To 'break', or to 'take a break', that was the question...
Embracing the opportunity to stop - when is the last time you did?
Hello
Just in case you noticed that there was no newsletter or blog last week, nor did I send out any 'The Wise Learner Snippets'...
I had an opportunity to go stay in the house of a friend for a week.
I thought it was a great idea: uninterrupted work time so I could really crack on with a few things that I didn't feel I'd gotten around to!
The closer I got to leaving for my week in south-west Wales, I realised that having another week of 'hard work' was the last thing I needed... I actually wanted to leave my laptop behind, and stop for a little while! Saying that I was at 'breaking point' is maybe too strong an expression, but I did need a break...
What I allowed myself to realise is that what I really needed was:
sleep lots
eat healthy food
long walks with my two furry friends
read the books that have been piling up
be offline and 'disconnect to connect'
repeat the above!
So I took a last-minute decision to go with what I needed instead of what I thought I 'had to do', and took the opportunity to have a week off work completely! I did end up bringing my laptop, just in case of an emergency, but it stayed turned off on a chair under the dining table, and I had long periods of having wifi turned off on my phone.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Well, it wasn't that clear-cut, to be honest with you. It's been an interesting experience to catch myself in my 'addiction' to being online. Wondering what other people are doing. Has anyone messaged me? I've not been in touch with this person yet or followed up on that email.
Wow.... I found it quite a challenge to disconnect, and to 'just be'.
Be with my thoughts,
Be with my feelings.
Be with my needs.
Be with what I want out of life.
Be. With me. All of me.
Uninterrupted work time. That's what it ended up being. Working on disconnecting from 'the world'. Working on connecting with a part of me that I hadn't given much space lately. Working on my daily practice of self-care with a renewed appreciation of its importance.
I meditated and day-dreamt.
I slept a lot more each night than I usually do (hooray for early nights).
I walked for miles and miles, for hours and hours (happy me, happy doggies!)
I sat and contemplated thoughts and feelings, just because I could.
I made a picnic supper and went to sit on the rocks watching the sunset.
I enjoyed watching the seal pups in the coves, and losing track of time.
I allowed myself to rest. Wow... did I need that, or what! The times I walked on the coastal path, and then sat on the cliffs to watch the sunset with my furry friends Lexi and Mia where some of the best moments of my week.
And now: Back at work....
So this week I'm back at my desk. But it's so nice to realise that I'm not the same person I was two weeks ago as I made a positive shift.
I am so grateful I got to that point.
I shifted.
I got clarity.
I feel a renewed energy.
I connected more with what feels aligned with my inner being, my truest self.
And because of that I can show up more authentically with myself, and with you:
- Like you, I am here to have a 'human experience', and to grow and learn, and to show my vulnerability, my rawness, my process, my progress.
- Like you, I am here to shed the layers of all the limiting behaviour and beliefs that I learnt over the decades that don't serve me (anymore), and to allow myself to be all I want to be.
What about you?
When is the last time you allowed yourself to take a break before getting to 'breaking point'?
Do you stop for long enough for it to have a profound impact, to 'sit' with yourself in all possible ways and on all levels - long enough for it to offer a possibility to make a major shift in a positive direction?
How do you feel about YOUR 'human experience' right now?
Let me know (info@rennyslade.com)... I'm here to support you!
Renny