The Love List: "Retreat" Mode + Feeling The Shift

It's all about…

… pushing the to-do list aside and indulging in an icecream cone

… waking up thirty minutes earlier just to sit outside, listen to the birds, hear the wind move through the trees, and be one with nature

… getting wrapped up in conversation over a mouth-watering meal

… laying down with the sole task of staring out the window and just allowing myself to be happy in that very moment

… an evening with friends playing games sans the inner chatter of “I should be ______”

… reading a few more pages because I deserve to take more time for myself

... disconnecting. Not because of overwhelm or lack-of inspiration… but because you feel so high on life that you want to experience it, fully.

These are the things that I’m focusing on lately. After the move into our new place, I’ve found myself really longing to dive into “retreat” mode. I’ve buried myself in books, scribbled down furiously on paper, and have really been focusing on listening to what my body wants – which, often times, can be the total opposite of what my mind wants.

Life isn’t about getting wrapped up in our to-do lists and being swallowed by overwhelm. It’s about ease, doing what feels right, and following where your energy takes you. That energy may lead you to work on creating for 12 hours but it also might mean staying in your pj’s all day – whatever it is, let it be. Take things with stride. Listen to your body.

By listening to my body, I’ve landed gently into a place of calm and ease. There’s less pressure to get things done, to keep chugging along, and a whole lot more room for self-care and reveling in what I’m grateful for, right now. I sink myself into the moment and admire the beauty of the simplicity around me. There may or may not have been tears of joy shed over the past couple weeks. (Guilty as charged!)

Patience has never been one of my strong suits and admittedly, I still battle with it. The ideas, big plans, and “YES!” desires are burning like a hot flame – I can’t wait to dive deep, hash it out, and bring it all to the table. But right now? Right now I need to scale back, go at a slower pace, study, learn, and retreat.

Does this sound like you? Before you do anything, give yourself permission - to pull back, defy your to do list, slow down the pace, and create space for yourself. Whatever you need, don’t fight it. Next, ask: How do I want to feel? What would I be able to do better if I felt nurtured/grounded/free/happy/fulfilled? What’s one thing I can do immediately to become more aligned with how I want to feel? What are three things I can do this week? What three things can I stop doing? Feel the shift, baby.

And while this may not be so much of a "love list" as much as a "let me pour out my thoughts", I've leave you with one thing I'm loving lately...a peek at my favourite spot in our new place… hellooo, sanctuary.

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Alright, babes! I wanna hear it: What's going on in your world? Is there anything you're looking to shift/move around/love more of? No time like the present ;)

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