When you don’t even know where to begin… {an intimate letter from me + a special morning practice gift from me}

I’ve never seen so much destruction in such a short period of time: homes ruined, people dead, people missing, people trapped in homes, flooded freeways, the list goes on. Amidst all this, I’ve oscillated between feeling really sad, scared, mad, afraid of death, grounded, clear, calm, connected, at ease, and grateful for my life and our community.

I am sharing this because there have been many times I’ve wanted to write to you these past few weeks to kick off our year together. Many times I’ve had the thought, “I just need to get some words on paper!” and yet, each time I tried to start, I didn’t know where to begin.  

My original plan was to kick off our first week of 2018 together with a newsletter releasing a special morning practice resource for you, but in light of the mudslides–which rocked me to my core–it didn’t feel good to just go ahead as planned. And to be honest, it feels like there is so much happening in the world right now–rocking so many of us to the core–that “business as usual” feels next to impossible at times.

And so, I sat in this curious space. Not knowing exactly what to do next. Allowing myself to not have the answer. Waiting for guidance. I took and have been taking care of myself and listening to my intuition for inspiration…not only about what do next, but also concerning how to lead.

In my experience of connecting with others, so many of us are feeling shell-shocked these days. With one thing after the next, from environmental disasters to the current political climate, it’s hard to know how to cope.

Where do we even begin?

Funnily enough, my morning ritual is the one thing that has anchored me in all this craziness. I don’t want to fool you–despite the fact that I teach this stuff for a living and fully believe in it’s value, adhering to my morning routine hasn’t been what I’d call “easy.”

Some days, I’ve woken with my system on high alert, compulsively reaching for my phone (an old fear-based pattern of mine), both to connect in with my community and to distract myself. Those days, it’s taken every ounce of commitment I possess to put down the device and stay committed to the practices that nourish me. Other days, my ritual has felt like a safe space, and I’ve come willingly to the mat in the morning, eager to move to through all the emotions that have been coming up.

Regardless of how difficult or easy it has been to get to the mat first thing each day, it’s consistently been an opportunity to open up, move through whatever energy I’m in, and re-center, so that I can be of service. Morning ritual has been a saving grace…the ultimate answer for feeling like I don’t know where to begin.

While I was initially hesitant about going ahead with a morning ritual newsletter, what I’ve discovered these past few weeks is that especially during times of overwhelm, my morning ritual gives me a meaningful place to start each day, which shifts my entire experience. It’s kept me feeling grounded, connected, and at home with myself, regardless of what’s going on around me, and because I’ve taken time to support myself first–connecting in with my body and soul before turning outward to face the world–I’ve felt present in my body and present in my choices.

A morning practice is a gamechanger–a radical move of self-care that comes from within and supports us in feeling empowered to move through a world that feels increasingly loud and fast paced. And the best part? Your morning practice or morning routine doesn’t have to be big or elaborate in order to fully support you. In fact, it can look however you want it to look, as long as it’s something that supports you in turning inward and feeling nourished inside.

Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start.

Maybe you’re wanting to breathe new life into your existing routine.

Or perhaps you’ve simply been waiting for an opportunity to recommit to yourself and morning ritual feels like a great way to do that.

Regardless of where you find yourself, I’ve created a special resource for you: a morning ritual creation guide that will support you in customizing a morning practice that’s unique and honoring of where you are currently in your life.

It’s my deepest pleasure to offer you this gift to support you in assessing and prioritizing how you want to connect in and nourish yourself each day. Because even when “business as usual” doesn’t feel like an option, and maybe especially then, it’s crucial that we take time to re-center so that we can move through the world, leading from a place of presence and connection.