On Slowing Down
In this beautiful work of coaching that I offer, I often feel that I experience cycles alongside my clients and that we as humans are frequently stuck in the same things at the same time. Right now, it's been a cycle of feeling like everything is just so loud and I can't quite focus on what I need to focus on. Even though it's January and I wanted to have a fresh start and direction, I’m realizing that I’ve been craving white space, quiet, and deep stillness all of January. I want to read more, stay in more, and for lack of a better term, hibernate a bit. But I’ve felt stuck as to where to start when there’s so much and it all feels a bit overwhelming. I’ve noticed that many of my clients also feel the same way.
When I get stuck in these situations, I typically turn to some of the books, spiritual teachers, and people who have inspired me over the years. Today, I pulled out a book from one of my spiritual Enneagram teachers, John Luckovich. I often find deep personal growth and inspiration from my Enneagram type and instincts. I found something really interesting - It’s a piece that’s not entirely Enneagram focused, but rather more about how we commit to self-care and taking care of ourselves but with an understanding that even in the presence of stress, we can still put ourselves first. In his book, Instinctive Drives and the Enneagram, John writes:
“When the ego’s desires override the body's well-being, this creates problems for us physically and psychologically. It means our nervous system stays chronically dysregulated and our bodies become locked into patterns of stress and tension that feel 'normal.' One reason that stillness is such an important factor in spiritual practices, for example, is because it is very difficult to refine the sensitivity and clarity of consciousness when our nervous system is bound up in tension, emotional reaction, and chronic thoughts from its distress. So our inner work begins when we learn, through physical sensation, to be sensitive to our actual, present state instead of our ego’s ideas, concepts, and stories about what we need. We start to bridge this disparity by learning to consciously self-regulate.”
How do you prioritize self-care in the midst of stress and uncertainty?