUE doing. This review could include activities, practices, tools, behaviors, or mindsets. Your life, your rules!

I was going to limit it to one item per area, but ideas kept pouring out, demanding to be recorded. Here’s my list for the new year: 

I’m going to start: 

• Listening to my intuition/deep wisdom

• Connecting more intentionally with Divine Mystery

I’m going to continue: 

• Creating any kind of art that lights me up - all of it is allowed

• Reading posts/ emails from people who speak truth, like

  Katherine Tucker
  and
  Jan Blencowe

• Moving my body

• Listening to my body

• Painting faces for The Crone Project

• Practicing drawing Celtic knots

• Playing with abstract paintings

I’m immediately going (to try) to stop:

• Thinking I’m behind!

• Finding fault with my body

• Comparing myself to anyone else

• Waiting for permission

• Waiting for people to contact me, especially my kids

• Waiting to say “I Love You”

• Gossipping

• Scrolling mindlessly

• Holding grudges

• Worrying about what kind of art belongs in “my niche”

• Worrying about what others think about my art, my life choices, my opinions

How about you? What are you ready to stop? What are you eager to explore? And what do you want to continue pursuing? Did anything on my list make it to your list?

As I look back on the year, what I notice is a shimmering golden thread woven through all of my starts and stops: a thread of curiosity. It’s not a character flaw. It’s one of my super powers. I’m also going to continue to write to you!

Here’s to beginning a new year again, one full of rich curiosities and rewarding surprises!