A Trifecta Reflection Practice
Photo by Sarah Grossman
September is my birthday month, or what I call my “new year.” It’s that time of year for me to look back at the past year and how I lived my intention and simple rules and then I look to the coming year. This year I decided the reflection would follow the trifecta framework that my colleague, Juniper Gwin, and I use to guide all our NourishDeep work. Everything we do should awaken one to the mindful, physical, and spiritual paths of transformation. How did I live, or not live, these simple rules and what did I learn by the practice of them? You can try this too, even if you don’t have simple rules. Read below and use the same framework for your own reflection.
The Past Year’s Word + Simple Rules
Word: River (You know, flow like a river, keep things fluid and moving, don’t resist, just let go.)
Simple Rules: (Learn more about these in a previous blog by following the link.)
Keep it simple
Hold things lightly
Believe in miracles
What, if anything, was awakened or transformed for me by living these rules?
At NourishDeep we use a “trifecta” framework to ground and guide our retreats. I will use this trifecta – “mindful, physical, spiritual” to reflect. Now, while this happens simultaneously, I’m separating them here to guide my reflection process and hopefully yours!
Mindful: Just having the simple rules to guide is a way to be more mindful and aware of thoughts and choices. Feeling a bit of stress and anxiety? Might I be overthinking it? Was I worried what people would think? Kick simple rules into gear – Keep it simple, hold the results lightly and believe that if I take action based on my values, the best thing for me would happen (miracles!). I learned that my mind is calmer and my actions and choices are more fulfilling when I live my simple rules.
Physical: I am getting older and am struggling a bit with menopause symptoms and an aging body. And I found myself hitting “rocks” along the river of life. The rocks were definitely physical sometimes (hormones, arthritis, gaining weight, etc.) but when I tuned into my physical sensations at moments of anxiety, anger or grief, I realized that it was often limiting beliefs, my own inaction or avoidance that was actually the stumbling blocks to feeling “River”. By checking in with my physical sensations when my mind was working on limiting stories, or unhelpful thoughts, I was utilizing a “keep it simple” method, holding on to my stories lightly and by leaning into “believing in miracles” was able to explore other perspectives that also were true (which often led to miraculous freedom!). My body feels more free and light when I live the simple rules, not bogged down by limiting stories, inaction, or avoidance.
Spiritual: When I consciously leaned on my simple rules, no matter the situation, I felt more alive and purposeful. Things could still be tough, still perplexing and maybe even frustrating, but I still felt more alive, more empowered, more conscious. My uniqueness, my gifts, my authentic characteristics would shine. I could feel what I call the Holy Spirit resonating in me in a way that helped me show up to the world calmer, more patient, and more loving. I could navigate the paradoxes of life with more grace.
As I consider my simple rules for the upcoming year, I am still drawn to these, knowing that my desire to have the river flow state was few and far between. There is still so very much for me to practice in these…stay tuned to see what transpires when I go on a solo retreat to Bayfield and write my next year’s simple rules!
Want to create your own set of simple rules?
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