We Need Renewal & Reflection!
After a life of continued sacrifice and putting everyone else before me, I began doing yoga and attending retreats. As I continued, one thing began to become alarmingly clear to me, I was drowning before and after taking this time for myself weekly and yearly I was on my way to feeling whole again. A regular cadence of renewal and reflection is vital for maintaining mental and emotional well-being. Between my own life experience and working with hundreds of women beginning their holistic journey, I noticed the following key benefits from a consistent practice:
• Stress Relief: Regularly setting aside time to renew and reflect helps alleviate stress by allowing you to process and release built-up tension and anxiety. It acts as a reset button, reducing the mental clutter that can accumulate over time. We can’t be out in the world blowing up on the drive thru employee when they forget the sauce, just saying!
• Emotional Clarity: Reflection fosters a deeper understanding of your emotions, helping you recognize patterns, triggers, and areas that need attention. This clarity can prevent emotional overwhelm and enable healthier responses to life's challenges. The more you become aware of your triggers that cause unwanted emotions the shorter your response time can become and that can be very empowering.
• Personal Growth: By regularly assessing what went well and identifying opportunities for growth, you continuously evolve. This ongoing self-assessment helps you set meaningful goals and make conscious choices that align with your values and aspirations. If i don’t take time to look at my own behavior, I could miss opportunities to right any wrongs and see my blind spots.
• Improved Resilience: Renewal practices like meditation, journaling, and mindful movement enhance your ability to cope with adversity. They build emotional resilience, allowing you to bounce back from setbacks with greater ease.
• Enhanced Self-Awareness: Regular reflection deepens self-awareness, making you more attuned to your needs, desires, and boundaries. This awareness is crucial for maintaining a balanced life and making decisions that support your overall well-being. Coming out of a divorce, it has been critical that I understand what I will and will not except from anyone that desires to pursue a relationship with me.
• Connection to Purpose: Renewal and reflection help you stay connected to your core values and life purpose. This connection provides motivation, direction, and a sense of fulfillment, which are essential for long-term happiness.
In essence, these practices create a foundation for mental and emotional stability, enabling you to live with greater intentionality, balance, and peace. When will you have your next time for renewal? Hopefully, regualarly and often!