BRAVE SPACE - Slowing Down and Taking The Time We Need
Hello Dear Hearts,
I’m reflecting on another favorite love nugget of wisdom from my conversation with dancer and entrepreneur Jessy Smtih. It’s the way she spoke about taking the time we need to make decisions.
And here’s the key thing, without the interjection of others.
That’s a huge one right there. The people-pleaser in me just craves to be led down pathways that I don’t have to choose, lest I offend or disappoint or overlook or (gasp!) make the “wrong” choice.
Do you have one of those people-pleaser parts?
Let’s put them on on mute for a sec. (shhhhhhhh)
OK yes - Sometimes fresh perspectives, reflections, and a good dose of honest advice is exactly what we need. Other times, the perspectives and biases of those around us merge with our own in such a way that we lose our own knowing in the process. So let me say this:
It’s brave to take that time for yourself.
Why? Because It’s a very real belief to feel that something is wrong with us if we don’t know the answer right away; don’t know immediately what actions to take; or how to respond to a situation. I think that has a lot to do with why it’s so easy, even on a subconscious level, to bypass our intuitive wisdom in service to the feeling of the socialized pressure in our bodies that feeds on the sense of urgency coursing through our culture.
Or on an even deeper level - Coming to a moment of actual truth might reveal a boundary or the need to make a tough (but necessary) choice. And that’s just super hard when we are going through it, even though the benefits are infinite.
Taking a stand
Here’s a thing I love that happens a lot when I’m working with clients around this very thing. Eventually, there’s a beautiful deep breath moment of clarity when they come around to saying “I don’t need to know right now” about some pressure they have put on themselves or are receiving from the others. Or when they realize they can meet an inquiry with, “let me think about that and get back to you”.
It is such an act of kindness and care. To yourself and to the people you are in relationship with. Because you are gonna come back to them more creative, more wise, and more grounded than ever.
If anything, it’s an excellent excuse to take a bath, or a run, or whatever is your thing that you do when you want to clear your mind and come back to yourself :)
So dear ones, my new moon wish for you is if somewhere in here you are finding a mirror to a thing you are navigating right now, take the time you need. It might feel like quite a defiant stance but so be it. Yes! Yes! Never mind all that other noise. You’ll know what’s right. Trust.
I believe in you.