Having sat in traffic for 2 hours yesterday and also noticed my ϋber-full diary especially in the past couple of weeks with packing boxes for a house-move and kids sports practices and social commitments revving up, I went to bed last night exhausted and woke up feeling the same – unrested, tired and not really up to completing another day like yesterday.
Yes I have been known to play superwoman much of my life – tearing around at great speed filling up my diary, goal planner and “caring-for-others-responsibility-list”. Yes some of that has made me happy – let’s call that being fulfilled. But in all honesty, much of it has simply filled my life, not fulfilled it, nor has it left me feeling consistently energised – even though I usually look very “got-it-together”, energetic and extremely capable. The adrenaline has kicked in when I’ve needed it, but my adrenals have suffered, and running my “engine” with little oil, water and petrol and still trying to get somewhere in this body of mine has become my modus operandi – and not a good one I might add!
So what I get is this. We each have a personal drum that we beat our stick on, and it pays to listen to that beat and ask ourselves, “Is it one that feels good in my body, or not?
When out of sync with our natural rhythms – our natural personality type, (not an identity we’ve assumed along the way!) body type, personal menstrual cycle and even the cycle of the moon, as examples) we are prone to certain things. Here’s what springs to mind.
• Exhaustion and burnout
• That “stressed out feeling” and all the physical ills that come from that
• Menstrual problems and women’s health issues
• Ranting and raving at the kids, husband or the dog
• Insomnia – yes I am a good one at this!
• And loads of other ills that I know you will recognise!
But most importantly I am learning that when I am not walking to the beat of my own natural rhythms and instead living to the beat of my own “sergeant major” or to someone else’s beat, I feel unhappy, restless and unfulfilled, and sometimes even a little depressed.
So what am I personally doing at the moment to beat exhaustion, up my energy and create a good feeling in my soul?
• Saying “no” to things that are killing my spirit, even if that means I look less responsible, reliable or loyal even. I ask myself, “Is what I am doing simply filling up my diary, or fulfilling my soul?” If it is a step in the direction of me feeling more fulfilled, I do it. If not, it gets left by the wayside – even if others who have depended on me in the past feel let down and my identity as “super-woman” gets squashed.
• Lifestyle change Yes, one morning recently I spontaneously decided to leave urban life and head to the country. The moment I set foot up the driveway in the new place, I knew this would be a place for healing and “re-charging” my batteries and creating a simpler life that my soul has been craving for.
• Taking moments each day to do nothing. Amidst the packing boxes, I choose to stop now and then. Amidst the busy work schedule, I choose to sit when I get home before getting into the next task at hand. And I banish the belief, that I am only “something” when I am doing something!
• I honour my menstrual cycle. When I feel the pain in my belly, I remember to sit and nurture myself. When I feel the emotions arising in my pre-menstrual body, I gently allow those emotions to express themselves. When I feel energised in my new cycle, I use this to be creative and productive. And I bring my body back to an “at peace with myself” beat by sitting still, breathing deeply, letting out a sigh and letting in a smile.
What’s your step today to walk more to the beat of your own natural rhythms?