I walked outside in the scorching sun wearing a long-sleeved black t-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts.
At midday, a long sleeved shirt wasn’t the ‘proper’ attire, but I wanted to sweat.
I needed to get out of my head in into my body.
Plugging my mind into an Abraham-Hicks audio, I began the task of bending my body to the earth, teasing up the roots of invading weeds, one clinging tendril at a time.
Before long, I had my wish. Sweat slid down my face and neck, and my mind, for the first time in days, relaxed.
I felt refreshed, invigorated, and released – the sweet burn behind my legs from awkward positioning and repetitive motion signaled that, Yes you’re alive and it is amazing.
It’d been a long week, due to a couple sizable promotions in my business and the uncertainty of success looming over my head.
Would it work? I had no idea, and the unknowing of it threatened to undo the unwavering trust I’ve spent so much time cultivating.
I know better than to let uncertainty throw me off my game, but, as a human, I am nothing if not fallible.
The stress would peak and release, peak and release – but stress doesn’t release on its own; that’s our responsibility.
Layers of stress built up over time without a proper release will make you sick. I’ve experienced it for myself, and the only practice that has ever worked to mitigate stress is self-care.
Relinquishing myself to pleasure, ease, and flow creates miracles in my life.
But, in the midst of uncertainty, when you want nothing more than to predict and control an outcome, moving out of manipulation and into allowing can be a monumental task.
So how do you make time for release, allowing the parasympathetic nervous system to take over?
How do you take care of yourself during times of financial instability, divorce, job change, geographic relocation – when the future is so uncertain?
You start by acknowledging that, while the details may be unknown, the feel of your future will be determined by what you do, right now in this moment, and in the next.
You say, feeling good is my most important task.
You look for the exhale, every day, multiple times a day – this might look like a few deep breaths, dancing to your favorite song, or letting tears fall in gratitude for the letting go.
You slow down and notice details, and by doing so you increase your ability to trust.
You soften into the panic of the unknown and move toward one thing which will diffuse a bit of doubt and stress – it could be as simple as a shower or as engaging as a day hike.
You do it often so that the layers of stress don’t harden into an impermeable shell.
You breathe and speak gratitude. Gratitude is the simplest form of self-care.
You fill yourself up, again and again and again, by performing small acts of service to yourself.
You move your body and ground in the earth.
You look people in the eye and smile; their relief at your love will soothe your weary soul.
You look in the mirror and say, I love you. You tell yourself I am enough, every single day.
Realizing that nothing is certain, we only perceive it to be so, will help you to stay grounded during even the most tumultuous times.
Because nothing is more important than how you feel, and who you BE is exponentially more powerful that what you do.
In fact, every result is the direct outcome of who you’re being when you’re doing what you’re doing.
When self-care becomes as important to you as income, as necessary as water, as nourishing as a meal, as heartwarming as your loves, your life will transform and uncertainty will bring less fear and more curiosity – so much so that, who knows, you may find yourself welcoming it.
Love and Kindness,
