Meeting yourself at the edge
Hello Beautiful,
I’m thinking of you as I am still feeling so filled up and inspired from leading my Expressed Woman mini retreat on Saturday. More to share on that soon, and today I want to share with you a piece I wrote last week as I was getting ready to lead this retreat.
It’s especially for you if you’ve ever wondered how to meet yourself when you are at your edge-the edge of something new and the unknown-and all the feelings that go along with that.
Enjoy!
Originally, I intended this newsletter to be about the insights I received on my most recent trip to NYC. Yet, as I sit down to write to you tonight, it feels far more relevant to share the insights I’ve received this week as I’ve been playing at my evolutionary edge–butterflies in my tummy–with birthing something new.
By the time you read this, the event will already be over, but this coming Saturday (June 8th), I’m leading the Expressed Woman mini-retreat. While I’ve been leading events for many years, I still get that little twinge of nervousness. Why? Because leading an event is always an edge for me. It’s a risk to put my most vulnerable self out there in hopes of inspiring others to do the same.
I’m sharing all this because whatever it is you’re birthing in your own life–leading a big event/retreat, planning a wedding, moving, starting a new job, ending a relationship, taking on a new creative expression, or starting a new yoga practice–it requires stepping into the unknown, and taking that step requires courage, especially when we don’t have any guarantees…
What I’ve really come home to this week inside my own process is that playing our edges this way–being in our bravery–means we must practice meeting ourselves, over and over and over again, as we move towards our fullest, most delicious expression.
Here are a few ways I’ve been practicing meeting myself as I step into the unknown:
- Resting. My natural drive really supports me in creating retreats and offerings, and yet, sometimes when the event gets near, I actually go into overdrive. When I hear myself saying things like, “I need to do more! If I don’t keep going, I’ll lose my momentum,” it’s actually a sign that I need to slow down. Rather than causing me to lose momentum, taking time to rest allows me to reconnect to my sense of inspiration and natural flow, and I’m able to complete what needs to happen without pushing harder or overextending myself.
- Noticing the stories I’m telling and grounding into the truth. This week, as I began to feel anxious, I noticed familiar stories of “I am not good enough” coming up. Rather than believing the voice in my head, I practiced meeting myself with compassion and acknowledging the truth behind the story. I presenced that what was really happening underneath my thoughts is I felt scared… and by presencing my feelings and fears, I redirected myself back to the truth that I am good enough and capable of handling whatever comes my way. To live it and breathe it, because I am it. Enuf said. Acknowledging my fear while refocusing my attention on authentic connection with myself and my feelings has been a game changer in redirecting my focus and creativity.
- Calling in support. I definitely have a persona that thinks “I need to do it all by myself,” and in the past, I have driven myself to exhaustion by doing so. This year, I have been practicing calling on extra support leading up to this event–both with the logistics of what I’m building and also with the inner work that needs to happen for me to show up fully–and it has really freed up my energy so I can focus on what’s most important and let go of (or delegate!) the rest.
- Enjoying the process. In the past, I’ve often found myself barreling through the process of creating something big and realizing after it’s over that I didn’t even enjoy the ride. This year I’ve been doing my best to pause, breathe, and take it all in. In savoring the journey–even the moments of anxiety or overwhelm–I’m coming home to the truth that it’s just as beautiful and important as the actual destination is, because I get to truly experience myself living at my edge.
- Moving my body. When we’re up to something big, it’s easy to get caught up living in our heads. Continuing to create connection to my body this week has been essential. I’ve noticed myself getting ahead of my own pacing at times–feeling a little frazzled or breathless–and it’s been a great reminder to slow down, and come back into my physical body. As I practice intentionally moving my body, even in small ways, it’s easier and easier to locate myself where my feet are–firmly planted in the present moment.
My hope is in sharing my discoveries you can try them on for yourself too, especially the next time you’re at a new edge.
What ways are you practicing meeting yourself as you play at your edge? How do you come home to yourself even as you step into the unknown?
xo,
