Hello my friend. How's your heart today? I hope these words find you well.
Recently, life has shown me that I've been trying too hard and that my current work is in embracing “ease.” As I mentioned in my last letter, my business mentor was the first to open my awareness in this regard. Ever since then, I've been noticing the role of “ease" and DISease in my life, my business, my relationships, my thoughts, emotions and choices.
In today's, Food for Thought, I want to share a few insights with you and of course, there will be Reflective Writing Prompts + Coaching Tips for you at the end!
(Please note: If you're a paid subscriber, you'll receive all 5 prompts + 5 coaching tips. If you're a regular subscriber, you'll receive 1 prompt + 1 coaching tip.)
I truly hope these words serve you in some way. Take what you need…
Sometimes, we get caught up in the hustle and bustle, striving relentlessly to achieve our goals or meet certain expectations. But life has a way of gently reminding us to step back, breathe, and embrace a sense of ease.
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS
Recognizing the signs that you've been trying too hard is an important step towards finding a more balanced, (or as I like to say, HARMONIOUS,) lifestyle. It may manifest as feelings of exhaustion, overwhelm, or a general sense of discontentment or restlessness despite your efforts. Life may present obstacles or challenges that force you to pause and reevaluate your perspective. These moments of awareness offer an opportunity to shift your focus towards embracing a more simpler approach to life.
DEFINING THE PRACTICE
EASE can be defined as a state of relaxed comfort, simplicity, or effortlessness. For me, it's been the antidote for overthinking and over-analyzing. I've personally experienced more lightness and simplicity in my thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
Contrary to what's being portrayed on social media, embracing ease does not mean giving up on your goals or becoming complacent. Instead, it invites you to cultivate a mindset of trust, compassion, and grace. It's about finding harmony between taking inspired action and allowing things to unfold naturally. It's about releasing the need for constant striving, letting go of unnecessary tension, stress, and struggle, (it's THIS part for me!) and surrendering to the wisdom of the present moment.
EMBRACING THE PRACTICE
As I'm doing this work, I'm allowing myself to tune into my voice and intuition. I’m taking time to listen to the whispers of my heart and I'm following the path that feels aligned with what I need and value in this season.
This has involved letting go of rigid expectations and perfectionism and embracing life in a more flexible way. I’m opening myself up to unexpected opportunities and new and creative solutions, especially in my business.
I'll share a little about how this shows up for me:
As an educator, I have high expectations of what I produce and put out into the world. For example, when I prepare courses for my students, I'm usually heavy on the content because I want them to know EVERYTHING they need to know about our journaling topic.
But recently, one of my students said, “Nicole, I love the course, but it's just too much content. I can't keep up. I feel much more fulfilled with our simple LIVE group-writing sessions.”
That blew me away, and I felt SO much resistance to her words, but I received what she said, and I began to embrace “ease" when creating my courses and planning content. It truly has made all the difference in my students’ transformations and in MY productivity & energy levels.
Other ways I'm allowing ease:
Besides my business, I’m also taking more time for self-care/renewal, relaxation, and rejuvenation. I’m prioritizing activities that nourish my soul and replenish my energy, (like long hikes in nature, taking roadtrips, creating quiet moments, drinking tea and disconnecting from my electronics devices.)
I'm making an effort to cultivate mindfulness in my daily life like savoring the present moment and finding gratitude for the simple moments.
Most importantly, I'm surrounding myself with supportive and like-minded family and friends who understand the importance of balance and ease. I have conversations, (off and online,) that inspire me. Together, we encourage and remind each other of the value of leaning into peace and presence in the midst of life's demands.
Listen, cultivating “ease” isn't as easy as it sounds. It's definitely a continuous practice and a work in progress. But it feels good! And in this season of my life, this way of living is so necessary for me.
So, what are YOUR thoughts about cultivating the practice of ease? How does ease show up in YOUR life?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below 👇🏽.
Remember, cultivating ease is a personal journey, and the following reflective questions are meant to guide you in exploring your own unique path towards greater calm and harmony. Use them as a starting point for self-reflection and introspection, allowing yourself the space to discover what brings you ease and how YOU can integrate it into your life. Enjoy!
5 REFLECTIVE WRITING PROMPTS
What activities or situations bring me a sense of ease and relaxation?
Tips To Go Deeper & Apply: Reflect on the experiences, hobbies, or moments in your life that naturally bring you a feeling of calmness and ease. Identify the activities or situations where you feel most at peace and content. Consider how you can incorporate more of these elements into your daily life to cultivate a greater sense of ease.
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