Fresh Starts

Sometimes we need to take a step back from our routines and our daily practice, sometimes events happen that mean we can't do our daily meditations or yoga practice, whether that be due to illness, dealing with a situation involving family or friends, or sometimes we can just have a bad day (or week!) - but it is this ability to be able to jump back in, to be able to get going again, that is so important in our lives.

With the events of the past few years, the whole world has, in various ways, had to rethink and readjust and in many cases start anew. The certainty that was felt with regards to travel, contact with family and friends, job security, and even being able to buy the essentials such as toilet roll (!) has been challenged and what we considered to be normal practise was disrupted and often stopped altogether.

People around the world have had to make many fresh starts, sometimes having to start a new job, and create a new business. Sometimes having to find new hobbies and daily routines to fill the gap that not being able to see family and friends left.

I went through a period of a few months last year where things got a little difficult and I needed to take a bit of time to focus on rest and recuperation. I had started dropping some of the daily practices that I value so much and even with the knowledge of what I could do to try and get myself out of the funk I was feeling, it was hard at times to have the motivation to take action. I took the time needed, and found that taking a step back from the usual daily events did give me a lot of time to reflect, and I truly believe I am a stronger person now for the break. One thing in particular that was highlighted for me was that even though over the years I have developed a strong mental discipline when it comes to meditation, reiki and inner work - I had been neglecting the physical, and my body had been starting to suffer.

“Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”

― L.M. Montgomery

As the fog started to lift and my light started to shine a little brighter, I started to meditate properly again, journal - all of the things that I had previously listed as my non-negotiables. I also took action based on my reflections, joined a gym, and have now changed my mindset so that daily movement is one of my daily rituals, one of my non-negotiables.

The only thing I hadn't sorted out was my sleep. Probably the number 1 thing to get sorted before anything else when trying to really improve your health and your day to day energy and attention levels, in the best way possible. I was working a part-time night-shift job to supplement my income, but the negative effects on my health increased by the month and after 3 years I was back at a point where something had to change, so that I could be there for my family, and get a healthy sleep pattern back again. I am now working during the daytime and expect to see some positive changes soon - I already have more energy during the day than I have for a while!

We often have situations in life that force us to take stock and look at what it is we are doing, and whether we are doing it in the best way. The universe will often help you out, so even when you think that you are being tested to your limits, pause a moment and try to see if there is a lesson somewhere in the chaos.

Deciding to start fresh can give you a new lease of life and can provide a bit of clarity to an otherwise stuck situation. There are many times where people often decide to start fresh - think of all of the resolutions made in the New Year, or the commitment we make when we have a birthday or maybe even with the birth of a child.

In actuality, the best time to start afresh, is right now!

It's easy to put things off, and even easier to say that we will make changes for the better 'starting next week.....', but if we delay in making the changes to our lives that we need to, straight away then more often than not, they don't get done.

As the great Lao Tzu said -

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."