Discernment wins the day!

Dear Reader,

I’m writing this to you today from the traditional lands of the Lekwungen, WSANEC and Songhees Nations, part of the larger language group of Coast Salish peoples.

It is often surprising to me how much a seemingly small tweak in perspective can have much larger consequences – for good and otherwise.

Since last Thursday I had been feeling a bit ‘under the weather’ – part of my body’s response to too much ‘pushing through’ trying to get stuff done.

I recognized on Friday that that was an old way that I used to operate – in my drive/desire to knock things off my list, I ignored my body’s signals for rest and pushed through – to get that ‘hit’ of dopamine that comes with accomplishment (anyone else?).

I made a decision to cancel a trip to see my Mum and sister for the weekend, and instead, focused on moving at a steady, but slower than usual pace, resting when I felt called to, and doubling my water intake from about 1.5L/day to 3L/day – (including herbal teas).

Monday, I still woke up feeling a bit ‘under the weather’, more care, more water, easeful flow and resting.

Today (Tuesday) I woke up and decided I was done the narrative that I was feeling ‘under the weather). Instead, I reminded myself of the following:

“Every moment, I’m feeling better and better.”

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Then I asked myself:

“If I felt 100% today, how would I move through my day?

How would I act?

How would I engage with my body, with movement, and with my business?”

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And now, it’s 2:40 pm, and I feel really, really good!

This simple shift in perspective is changing how I have engaged with today.

If I had continued to run the narrative “I’m feeling under the weather.”, (can you feel how ‘heavy’ that statement is?) then I would still be ‘moving slowly’, putting off writing this Love Letter, and generally moping around the house.

That’s not to say it wasn’t true on Saturday, when I really DID feel like I had very little energy….and I DID just move slowly while I consciously engaged in self-awareness journaling and two community healing calls.

But today, now that I’m honouring more fully what my body needs and how to work with it, it doesn’t feel true anymore.

But – can you see the dilemma?

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How do you KNOW When you need to/the right time to change the narrative?

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By continuing to practice observing your own energy, and knowing when to rest, when to act, and when you engage, you hone that skill.

Last week, I got caught up in an old habit of over-doing in order to feel ‘accomplished’.

And, my body told me loud and clear that was NOT the way to operate anymore. I started to feel run down, out of energy, and just generally bleh.

So, I took the time I needed to rest. And then today, I made a conscious decision to act differently.

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To help you with your own practices of discernment I've come up with a few questions for you to ponder around this habit in your own life.

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Grab a pen and your favourite journal, or explore these questions with a trusted friend.

• How is this pattern showing up in your life now?
• Do you have an ‘old way of operating’ that doesn’t serve you anymore?
• Are you stuck in a loop of ‘achievement’ recognition?
• And how can you honour your body’s energy needs today?

Hit ‘reply’ and let me know how you’ll honour your body’s needs today .

And, if you’re curious about how to tune into that ‘inner voice’ and your discernment more easily and more often, then reach out and book a free 30-minute Curiousity Call.

This is a no-pressure call about getting curious with your inner voice, what it has to say to you, and how to develop discernment around it.

​Book in here for your free chat.

Have a gorgeous week, everyone – remember that even in the uncertainty of today, by focusing on your own alignment, you support the actions and alignment of those around you.

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With Love,

Jen

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P.S. If you are someone who lives with complex health conditions or chronic illness, your discernment and your care team are the best guide for your well-being. This post is not meant to simplify the idea that you can 'think yourself healthy', although there are documented examples of spontaneous healing grounded in thought/meditation processes. You are your own best guide, when it comes to your health and well-being and each individual's experience is different.

I do my work in Victoria, BC, the traditional and unceded lands of the The Lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) and W̱sáneć (Saanich:W̱SÁNEĆ) peoples, part of the larger language group of Coast Salish People.

I acknowledge the stewardship and care of the land that they have provided over thousands of years and I’m grateful to be able to live, work and play here.