It's a time of massive change - not only in the world but also in our own lives.
How can you harness this energy without getting overwhelmed by it?
How can you move through fear and into motivation?
How can you make focused decisions that are in your highest good?
At Flow, we're inspired by Growth, Power and Change and we love these periods of deep shifts.
Here are some suggestions about how to funnel these big topics into accessible action.
D E E P E N I N G
We know from the organic world that things can’t grow upward unless they grow downward at the same time. Downward refers to depth, to the deepening of feelings and insights.
One way to deepen is to play with staying instead of leaving. Staying when it’s hard. Not avoiding, not escaping.
This forces you to go into yourself, into the problem, to possibly get to the bottom of its issues.
It's hard to know the right thing to do. To push yourself toward change or to plant your feet and ride it out.
Consider what is your natural tendency and try the opposite. If you're quick to run, try staying a bit longer and see what happens.
S H E D D I N G
Some shedding comes naturally and feels comfortable - the fall of autumn leaves, old habits we outgrow.
Some shedding is more extreme and is often unplanned and un-asked-for.
We re-evaluate our purpose, question our identity, examine our direction. What must be held onto? What can be let go?
What makes shedding so difficult is fear.
So, go on with your fear. What would it be like to lose ____?
Imagine the consequences of shedding - of letting go of security structures, comforting identities, achievements, forward planning.
See what remains.
E M P T Y I N G
Emptiness has an invisible power. Invite your attention there.
One of your most profound sources of wisdom resides in silence. Put away the constant distractions, get through the initial discomfort, and start to tune in.
You may hear quiet, simple words. Or no words - just an inner sense of "knowing." What you hear may not be literal at all. Try to be open to memories, figures, symbols and stay curious about their interpretations.
Make space in your day for rests and resets. These can be powerful times.
R E P E T I T I O N
Discipline might not turn you on, but it can help you grow.
Simple, daily repetition is one of the highest aims of Zen, mystical contemplation, religious practice, as well as the practice of the arts and sports.
Something in human nature yearns to perform in exactly the same way again and again, like our morning rituals or those that put the children to bed with the same story told in the same way night after night.
As you’re trying to make change in your life, use repetition as a way to focus your mind and strengthen your power by keeping commitments to yourself.
P O W E R
Some of us are born with inherited power - race, sex, money, etc - and some of us are not. For those with privilege, it is our responsibility to be aware of our advantages and use them to dismantle systems of oppression while bolstering the wellbeing of others.
But, all of us, ALL OF US - no matter what our background or current situation - are capable of developing more personal power. And this personal power will help us feel more comfortable in our skin, connect better with others, and chart lives with meaning and clear direction.
⚡️ When you're in power, you:
⚡️ Put the mask down. You let go of the familial & societal pressures of who & what you thought you needed to be in order to be happy & safe.
⚡️ Develop a quality of mind that can be directed. Using your imagination to envision what you want actually helps your subconscious get there.
⚡️ Create safety in your body, so that you can soothe yourself in stressful situations and always be accompanied by a friendly internal energy.
⚡️ Resist your usual coping mechanisms, quiet the mind, and drop in to the present. Being in silence is key to hearing your inner truth. This will help guide you into making conscious choices in your life rather than being led by unconscious drives & impulses.
⚡️ When are you in your power?
꩜ These ideas are inspired by James Hillman’s book, “Kinds of Power: A Guide to Its Intelligent Uses.”
