“You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.”
Happy New Year, friends!
January can be a powerful time to look within and shine a little light on what you most value and desire so you can honor these things with renewed intention. As you do this, I’d like to offer a proposal. What if, instead of creating a long list of things you SHOULD do to BE better this year, you gently consider what you WANT to do to FEEL better?
The easiest way to do this is to find what you love and do more of that. Maybe it’s cooking a nourishing meal, climbing mountains or snuggling on the couch with your cat. It could be swinging on a trapeze, watching a sunset or volunteering at a homeless shelter. It doesn’t have to be grand or take up loads of time – it can be as simple as creating a playlist of all your favorite songs and dancing to one of them when you get out of bed in the morning.
Don’t know what you love? Consider what you did as a child that kept you occupied for hours on end. Or ask yourself how you would spend your time if you had no other obligations or responsibilities. If you’re still stuck it’s possible that you’re simply experiencing a very human response to fear. Doing what we love can be a very tender and vulnerable experience – even if it’s for just a few moments each day. Check out one of my favorite authors, Brené Brown, for more insight on this. (Her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, is a great place to start).
The rewards of nourishing ourselves with joy are plentiful. Breath deepens, muscles relax, circulation improves and stress melts away. Modern neuroscience tells us that when we are fully present while doing something pleasurable, we experience a cascade of positive effects on all the different systems in our bodies. This can result in a strengthened immune system, balanced hormones, improved digestion and restful sleep. Who doesn’t want that?!
Wishing you mountains of love, joy and good health in 2020.