Three Ways to Access Your Full Wisdom
Happy summer! While many people take a summer vacation, I often take a fall vacation around my birthday. I focus on doing something I haven’t done before, which honors my value of adventure.
This year deciding what to do has been a bit of a dilemma and bumpy. Below I outline the process I went through to help me decide on the right choice. I hope the tips help you make a decision you have coming up.
Originally I was going to go to Greece with a dear friend. She is a great travel partner and I’ve never been to Greece - so exciting! The summer got busy and neither of us got traction on planning , the flight prices were steep, and it seemed our excitement meter needle was dwindling. I decided to be more intentional about checking in with myself about this vacation. I needed to access more of my wisdom to make a clear choice.
Get grounded, in silence and ask, “What do I want?”
The first step was getting centered and meditating. A simple process of getting still enough to be aware of not only thoughts, but bodily sensations, emotions and energy shifts. After a time of quiet and silence I asked myself, “What is your body, mind, and spirit craving at this moment? How would it spend two weeks of life if it chose only from its inner core and urges?” Many things came up, like feeling healthy, feeling confident, writing, hiking, sitting, and reading. In all these activities, as they arose, I could sense more of me. I could feel myself, know myself, and unleash myself - the inside of me. There were no things that felt outside of me - plane rides, sailboat trips, beaches, or historic sites. Just things that stilled me and connected me.
Access your whole self’s wisdom.
Getting to this realization incorporated different ways of knowing, or gathering information. While I outline three below separately, they are usually happening simultaneously. Slowing things down can provide more space and more information.
Listen to the body (soma). After sitting for a bit, I paid attention to the sensations in my body when I thought about traveling to Greece. My stomach got bunched up, my heart rate went up a bit and my brain got a bit swirly. When I shifted to the open question of what my body, mind and spirit craved, I noticed a large exhale, my body settled, and perked up with a tingling feeling. The muscles were relaxed yet strong, my mind alert but calm. I did not have to know why any of this was happening, I was just noticing those sensations. They are information! (Read an interesting article on body/emotion connection.)
Notice my energy. I noticed the energy shifts and body sensations as I let my mind wander in the playground of what my spirit craved. Thoughts would pop up and I’d let my whole self experience them without having to decide anything or make anything right or wrong, just allowing it to play. As different thoughts came to the surface, I’d notice my body’s reactions and my energy flow. Was it feeling heavy and serious? Was it feeling light and happy? Was it feeling grounded and confident? Or maybe spacious with possibility?
Notice the thoughts. You can see above that when I thought of responses to the question, “What does my body, mind and spirit crave?” I’d continue to allow my body and my energy flow inform me about the different options and choices. I would notice thoughts, not judge them, just see them for what they were. Not attaching to them, just noticing. The thoughts and feelings of the vacation and the thoughts and ideas of other possibilities provided opportunities to check in and feel how I felt about them.
Make a decision, plan, and communicate with love.
Write it down. After the meditation and noticing of my body sensations, energy and thoughts, I journaled and let come to the surface what remained of all the things I noticed - ideas, thoughts, sensations, energy shifts and concerns. Through this process I realized that the focal point for my 2 weeks of vacation was to be a personal retreat - to go inward. I currently craved the exploration of my inner landscape so that I could experience the outer world and landscapes with more vivid color. There were things I’d also been saying I wanted to do, but hadn’t done - like read books, write, check, hike and take my camper on a solo trip for longer than a weekend. When I had landed on that my body and mind lit up, I felt alive and a little nervous (what I notice happens when my value of adventure is honored!)
Share a perspective + make requests. This meant that I needed to let my travel partner know that I needed something else for that vacation time. From deep in my heart and love for my friend, I planned and prepared for that conversation. It was a difficult conversation to have, but I felt in my gut this may also serve my friend. I started by asking questions about where they were at and what they were thinking and feeling about the trip. Then I shared what I had discovered. Sharing what you need for yourself can be very difficult. People can see it as selfish, instead of “soul”fish. But when we share what we need, with full love for the other person and ourselves, we offer others the opportunity to do the same.
As you consider what you need, consider listening to your bodily sensations, your energy/spirit, and your thoughts – with full attention and awareness. If this sounds difficult to you, find a guided meditation, reach out for a free 30 minute coaching session with me, or come to a NourishDeep women’s retreat! Accessing your full wisdom will be an investment you will not regret.
Trying to decide whether you should take a vacation or a personal retreat? Read this!
May the rest of your summer be filled with much joy!