 That thing that burns deep in your soul and begs to be heard. It starts with a whisper and sometimes you can hear it whenever the noise in your head quiets long enough. We all have dreams, hopes and aspirations. Our soul is crying out to be heard. Over time the screams get louder and the flames more intense. This is the point where we either follow our hearts and chase that life dream or we squash it, lose our soul purpose and keep the status quo. I’ve seen the latter happen all too often with my friends and myself. Sad to say, for years, I squashed my passions and dreams because I was too afraid of what might NOT happen. I was stuck in the fear of the unknown and it felt really uncomfortable. I had a hard time just sitting still and thinking or letting my mind take a mental break from the anxious thoughts. Sometimes we become so disconnected from ourselves that we don’t know how to listen to that inner voice, let alone start to act on it. So where do we begin? The most important thing to do is get still. That’s it. Simply get still. Find a way to quiet your mind, whether it’s through meditation, a long walk in nature, a jog, or starting a mindfulness practice (focus on living in the moment and not worrying about the past or thinking of the future). Calming the “monkey mind,” that incessant chatter we all hear and starting to focus on our breath and asking life’s big questions. Who am I? Why am I here? What is it I’m being called to do with my life? Is this all there is or is there a bigger picture? Asking these questions of myself helped me get a clearer picture of my life. It doesn’t always happen overnight and it can feel really uncomfortable to be alone with ourselves. Turn off your computer and smart phone. Just sit quietly. Don’t worry about the outcome or trying to do it perfectly. Let go of the attachment of how it will get done, just set the intention to try. Once I faced my fear, sat quietly on a regular basis and began listening to my intuition, that little voice inside me that was begging to be heard, I found the right path I needed to follow at this point in my life. It helped me discover my dream and I launched Soulful Connections. Many of the questions that helped me find my true calling, I included in this 120 card deck. I began realizing that what feeds my soul is helping others find their purpose and create lives they love. I think it takes courage, especially in today’s climate, to break from the norm, ask the big questions and really show up for our lives. This is the only life we have, in this body and at this time. We all deserve to be heard and seen. Go and follow those big dreams that lie inside of you. I will be by your side cheering you on! Peace, love and pear! 
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 I used to think self-care was selfish, something only people with a lot of money and time on their hands could even think about. It seemed self-indulgent and out of my reach. That was my thinking many years ago. Since then, I’ve changed my tune. I realized a few years ago that self-care for me wasn’t about going to the spa weekly for massages and manicures (although those are nice from time to time). It was something more accessible, easier, less expensive and often times more fulfilling. I have been practicing self-care right at home on a daily basis for a very long time. For me, taking a few minutes out of each busy morning to journal and drink my favorite cup of tea is a form of self-care. Those 10-15 minutes I spend writing about the past day, week or month, are important in helping me sort out my thoughts and feelings. It gives me something concrete to reflect back on. If I get stuck, I pull a question card from my Soulful Connections deck and see where it leads me. Those few minutes can be a very eye-opening journey. Every morning I take my dog for a walk around the neighborhood. I used to think I did it for him but I love the time we spend in nature, listening to the birds, letting the warm sunshine fall on our faces and saying hello to my neighbors as they come out on their stoops to pick up their morning paper. Is this a form of self-care? You bet. It’s meditation in motion and I cherish the time I get to have a deeper conversation with myself in nature. Not to mention the quality time I get to spend with my favorite pooch. My yoga practice is self-care. The healthy food I choose to eat is a form of self-care. Going to bed early, talking gently with myself and others, they are all forms of self-care. Making time to nurture and care for ourselves can sometimes be difficult. We all have busy lives but what if I told you there was a virtual community of like-minded individuals that are coming together to make self-care simple, easy and fun. That community is being led by Barb Klein, Inspired Possibility, life coach, author of 111 Invitations, retreat facilitator and a close friend and colleague to Peace and Pear. Our missions are similar; to help people create more peace, purpose and fulfillment in their lives. We all have an inner wisdom, a guidance that knows what is best for us and we need only tap into it. I hope you will join me online in the Self-Care Sanctuary being held for four Monday evenings from 7-8:30 pm (Eastern Standard Time) beginning September 10, 2018. To learn more and join us in this inspired virtual community,visit https://www.inspiredpossibility.com/selfcaresanctuary.html What about you? How do you practice self-care? Please share in the comments below. Peace, love and pear!  |
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