Happy Monday! Happy May!
How are you? Are you feeling ready for a new week? A new month? I think I am, but it took some preparing.
I woke up earlier than usual this morning and spent some time in meditation and reflection. The energy of Spring has had me in a bit of a whirlwind this April and it was time to slow down and redirect. I take time to breathe and center throughout each day, but that pause has been missing from my mornings. A late alarm goes off and I spring into action, sometimes with the weight of lethargy and resistance tagging behind — forgetting to set aside time to spend with just myself before I greet the day. This morning I devoted time to the practice and felt a lightness as I took another first step on my journey. For me, the best way to move forward is first to move inward to find my best starting point. Maybe that’s true for you too.
Either way, it’s so important to pause and reflect — to look back and take stock. To acknowledge the abundance we’ve gathered, the mistakes we’ve made, the lessons we’ve learned, and our hopes for tomorrow. It’s like having a conversation with yourself. But these check-ins can’t be rushed a text message. They require us to take a seat, dial in, and really be present. Only then will we to be truly receptive to our own inner voice and wisdom.
Last week marked the one year anniversary of this newsletter. I looked back to what I was writing to you then and sure enough, it was the same topic — Gearing up for a new month and taking the time to self-reflect and take stock. I suggested you ask yourself three simple questions:
- What are my top priorities?
- What has been working for me?
- Where is there room for improvement?
Though these questions might be simple, that require some real honestly – knowing what you really want, what you have, and what you still need to gather can sometimes take a minute to discover.
I went on to say: “Each of us is different and there is no magic manual for tackling life. Some of the journey we have to figure out for ourselves. That’s why reflecting back is so important. We have the knowledge we need to succeed right there in our own stories and experiences. We just have to remember to tap into it and trust that we know what’s best for ourselves.”
“We have the knowledge we need to succeed right there in our own stories and experience.”
I love that line. And it really ties in with what we thought about last week — the belief that our mistakes are our teacher not our attacker. It does not serve us to look back filled only with shame and regret. Look back with love and compassion. Acknowledge how far you’ve already come. Let the mistakes go and the lessons linger. And move forward again with confidence.
I shared a guided meditation on Youtube for doing just that:
Remember, there is an endless source of knowledge available to help us on our journey. Books, workshops, quotes on Instagram. But the greatest teacher is the voice within. It comes from the one who knows you best. Don’t be afraid to pause and look inward, and believe in yourself enough to listen.
I hope you have the best week. Much love, and enjoy May’s flowers.
Bye for now!