Excavating the real you

The path to self discovery, can be a difficult, and sometimes never ending one. Like an archaelogical dig, Sarah reminds us that we first need to sift through layers of "dirt" (aka our past), to find what enlights our souls. She suggests that we look to our past, and remember those minor details - the ones that changed our way of thinking. Of course major events would have an impact on who we are today, but these may not hold the essence of our true selves.

And be prepared to get your hands dirty. And arm yourself with a pen, and of course your journal to record these diamonds that you are about to remember.

Go back through your life, start with your childhood. Focus in on what made you happy as a child. What were your favourite things, your dreams, your family who have since past. Then move into your teenage years, remember your first job, your first love...........................who did you admire?

Move ahead to your adult years, remember your decorating style in your first home. Do you still have traces of these in your current home?? Do they bring you joy?

When we live our lives authentically, we discover our true place in the world (Sarah - Feb 16th). Life tends to focus on the "shoulds" instead of the "coulds", and we loose our own unique self of self. Today is the day to start embracing these little pockets of joy, and placing them in the limelight, instead of having them burried under years of "dust".

The World Is Too Much With Us

We are constantly bombared with information, which on the surface seems positive hey. But do we really need to absorb all of this extra stuff?

Magazines that tell us we need to have xyz gaget, the big house, the new car, the high power career................... And of course how to look and feel - even how many children we should have. And we "need" to do it all, the perfect partner, perfect mother, perfect work collegue.

Sarah writes "we are chronically exhausted from the getting (the amount of energy spent earning a living), and juggling the demands of home and career." We are paying now for the spending of yesterday.

So as asked earlier - do we really need all this extra stuff in our heads, and cluttering our cupboards?

Why to we ransom off our tomorrow's chasing things we dont need, and thus moving away from our authentic selves and what is really important to us?

Sarah advises - Today, deliberately turn away from the world. Dont read the newspaper, or watch / listen to the news. Instead listen to your inner voice, who is burried under all that external noise. Once we obtain this inner knowledge about ourselves, we will have the ability to change our outer worlds.

Maybe see if you can extend it to the rest of the week.

Creative excursions- The gift of time

Have you ever noticed that irritating pre flight procedure when you are sitting on a plane waiting to take off to some wonderful place. You know, the one where they point to the exits of the plane, and show you how to put on an oxygen mask. We sit there - thinking "duh", some of us actually saying this outloud. And they always say to fit your own mask before you fit the childs.

How often do we take this concept and do it in real life. There is always something or someone more important than us, so our needs get pushed aside, because life is just too busy to find the time you need for you. Yet so much rides on our shoulders, if we were to fall be the wayside, life as we know might fall into chaos. We need to say enough - and make time for us and our well being.

Sarah talks about creative excursions, taking a 2 hr period each week which we dedicate for our spiritual needs. That we prioritise over life's curveballs. Its about learning not to ignore your inner self for decades - and saying now it the time to make amends.

So what will it be for you dear reader? Take in a movie, have breakfast in that wonderful cafe you have been admiring, visit an art gallery and drink in all the wonderful colours and imagination of the truely talented? Maybe enroll in that class of how to speak Italian, something that you have always wanted to learn.

Or visit that dress shop - you know, the one that you have been afraid to go in because you fear the price tags. Really look at the designs, appreciate them for the designer's insight, the fabric choice, the colour. Then grab a coffee and a fashion magazine, think about your personal style, what it currently is, and what you would prefer it to be.

Sarah warns us that it will not be an easy task. There will be excuses thrown up in your mind blocking you from this time with yourself. I am broke, the kids have the flu, work is just too busy at the moment............dont give in. Remember creative excursions require an investment in time - not money. None of us are too busy to find two hours per week. Get creative with this too - maybe get up earlier and have that walk along the beach, use your lunch hour twice a week, let your spouse babysit the kids - turn off the TV.

My creative excursion for this week - is to get back to quilting. Look out Patchwork shop - here I come.